Ever stared at a wine shelf completely confused about what to pair with your chicken dinner? I’ve been there too! With chicken being such a versatile protein that can be prepared in countless ways, finding the perfect wine match might seem overwhelming. But don’t worry – I’m gonna break it down for you in this comprehensive guide to pairing wines with chicken.
As a food enthusiast who’s spent way too much money on wine experiments (my wallet is still recovering) I’ve learned that chicken is actually one of the most wine-friendly proteins out there. The trick is matching your wine to how the chicken is prepared rather than just the meat itself.
Why Chicken and Wine Pairing Matters
Before diving into specific pairings let’s understand a simple principle match the weight of the wine to the richness of the preparation. A delicate chicken dish needs a lighter wine, while hearty chicken preparations can stand up to bolder wines.
The basic rule is not to overpower the meat or the dish. A wine with good fruit component and decent acidity will match well with richer dishes, but too much tannin risks masking the flavors.
White Wine Pairings with Chicken
White wines are often the go-to choice for chicken, especially for lighter preparations. Here are the stars of white wine chicken pairings:
Chardonnay: The Creamy Chicken Champion
Best with Creamy chicken dishes chicken pot pie. chicken alfredo. chicken tetrazzini
Chardonnay, especially oaked varieties, offers a buttery-smooth taste that’s practically made for creamy chicken recipes. Its velvety mouthfeel creates a heavenly match with rich, creamy sauces.
Pro tip: Look for Chardonnays from warm climate regions like:
- California
- Australia
- Argentina
Try these Chardonnays:
- Lewis Cellars Chardonnay Napa Valley
- Martinelli ‘Bella Vigna’ Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
- Hoopes Vineyard Chardonnay Napa Valley
Sauvignon Blanc: The Herby Chicken’s Best Friend
Best with: Chicken dishes featuring lemon, garlic, or herbs
The bright, citrusy profile of Sauvignon Blanc energizes chicken dishes with herbal or citrus elements. It’s light enough not to overpower delicate herbal rubs but has enough character to stand up to the meat.
Where to look:
- New Zealand (especially Marlborough)
- Loire Valley, France
- Coastal regions of the United States
Try these Sauvignon Blancs:
- Ehret Sauvignon Blanc Knights Valley
- Paul Lato Sauvignon Blanc ‘Le Nouveau Jardin’ Santa Ynez Valley
- Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Riesling: The Spicy Chicken Companion
Best with: Spicy chicken dishes, buffalo wings, Thai chicken curry, teriyaki chicken
When your chicken brings the heat, Riesling brings the sweet relief! Off-dry Rieslings with a hint of sweetness cool down your palate when eating spicy chicken dishes. The sweetness also complements Asian-style preparations like teriyaki.
German Rieslings are particularly good choices, especially Spätlese styles for sweet and sour chicken dishes.
Pro tip: Serve Riesling very cold with spicy dishes for maximum refreshment.
Red Wine Pairings with Chicken
Don’t be fooled into thinking chicken only goes with white wine! Red wines can be excellent matches, especially for heartier preparations.
Pinot Noir: The Versatile Favorite
Best with: Roasted chicken, chicken cacciatore, chicken parmesan
With its tart cherry flavors, earthiness, and gentle tannins, Pinot Noir is perhaps the most versatile red wine for chicken pairings. Its acidity works beautifully with tomato-based chicken dishes.
Look for Pinot Noir from:
- Oregon
- California (especially Sonoma Coast)
- Burgundy, France
Try these Pinot Noirs:
- Vaughn Duffy Marshall Ranch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
- Furthermore ‘Nevina’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
- Walter Hansel Pinot Noir ‘Cahill Lane’ Russian River Valley
Grenache: Bold Flavors Friend
Best with: Boldly flavored preparations like chicken paprikash or chicken tikka masala
Grenache-based wines offer a fruit-forward profile with medium body and juicy acidity that refreshes the palate after each bite of flavorful chicken.
