Snacks that pair with wine don't need to come from a cheese counter, and puffed pasta chips are proof. Tantos, created by Chef Joe Sasto (Top Chef finalist) and made by Sasto Snacks, are the first and only puffed pasta chip: 100% semolina pasta that's cooked, dried, puffed, and seasoned with real Italian ingredients. That process gives them the crunch and flavor range to stand up to red, white, or bubbly. Think of them as the crouton-slash-crostini-slash-cracker your wine board has been missing.
What exactly is a pasta chip, anyway?
A pasta chip is real pasta, puffed into a chip, and Tantos is the first and only one to do it. Made from 100% semolina, cooked, dried, puffed, and seasoned with real Italian ingredients, the chip even has its own shape name: fioregato, a portmanteau of fiore (flower) and piegato (folded). The brand name comes from tanto si, an Italian expression meaning "so much yes," which is basically our answer to a second glass of wine. Curious about the category itself? We break it all down in what pasta chips are.
Why puffed pasta chips work with wine
Wine wants texture and salt to play off of. Puffed pasta chips bring both. They're sturdy enough to scoop, light enough to snack through a whole bottle, and seasoned with actual Italian flavors instead of generic "cheese dust." So yes, they belong on the same table as your Tuesday night Sancerre.
Flavor-by-flavor wine pairings
We're not sommeliers. We're pasta people who happen to drink wine. Here's our gutsy, unofficial pairing guide.
| Tantos flavor | Pour it with | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Marinara | Chianti or a chilled rosé | Tomato and herb notes echo the sauce this flavor is built on |
| Pesto | Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio | Bright whites cut through the basil and Parm |
| Cacio e Pepe | Barolo or a dry sparkling wine | Peppery, cheesy, savory. Big flavor deserves a big pour |
| Classico | Champagne or Prosecco | Simple and neutral enough to let the bubbles shine |
Highbrow meets lowbrow, wine edition
This is our favorite move. Pour something fancy, snack something scrappy. A glass of Barolo next to a bowl of Marinara chips. Champagne with a bag of Classico ripped open on the counter, no bowl required. Highbrow meets lowbrow is basically our whole personality.
- Date night: Cacio e Pepe with a bold red and a single candle you definitely didn't just buy at the grocery store
- Girls' night: Pesto with a crisp white and way too much gossip
- Solo pour: Marinara with whatever's open, because self care is real
Building a wine and snack board
No need to overthink it. A wine and pasta chip board comes together fast:
- Two or three Tantos flavors, straight from the bag
- A soft cheese and a hard cheese
- Something briny, like olives or cornichons
- A small dish of olive oil for dipping the Classico chips, because why not
Want the full spread treatment? We've got you covered in the ultimate charcuterie board with pasta chips.
FAQ
What wine goes best with pasta chips?
It depends on the flavor. Marinara leans red, Pesto leans white, Cacio e Pepe can handle a bold red or bubbly, and Classico plays especially well with Champagne or Prosecco thanks to its sea salt and olive oil simplicity.
Can pasta chips replace a cheese plate with wine?
They can absolutely join one. Tantos are made from 100% semolina, cooked, dried, puffed, and seasoned with real Italian ingredients, so they bring their own flavor to the board without needing much dressing up.
Do pasta chips work with sparkling wine?
Yes, actually. Classico's sea salt and olive oil profile and Cacio e Pepe's savory crunch both hold their own against Champagne or Prosecco.
Where can I buy Tantos to pair with wine?
Tantos are available online at eattantos.com and Amazon, plus in stores at Kroger, H-E-B, The Fresh Market, Fresh Thyme, World Market, and a growing crew of specialty and independent shops. Enter your zip code at our store locator to find the nearest bag.
What's the best Tantos flavor for a first wine night with Tantos?
Honestly, the Variety Pack. Four flavors means four pairings, and nobody has to commit to just one.
Ready to build your own wine and snack night? Grab the Variety Pack or find Tantos near you with our store locator. 🍷
We're Tantos, the first and only puffed pasta chip, believers in saying yes to the delicious things that make you happy. Whenever, wherever, and however you crave us, it's So Much Yes.