Spaghetti With Grape Tomato Wine Sauce.

Spaghetti with grape tomato wine sauce is a simple yet elegant Italian pasta dish that builds on the classic cherry tomato pasta by adding depth and balance. Sweet grape tomatoes are gently cooked until they burst, then finished with white wine to brighten the sauce and enhance its natural acidity. A small amount of ricotta is folded in at the end, creating a subtle creaminess and a softly tinted sauce that clings beautifully to the spaghetti.

This dish is a perfect example of how Italian cooking evolves without losing its roots. It relies on high-quality dry pasta, fresh tomatoes, and restraint—letting each ingredient play its role without overpowering the others. Light, comforting, and full of flavor, it’s the kind of pasta meant for weeknights that still feels special.

What Makes Spaghetti with Grape Tomato Wine Sauce Work so Well

Adding white wine to a tomato sauce enhances what’s already there. The wine lifts the natural sweetness of the grape tomatoes while adding acidity that keeps the sauce bright and balanced, rather than heavy or flat. As the alcohol cooks off, what remains is depth and complexity without overpowering the tomatoes.

Ricotta plays a different but equally important role. Instead of turning the sauce into a true cream sauce, a small amount of ricotta softens the acidity and adds a gentle creaminess. It rounds out the sauce, lightly tints the color, and helps it cling to the spaghetti without masking the freshness of the tomatoes.

Together, wine and ricotta create a sauce that feels richer without being heavy — a classic Italian approach that relies on balance, restraint, and letting simple ingredients do more with less.

Spaghetti With Grape Tomato Wine Sauce

Recipe by Nick FranceDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Total time

minutes

Ingredients

12 oz Spaghetti
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp of red pepper flakes
1 tbsp of tomato paste
1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes
1 cup of dry white wine (I like Pinot Grigio in this dish)
3/4 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese, reserve 1/4 cup for garnish
1/2 cup of fresh parsley, reserve 1/4 cup for garnish
1/4 cup of fresh basil
1/4 cup of ricotta cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Cook the spaghetti one minute less than the package directions.
In a large saucepan, saute the garlic in olive oil over medium heat until fragrant (about 1 to 2 minutes).
Add the red pepper flakes, tomato paste, and grape tomatoes, and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Add the herbs and white wine, reduce it by half, and simmer for another 5 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat, add the ricotta and Pecorino Romano cheese. Using some pasta water, a small ladle at a time, incorporate all the ingredients until you have a creamy consistency.
Bring the medium heat back, and add the spaghetti to the saucepan. Add a little salt and pepper, and continue to infuse the sauce into the spaghetti.
Serve immediately and enjoy this rich, creamy spaghetti dish.

Wine Pairing: What to Drink with Spaghetti with Grape Tomato Wine Sauce

White: Pinot Grigio (Italian style)

Pinot Grigio is ideal for this dish because its crisp acidity and clean profile enhance the tomatoes' sweetness, complement the white wine in the sauce, and balance the ricotta's subtle cr without overpowering the pasta.

House Tip: Choose a crisp, dry Pinot Grigio with good acidity — it mirrors the wine in the sauce, brightens the tomatoes, and keeps the dish light and balanced.

Don't just make this recipe; experience it. This isn't just a meal—it's a moment. A chance to slow down, savor a timeless flavor, and share it with those you love. So, put on some music, pour a glass of wine, and let the aroma fill your kitchen. Because, as I always say, "to eat well is to live well," and this dish is the perfect place to start.

Buon appetito!

Ciao a tutti! I’m Nick, an Italian-American home chef with roots in Brooklyn and Long Island. My love for cooking began in the kitchens I grew up in. For me, it's about sharing my family and heritage with you.

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Eat Pasta Like An Italian.

(Mangia La Pasta Come Un Italiano)

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