Look for:
- Côtes du Rhône blends (Grenache-based)
- Spanish Grenache (called Garnacha)
- Priorat wines from Spain
Zinfandel: The BBQ Chicken Partner
Best with: Barbecue chicken, especially with sweet and smoky sauces
The jammy, fruit-forward nature of Zinfandel makes it perfect for chicken slathered in barbecue sauce. Its higher alcohol content and spice cut through sweet, tomato-based sauces beautifully.
Look for California Zinfandels from producers like:
- Ridge
- Rafanelli
- Gamba (try their Zinfandel Estate Vineyard ‘MCM’ Russian River Valley)
Merlot: The Coq au Vin Companion
Best with: Chicken coq au vin, chicken with mushrooms or earthy flavors
Merlot’s soft, plummy fruitiness complements chicken cooked with earthy ingredients beautifully. It has fewer bitter tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon, making it more chicken-friendly.
Try these Merlots:
- Truchard Vineyards Merlot Carneros Napa Valley
- Ehret Knights Valley Merlot
Sparkling Wine and Rosé Pairings
Champagne and Other Bubblies: The Fried Chicken’s Best Friend
Best with: Fried chicken, chicken nuggets, salty chicken preparations
This might sound fancy, but trust me – bubbly and fried chicken is a match made in heaven! The high acidity and effervescence of sparkling wine cut through the richness of fried coating and cleanse the palate.
Options include:
- Champagne (try Jean Vesselle Brut Reserve Champagne NV)
- Cava (Spanish sparkling wine)
- Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine)
- Franciacorta (another Italian sparkling)
Rosé: The Versatile Middle Ground
Best with:
- Dry rosé: Simple chicken preparations with minimal spices
- Off-dry rosé: Spicier chicken recipes and Asian-style dishes
Don’t overlook rosé! It’s often the perfect middle ground between white and red, making it extremely versatile with chicken dishes. The bright acidity refreshes the palate while still having enough body to stand up to the meat.
Try these rosés:
- Belden Barns Estate Sonoma Mountain Rosé
- Etrusca ‘Natalia’ Russian River Valley Rosé
Pairing Based on Chicken Preparation
Roasted Chicken
Roasted chicken is comfort food at its finest, and it’s amazingly versatile with wines. You can pair it with:
- Oaked Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Medium-bodied rosé
- Côtes du Rhône (if served with dark, savory gravy)
Chicken with Savory/Earthy Ingredients
When your chicken dish includes mushrooms, root vegetables, tomato sauce, or red wine sauce:
- Medium-bodied French or Spanish reds
- Merlot (especially with mushrooms)
- Pinot Noir
Chicken with BBQ Sauce
For chicken with barbecue sauce, look for:
- Medium-bodied reds with a touch of sweetness
- Zinfandel
- Shiraz/Syrah
- Grenache
Spicy Chicken Dishes
Heat likes sweet! For buffalo wings, spicy curries, or hot chicken:
- Off-dry Riesling
- Gewürztraminer
- Pinot Gris
- Fruity rosés
Chicken with Artichokes or Asparagus
These vegetables can make wine taste oddly sweet or metallic. To counter this effect, choose:
- Highly acidic dry white wines
- Champagne
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Grüner Veltliner
- Albariño
Wine Pairing Chart for Chicken Dishes
| Chicken Dish | Best Wine Pairings | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Fried Chicken | Champagne, Sparkling Wine | Bubbles cut through richness |
| Roast Chicken | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | Versatile with simple preparation |
| Chicken Alfredo | Oaked Chardonnay | Matches creamy texture |
| Chicken Curry | Off-dry Riesling | Sweetness balances spice |
| BBQ Chicken | Zinfandel | Fruit balances sweet sauce |
| Lemon Chicken | Sauvignon Blanc | Citrus notes complement |
| Chicken Cacciatore | Pinot Noir, Chianti | Acidity matches tomato |
| Coq au Vin | Merlot, Burgundy | Complements wine in dish |
Final Tips for Perfect Chicken and Wine Pairings
-
Consider the sauce – Often the sauce or seasonings have more impact on pairing than the chicken itself
-
Match intensity with intensity – Delicate dishes need lighter wines; bold dishes can handle bolder wines
-
Don’t fear crossing the color line – White meat can absolutely pair with red wine and vice versa
-
Acidity is your friend – Wines with good acidity cut through rich dishes beautifully
-
When in doubt, rosé or sparkling – These versatile styles work with many chicken preparations
-
Sweet meets heat – For spicy chicken dishes, a touch of sweetness in the wine helps balance the heat
I’ve personally found that chicken and wine pairings give you tons of room to experiment and have fun. Some of my favorite discoveries have been happy accidents! Remember, while these guidelines are helpful, the best pairing is ultimately the one YOU enjoy.
