Best Value
Tumblong Hills Table of Plenty Sangiovese 2023
Gundagai, NSW
$11.25per bottle
$135.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Food & wine pairing
Best wine with spaghetti bolognese
Tomato-based pasta wants an Italian red with fresh acidity.
Sangiovese & Chianti
Savoury cherry and fresh acidity cut through rich ragu and lasagne.
- Same weight as the dish, so neither drowns the other
- Enough acidity to match the dish’s tang
Why it works Dish Wine
Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine
Best Value
Rocca Vini Chianti DOCG
Chianti, Italy
$16.42per bottle
$197.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Mr Mick Sangiovese Grenache Merlot Rosé 2025
Clare Valley, SA
$16.42per bottle
$197.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Paladino Sangiovese Puglia IGT
Puglia, Italy
$16.42per bottle
$197.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Barbera & Montepulciano
Juicy and easy, with low tannin. Lovely with meatballs.
- Same weight as the dish, so neither drowns the other
- Enough acidity to match the dish’s tang
Why it works Dish Wine
Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine
Best Value
Tumblong Hills Table of Plenty Nero d'Avola 2023
Gundagai, NSW
$11.25per bottle
$135.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Paladino Montepulciano D'Abruzzo DOC
Abruzzo, Italy
$16.42per bottle
$197.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Longview Vista Shiraz Barbera 2023
Adelaide Hills, SA
$23.08per bottle
$277.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Terre Forti Montepulciano D'Abruzzo DOC 2024
Emilia Romagna, Italy
$19.42per bottle
$233.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Tempranillo
Savoury and medium-bodied. Works well with slow-cooked meat sauces.
- Same weight as the dish, so neither drowns the other
- The dish is sharper than the wine; a squeeze less lemon helps
Why it works Dish Wine
Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine
Best Value
Earthworks Tempranillo 2024
Barossa, SA
$17.00per bottle
$102.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Yalumba Y Series Tempranillo 2024
SA
$17.17per bottle
$206.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Mr Mick Tempranillo 2024
Clare Valley, SA
$18.17per bottle
$109.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
La La Land Tempranillo 2021
Riverina, NSW
$18.33per bottle
$110.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Merlot
Soft and plummy for anyone who finds Italian reds too sharp.
- Same weight as the dish, so neither drowns the other
- The dish is sharper than the wine; a squeeze less lemon helps
Why it works Dish Wine
Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine
Best Value
Angove Long Row Merlot 2023
Riverland, SA
$11.17per bottle
$134.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Smith's Lane Estate Merlot 2022
North East Victoria
$12.00per bottle
$72.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Deakin Estate Merlot 2025
South East Australia
$12.17per bottle
$146.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Rockcliffe Estate Peaceful Bay Merlot 2022
Denmark, WA
$13.33per bottle
$160.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Tip
Use a splash of the same wine in the sauce. It ties the meal together.
Best avoided
Big, oaky Cabernet can taste harsh with tomato.
About bolognese and tomato pasta and wine
Today’s picks run from $11.17 to $23.08 a bottle, chosen for value from 199 matching wines across the Australian retailers we compare. Six-packs and dozens are shown as a price per bottle.
Questions
What wine goes best with bolognese and tomato pasta?
Sangiovese & Chianti, Barbera & Montepulciano and Tempranillo are the best matches for bolognese and tomato pasta. Savoury cherry and fresh acidity cut through rich ragu and lasagne.
What’s a good cheap wine with bolognese and tomato pasta?
Angove Long Row Merlot 2023 is the cheapest of today’s picks at $11.17 a bottle from Cellars. Prices are checked every 4 hours.
What wine should I avoid with bolognese and tomato pasta?
Big, oaky Cabernet can taste harsh with tomato.