VPN and AIS: when pizza and wine attract.

In the sphere of Italian gastronomy, two undisputed protagonists have always dominated tables and palates: pizza and wine. Recently, the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association (VPN), with Antonio Pace as its president, proposed a project aimed at enhancing this timeless union in its member pizzerias, arousing great interest and debate.

The presentation of the project took place in the picturesque setting of Solfagnano Castle, located in the province of Perugia. Here the Campania delegation of the Italian Sommelier Association (AIS), led by Tommaso Luongo, met with the VPN’s master pizza makers, and together with a tasting panel, tastings of several types of pizzas were offered, paired with wines from Campania and Umbria. The pizzas were carefully selected to offer a combination of Iconic traditional recipes and more modern variants, in order to present a diverse and representative range of the different characteristics of Neapolitan cuisine. The meeting not only consolidated this culinary alliance, which can be considered long-standing, but also inspired reflections on aspects related to the current situation of the restaurant industry, the pizza world and related Italian food and wine culture.

The pairings of pizza and wine

The combination of pizza and wine is certainly nothing new in the culinary scene; in fact, it has always been considered a true alliance. The feeling, however, is that it never managed to become a real fashion statement. If one investigates the reasons for this still “developing” coexistence, it is plausible to consider the profile of the typical pizzeria consumer, often young and not necessarily wine-pairing oriented. This trend may also be related to the cost of a bottle, limited alcohol consumption at a young age, and the standard 750 ml size, which is often excessive for a pizza night. However, recent attention on the elevation of both products to the level of excellence is generating new enthusiasm and renewed appreciation for this union.

A combination of socioeconomic value

Gastronomic pairing aside, this combination is not only a matter of taste, but also of socio-economic value. The pizzerias associated with VPN, embracing this “internal pizza-wine pairing code”, they could use this synergy to further elevate their offerings and distinguish themselves in the market, moving away once and for all from competing with the restaurant and making them seem “second rate.” The introduction of a careful selection of wines, designed specifically to accompany the different variants of Neapolitan pizza, could attract a more sophisticated clientele interested in the overall dining experience.

From an enological perspective, this project offers a unique opportunity to promote the culture of quality wine and enhance the work of local producers, with likely greater price restraint. The latter could thus benefit from a new distribution channel for their products, helping to spread awareness and appreciation of wine excellence.

At the VPN Association’s annual anniversary in July, there will be an official presentation of the Handbook as the result of the panel’s testing.

The pairings proposed during the project preview

Pizza	Wine
Category: Classics – Margherita: San Marzano, fiordilatte, evo oil and basil	Penisola Sorrentina Gragnano 2022 Vini Iovine (Sparkling Red)
Category: Fried – Fried pizza: ricotta cheese, pepper, cracklings, fiordilatte cheese	Caprettone Spumante Millesimato Brut Pietrafumante 2020 Casa Setaro
Category: Of the woods – Umbra: Porcini mushrooms, black truffle, mozzarella and norcino	Colli Altotiberini Calor Vita 2017 Castello di Solfagnano (Merlot, large wood)
Category: Del Cuoco – Genovese: Genovese and pecorino flakes	Campi Flegrei Falanghina Cruna De Lago 2022 La Sibilla
Category: Del salumeio – Nduja: Nduja, San Marzano, fiordilatte and stracciatella	Umbria Rosato Particella 7 2022 Castello di Solfagnano ( Pinot Noir)
Category: Seafood – Buffalo mozzarella, Vesuvius yellow piennolo, tuna fillets in oil, bottarga,	Fiano di Avellino 2021 Rocca del Principe