Quite The Pair: Volpi Cured Meats And Italian Wines

It’s no secret that cured meat pairs perfectly with a nice glass of wine, but with the vast array of options, it can be overwhelming. We’ve taken the complexity out of choosing the right wine and charcuterie by providing our recommendations on how to create your next delicious pairing.

A Brief History Of Cured Meats

Evidence of early salt curing can be traced all the way back to ancient civilizations in 3000 BC. This popular technique of preserving meat quickly gained traction in many early empires. Italians first began curing meats in the third century BC, primarily as a means of preserving them for winter, seasons of droughts, or other instances where food was scarce.

While Volpi Foods cannot trace its roots back quite so far, the Volpi family tradition of curing meats dates back more than a hundred years. Founder John Volpi came to the US with little in his pocket beside his family’s centuries-old meat-curing techniques and recipes. From Prosciutto and Genoa Salame to Guanciale and Chorizo, Volpi still prepares meats using natural ingredients and traditional methods: salt and spices combined with slow, carefully controlled air drying. Deliciously satisfying and enjoyable on their own, our cured meats also lend zest to Italian recipes, ranging from pasta and salads to meat and fish entrees.

What To Serve With Volpi Meats

Wondering what to serve to accompany Volpi charcuterie? We have a thoroughly Italian answer for you: vino! If the dizzying array of wines at your local wine purveyor confounds you, joining a wine club is a great way to learn and expand your culinary adventures through wine pairing.

The Volpi family tradition of curing meats dates back more than a hundred years”

Wine And Volpi Charcuterie Pairings

Whether hosting a dinner party or enjoying casual time with friends, charcuterie is always the favorite appetizer. You can build your own charcuterie board based on your taste, or you can choose from one of our prep packs. We provide pre-sliced trios with dry-cured meats whose flavors complement each other.

Now, what’s a charcuterie board without a bottle of rich red wine to accompany it? Volpi cured meats and Italian wines go hand-in-hand. We suggest pairing the following wines with our Trio Packs:

• Chianti
• Dry Rose
• Chardonnay
• Pinot Noir

Wine Clubs Have Great Pairings For Volpi Meats

The best wine clubs offer a wide selection of vino from around the world and provide access to both expert and peer advice as you make your purchases. Many will provide tasting notes for each wine in their collection, which describes wine characteristics such as body, acidity, tannin content, and prominent flavor notes. We encourage you to take the time to read wine reviews from other club members. 

Members often share their favorite food and wine pairings and you’ll be able to gather unexpected ideas. You may never have thought of serving a Vermentino from Sicily with our Heritage Prosciutto, but if you are serving honeydew melon alongside the meat, a fruity white might be the flavor you need. 

Some wine clubs offer sommelier services, which allow you to enjoy curated cases based on your preferences. Typically, these clubs learn about your tastes through an initial questionnaire, then amend their selections based on reviews you provide after tasting the wines you buy. Be sure to keep notes that way you will be able to re-order what you love. Nearly all wine clubs offer a satisfaction guarantee on their wines and will refund the cost of any bottles that do not meet your expectations.

How To Choose Wines To Pair

When pairing Volpi cured meats with Italian wines, you may be overwhelmed by the seemingly endless wine options to choose from. Traditionally, Italians begin their meal with lighter body wines such as prosecco or pinot grigio and move to heavier wines as their dinner progresses. Are you preparing a pasta dish that features Volpi Pancetta? A medium-body, Sangiovese-based wine like Chianti Classico will stand up to the richness of the meat, while also offering plenty of palate-awakening acidities. Move into a full-bodied red like Amarone to complement an entrée of beef braciole stuffed with Volpi Genoa Salame.

If you are not completely confident choosing a wine to serve with your menu, you can view the wine-pairing suggestions we offer for each Volpi product on our website. Our can’t-miss combinations are the perfect place to start your food and wine pairing journey. And while wine is a complicated subject, remember there are no absolutes in wine pairing—let your own taste be your guide to finding the right wine.