Best Wines For Papa John's, Domino's, And 6 Other Chain Pizzas

Some chains, like CiCi's, opt for a simple cheese blend — in their case, mozzarella and zesty muenster cheese. Other chains, like Papa John's, go all out and top their pies with many different kinds of cheese. Just as you can expect certain flavors from these chains, you can expect certain flavors from specific wines. Fruit-forward zinfandel is happiest when paired with anything to do with meat. And since Pizza Hut is famous for the meat lover's pie, this is a match made in pizza-pairing heaven.

Ditto for the traditional flavors that Sbarro aims for in their recipes. Table reds like Montepulciano are great for their menu options. If you're stockpiling your pie with meaty toppings, choose a full-bodied wine to match up to the heft.

Want to stock up on some varietals for your next Seamless binge (don't expect to find  much of a wine list at the pizza shops themselves)? We've got you covered.

There is something nostalgic about the pizza at Chuck E. Cheese's. Its generic-tasting pie is what childhood is made of. A neutral merlot would be a great choice since the dough is quite bready and overpowers the flavor of the actual pizza toppings.

If you're hitting up a CiCi's for the night, get ready for a lot of options. Chances are, you'll visit the salad buffet (for good measure) before digging into one of the many varieties of pizza. What sets CiCi's apart is the option for a savory garlic butter crust, which you must order specially. When you're ready to eat, pour yourself a glass of Chianti. It brings the garlic butter to life and will enhance the flavors of any of the toppings, from olive and peppers on their veggie pizza to pepperoni and hot peppers on their spicy variety.

A cabernet sauvignon is the ideal choice for Domino's — especially if you're opting for a pie with meat on it. Choose a wine that has some wood age, so that it delivers a complex and rich black-cherry nose with hints of dried herbs and oak. These are flavors often tasted in meats like sausage, pepperoni, and meatballs so it all works together.

The difference between Godfather's and the other chains is that they offer a menu of lighter pizza fare. By lighter we mean pies as low as 200 calories. For those looking to keep things light, opt for a crisp pinot grigio.  

Little Caesar's uses both mozzarella and Muenster cheese on their pizza. Based on that fact, we'd suggest a gewürztraminer. This white grape produces a spicy white wine. Acidity is a key component, so it pairs nicely with both cheeses. The creaminess of the cheese will balance the acid in the wine and the additional acid in toppings and sauce.

Papa John's likes a cheesy pizza. With that in mind, pick up a full-bodied chardonnay to accompany it. Its richness will work nicely with the cheese and with each bite you will actually be able to appreciate the fruit and oak in the wine.

Zinfandel tends to do well with barbecue favorites like hot dogs and burgers. It's the ideal choice for the Hot Dog Pizza from Pizza Hut. Lighter style California zinfandels have enough richness to hold up to the cheese/dog combo while the jammy fruit handles the rest of it.

A dry red Italian Montepulciano is the best choice for Sbarro. With options like a lasagna pizza and a traditional Margherita made with fresh basil, the wine will favor the saucier menu options and really brings out the sweetness of the tomato sauce while still balancing the savory flavors of the salty toppings.