BASICS FOR PAIRING WINE AND CHICKEN
White Meat vs. Dark Meat vs. White Meat
It seems simple to ask what wine goes with chicken. But, it’s not so simple.
First, what type of chicken is this? Is it a 15-piece KFC chicken pot? Perhaps a perfectly poached organic bird from Eleven Madison Park in NYC.
There are many ways to cook a chicken, and there are as many wine types as you can imagine. We need to come up with a better way of finding the right answer.
Start with the type of chicken, seasoning and sauce. We’ll also discuss how to match wine with any dish you wish to make.
Pairing wine with chicken and poultry
The sauce can have a significant impact on the meat’s flavor. Here are some wines that you can pair with lighter, delicately-flavored poultry.
Did you know that chicken pairs well with red and white wines?
White wines
Match the intensity of your dish to the intensity in the wine
Oaked Chardonnay
Oaked Chardonnay is a great pairing for rich dishes that include cream sauces. You can find wines from California (Mendoza), Argentina, Chile and Spain as well as South Australia, South Australia, South France, South Australia and South Africa.
White Cotes du Rhone
This white wine blend, which contains Marsanne and Roussanne, is very similar to an oaked Chardonnay. It pairs well with rich dishes and cream sauces.
Viognier
This aromatic variety pairs well with floral herbs such as lavender and sage. You can find wines from Paso Robles, Washington State, South Africa and Australia.
Sauvignon Blanc
This wine is perfect for white meats and green herbs. The more meaty and roasty the dish, the warmer it is. Sauvignon Blanc is available in California, Australia and Italy.
Chenin Blanc
Poached or other delicately prepared white meats such as pate. You can find bone-dry samples from South Africa’s Loire Valley or France.
Riesling
This wine is surprisingly good with dark meats such as duck.
Rose Wines
Rose wine can sometimes be a better choice than red or white because of its medium body. If the sauce is sweet, you should look for dry rose wines.
Learn more about rose wine
Red Wines
Choose light, aromatic red wines. Medium-bodied red wines with lighter tannin structures are also available. Your wine can contain more color, richness, or tannins, depending on how the meat was prepared.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a classic pairing for duck. You should also consider pairing an Old World Pinot Noir with Squab, such as Burgundy.
Nebbiolo, Langhe
There are many faces to Nebbiolo, and one is lighter than the more expensive. Nebbiolo is the light-haired stepchild of Barolo and pairs well with mushroom-heavy dishes.
Grenache
Grenache wines, which are fruitier, have higher alcohol and lower tannins and can be enjoyed with richly-flavored game.
Roasting
Roasting is a popular fowl preparation technique, especially for Quail. Roasting is a great way to tenderize meat and preserve its flavor. This technique is great for lighter red wines like Chardonnay or Rose wine.
Barbecue
Barbecuing chicken increases the smokey flavors, making it possible to pair it with red wines such as Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, or BBQ’s best friend Malbec. To pair wine with it, look for more savory dishes (remember to avoid sweet sauces).
Poached
Poaching is a technique that preserves the texture of the meat and removes most of its flavor. You can use a light white wine, such as a Colombard or Chenin Blanc, to accompany your bird.
Fried
Rose Champagne/ Sparkling wine, Lambrusco or Fried Chicken are the best.
Saute
Sauteing is a method of preparing the breast meat to absorb the flavors of the sauce. Below are some suggestions for wines that go well with various sauces.
Chilled Dishes
Usually, the chicken is poached, boiled, or roasted before being chilled. Pairs well with lighter white wines such as Albarino and Pinot Blanc, Verdejo and unoaked Chardonnay.
Wine-based Sauces
Lemon and Beurre blanc
A classic favourite with fish and chicken is white wine butter sauce. The same wine that you used for the sauce can be used to serve chicken. Check out our article about the best white wine for cooking and a video showing how to make Beurre Blanc.
Madeira/Sherry-Based Sauces
These rich, dark sauces go well with medium-bodied, spice-driven wines such as Zinfandel and Sangiovese.
Red Wine Sauce
You can use a lighter red wine to prepare your dish and then serve it with the same wine. Pinot Noir is a traditional choice. The sauce will taste sweeter if it has a higher alcohol content.
Traditional European Flavors
Seasoning for Standard Poultry
These spices are usually a mixture of thyme and sage, marjoram or rosemary, black pepper, and/or nutmeg. They work well with aromatic white wines like Viognier, but can sometimes also work with Grenache-based wine.
Rosemary and Other Herbs
Rosemary goes well with Dry Riesling or New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
Sauces made with mushrooms
Medium red wines are a wonderful pairing with mushrooms because of their earthiness.
a l’Orange
Duck a l’Orange is a classic dish that pairs well with aromatic white wines like Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Torrontes.
Asian/Indian Flavors
Many Asian and Indian cuisines are rich in spice and sweetness. Make your wine selection a sweet, fruity red or white wine that is chilled. Rose wines and red wines should be paired with dark soy sauce-based dishes.
Sweet and Sour
You shouldn’t miss the opportunity to enjoy Moscato and the Italian sparkling rose Brachetto d’Aqui, sweetened with honey and sour.
5-spice powder
Red wines that are fruity, smoky Zinfandel and Australian Grenache can be good options. I would search a wine list that includes Gewurztraminer Furmint or Kerner for a white.
Curry
Have you ever wondered why sweet white wines are available in Thai and Indian restaurants. Sweet dishes go well with sweet wines and coconut fat pairs well with aromatic white wines. Here are some examples. You can find Riesling, Chenin blanc, Moscato and Muller-Thurgau.
Teriyaki
Teriyaki can be both sweet and dark so a sweeter red wine is a good choice. Lambrusco (amabile, dolce) is a great choice. Even Sherry is great when it’s slightly chilled.
South American Flavors
Jamaican Jerk
The complex combination of spices, which include ginger cinnamon, garlic and paprika as well as rosemary, onion, allspice and allspice, necessitates a wine that has a lot spice to counteract the rich flavor. Zinfandel or Tempranillo are great options.
Mole Sauce
Mole is a combination of chocolate and sesame. It’s one of the natural aromas in many Madeira and Sherry wines.
Chimichurri
Sauce made from a mixture of olive oil, vinegar, lemon, cumin, garlic, and oregano. This sauce is rich in green flavors so it would be a good pairing with a high-acid wine. Red wines include Nebbiolo, Cabernet Franc, or even a Greek wine like Xinomavro. White wines include Vermentino and Verdicchio from Italy, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino and Verdicchio.
Chardonnay, especially white wines that are paired with chicken, is a popular choice, but it’s not as universal as you might think.
Red wines with high acidity and lighter reds can be a great alternative. Even those with more body can work well in heavier dishes like a casserole.
You don’t want the wine to overwhelm the meat or the dish. A wine with more fruit and good acidity can work well with a richer dish. However, too much tannin structure could mask the flavours.
