Aglianico

Orecchiette with sausage is a classic Puglian pasta dish featuring 'little ears' pasta with savory Italian sausage, often incorporating broccoli rabe, garlic, olive oil, and sometimes chili flakes. The richness of the pork sausage combined with the al dente pasta creates a hearty dish that calls for medium-bodied wines and beers with enough structure to complement the savory meat while cleansing the palate.

Pasta with meat sauce (typically ragù or Bolognese) features rich, savory flavors from slow-cooked ground beef and tomatoes that pair beautifully with medium to full-bodied red wines with good acidity. The umami and fat content in the meat sauce is complemented by the bright acidity and cherry notes in Italian reds, while the malt-forward beer styles provide caramel notes that enhance the savory elements while having enough carbonation to cut through the richness.

Pizza's combination of acidic tomato sauce, rich cheese, and various toppings creates a complex umami profile that pairs beautifully with medium-bodied, high-acid red wines that can cut through the fat while complementing the tomato sauce. The carbonation in beer helps cleanse the palate between bites, with styles that offer enough malt backbone to stand up to the savory elements while providing refreshing contrast.

Slow-cooked lamb develops deep, rich flavors with tender texture and savory umami notes. The concentrated gaminess and fat content of lamb calls for beverages with substantial structure, moderate tannins, and complementary dark fruit or malt-forward characteristics that can stand up to the meat while enhancing its complexity.

Slow-roasted lamb develops deep, concentrated flavors with tender, succulent meat that calls for bold, structured wines and malty beers. The robust, gamey qualities of lamb pair beautifully with full-bodied red wines that offer complementary dark fruit, spice, and earthy notes, while beers with caramel and toasted malt characteristics provide contrast to the richness while enhancing the dish's savory elements.

Slow-roasted lamb shoulder develops deep, savory flavors with rendered fat creating a rich, tender texture. The robust character calls for full-bodied red wines with firm tannins to cut through the fat and complement the meat's earthy, gamey notes, while malt-forward beers provide caramel and nutty notes that enhance the caramelization of the roasted lamb.