A marriage of flavours: Italian wines to enjoy with burgers

It is amazing to see how something as simple as a minced meatball can, over the years, become one of the world's best-loved comfort foods. After all, all it took was to press it, cook it on a grill and place it in a sandwich, with sauces and condiments, to create a timeless dish, the workhorse of fast food chains, but also the star of more elaborate and - in some cases - even gourmet meals.

Alongside this are not only cans of cola and mugs of beer, but also the best wine labels. Here is a guide to Italian wines to enjoy with burgers!

The wine to go with the tomato and salad burger: the most classic of classics

It is impossible to call a hamburger a diet meal, but it is also true that there are lighter varieties than others. The classic hamburger - simple and unpretentious - does not require many ingredients. It makes do with a bit of beef or pork, a couple of salad leaves (usually lettuce), a slice of tomato, some onion and in some cases a couple of gherkins. For those with a sweet tooth, however, some variants also include the possibility of enriching it with a few slices of bacon.

This combination creates the perfect contrast between the softness of the bread and burger and the crispness of the vegetables, between the savouriness of the meat and seasonings and the freshness of the tomato and salad.

There is nothing elaborate about such a meal, yet few can resist the taste of a well-made hamburger, especially if the right glass is sipped with the dish.

Among the best red wines to pair with hamburgers, Chianti emerges strongly, thanks to the organoleptic characteristics conferred by the main grape variety from which it is produced, Sangiovese. Refined and harmonious, Chianti is a worthy accompaniment to many meat dishes, with a characteristic spicy undertone that adds to the more classic floral and fruity notes. Savoury and intense, it is not, however, aggressive on the palate, a characteristic attributable to moderate tannins. One sip and even the most classic burger can be transformed into an extraordinary gastronomic experience!

Cheeseburger and wine: what is the best pairing?

When cheese is added to a classic burger sandwich, one can speak of a cheeseburger, an equally simple yet popular variant for those who want an extra dash of flavour in their sandwich. The great attraction of this preparation lies not only in the addition of the cheese itself - usually cheddar or Swiss cheese - but in the fact that it is placed on top of the burger while it is cooking, so that the heat of the meat melts it evenly, creating a delicious cream.

With the exception of the cheese, the cheeseburger incorporates similar ingredients to the classic burger, but its texture and savouriness change due to the addition of this fatty component, which also influences the wine pairing.

Here again, the ideal choice falls on a red berry product, possibly something structured, capable of matching the cheese's more pronounced savouriness. A good choice is a bottle of Morellino di Scansano DOCG Vaio 2021, an excellent Tuscan product with warm tones and a vinous aroma, tending to be fresh and with moderate tannicity, but rather full-bodied, a characteristic that allows it to marry red meat and game to perfection.

Italian wines and burgers: what to enjoy with a Fish Burger?

In the world of burgers, however, there is not only meat (pork, beef, lamb, you name it), but also fish products, ground or breaded and fried, find their place between the slices of bread.

These burgers - perfect for pescetarians and lovers of seafood flavours - can accommodate a wide variety of ingredients: salmon, cod, crab, tuna and many other species, with the addition of toppings and sauces as desired, such as cherry tomatoes, lettuce, rocket, mayonnaise, pink sauce, yoghurt or dill sauce.

The limit, therefore, is only drawn by the amount of imagination of the person preparing it, but it is also important to find the right wine pairing. For those in search of ideas for an original dinner, among the ideas for burgers and wine pairings is that of cooking a good fishburger paired with a fresh and harmonious white wine, perhaps a Grillo Sicilia DOC.

One need only bring the glass closer to the nose to be enchanted by the intense aromas of this wine, which bring to mind a fragrance of white flowers, with hints of citrus. On the palate, the Grillo also shows great personality, thanks to a savoury and structured flavour profile that is ideal alongside fish dishes of various kinds.

Make way for flavour contrasts with the Donut Burger

From the earliest times, the gastronomic industry has understood that the quintessence of originality lay in experimentation. This is why there are very old recipes that play with contrasts between sweet and savoury.

In the classical world, for example, meats seasoned with honey-based sauces were very popular. This trend - certainly not for everyone - has come down to us and has been nourished by new pairing ideas, also in the world of comfort food.

Alongside the more canonical choices of pork, beef and fish inside soft sesame rolls, one can also find something more unusual, such as burgers sandwiched between two halves of a sweet, glazed or even chocolate doughnut. A kind of heresy for lovers of classic flavours, but a real treat for those who want to abandon preconceptions and indulge in a surprising combination!

It takes little to bring balance to this seemingly bizarre pairing: uncorking a bottle of Prosecco. Where there is a need to lighten the flavours and degrease the palate from the greasy texture of the burger and the sugary components of the bun, this product is one of the best labels to pair with burgers, thanks to its natural freshness and excellent balance of softness and acidity.

With its hints of fruit - including peach, apple and citrus fruits - and flowers, this effervescent wine confirms what Donut Burger lovers have been saying for a long time: sweet and savoury are not such a bad match!

And for vegans and vegetarians? Veggie and Plant Based Burger with matching wine

There are many reasons why a person wishes to avoid meat consumption. Firstly, a simple matter of personal taste or needs related to one's diet. Secondly, it is an ethical choice to protect animals and the environment. Whatever the reason that governs an individual's eating habits, the gastronomic world knows how to respond, offering tasty alternatives.

In fact, one can enjoy Veggie Burgers, made with vegetable or legume-based burgers or patties, such as the delicious falafel. These preparations can then accommodate various condiments and - for those who have not renounced animal products - even cheeses of various kinds.

Trying a Veggie burger with a wine pairing can be very satisfying, especially with a versatile white like a Chardonnay Alto Adige DOC.

Its main characteristics include fragrances of yellow fruits, as well as mineral tones, which lend a remarkable freshness to pairings with it.

For those who have completely excluded meat from their diet, but would still like to consume something reminiscent of it in flavour and texture, there are excellent plant-based burgers on the market, which can easily be paired with white and red wines.

In the case of red, a Syrah sicilia DOC 2019 is particularly well suited to this task, capable of supporting the fatty and savoury component of these burgers, so similar to beef. Ruby red in the glass, with fascinating violet hues, Syrah is considered an excellent wine for meat dishes. In this case, it can best enhance the hints of plant-based meat by showing off a pleasant spicy aftertaste, one of its most special traits!
 

Now that burger and wine pairings are no longer a mystery to you, discover the best of Italian and international oenology on Svinando!