Next time you’re serving chicken, grab a bottle (or two) based on these suggestions and see what works for your palate. Wine pairing shouldn’t be stressful – it should add another layer of enjoyment to your meal.
Types of Poultry Paired with Wine
A quick tip is to think “lighter meat, lighter wine.” Roasting poultry preserves a lot of the rich flavors, so sometimes you can get away with a red wine with more complexity.
Chicken – A lightly flavored, medium textured meat. Poussin – Poussin is like a mini chicken, tastes like chicken, often prepared like Quail. Quail – More assertive flavor than chicken but not as strong as duck. Very tender, small, usually with bones. Sweet nutty flavor. Quail is traditionally stuffed with forcemeat due to a small size. Turkey – The breast meat of turkey is lightly flavored and has a strong texture.
In this case.. “Darker meat, darker wine.” Below are the best birds to pair with red wines.
Pigeon Squab (rock dove) – Succulent but earthy with darker meat and delicate texture. Pheasant – Pinkish-white meat, with delicate flavors that are a touch more exotic and apple-like than chicken. Partridge – The texture is not as delicate as pheasant or squab but with a similar flavor of earthy dark meat. Guinea Fowl – Tastes like a combination of chicken and turkey with dark meat overtones. Duck – More assertive flavor with an oily and gamey note. Depending on the preparation, duck can be more reminiscent of pork. Turkey – Long grain and strong textured meat. Turkey has a rich buttery and nutty flavor. Goose – Almost like a wild turkey with all dark meat. Often noted as being similar to roast beef. Ostrich – Unlike other birds and more steak-like in texture. Ostrich is an extremely lean and tender red meat, so try to pair it with wines that have less tannin and more juiciness, such as a Côtes du Rhône or Syrah.
Sauces and Seasonings Paired with Wine
Since many Asian and Indian dishes play with spice and sweetness, make your wine choice a sweet and fruity white or red wine served chilled. Pick rosé or red wines with darker soy-sauce based dishes.
What would you pair with Sweet and Sour Chicken?
Remember, this is a sweet dish with pineapple acids, fried chicken, and some green vegetable characteristics. All of these elements should be taken into account when picking a wine.
ANSWER: Riesling or another medium-sweet white wine with high acidity.
Specifically, I’d pick a German Spatlese Riesling for this dish and serve it quite cold so that it could also act as a palate cleanser. I think it’d be perfect with this dish because it would match the pineapple flavors. The onion and bell pepper in the dish would let the wine taste fruitier, like apricots, and bring out the complex beeswax-like nuances many German Rieslings have.
Sweet and sour is a complicated sauce to pair with most dry wines because the sweetness and acidity in the sauce makes most dry wines taste flat and tart. I bet this dish would be kickass with Moscato d’Asti.
Live the wine lifestyle. Use this chart to make amazing food and wine pairings.
What Wine Goes with Chicken
FAQ
Which wine goes better with chicken?
Do you eat chicken with red or white wine?
What do you drink with chicken?
| Chicken Dish | Best Drink Pairing |
|---|---|
| Roast Chicken | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Amber Ale |
| Grilled Chicken (Herbed/Lemon) | Sauvignon Blanc, Wheat Beer, Gin and Tonic |
| Spicy Chicken Wings | Riesling, IPA, Caesar, Ginger Beer |
| Chicken Alfredo / Creamy Pasta | Oaked Chardonnay, Sparkling Wine, Lager |
Is it okay to drink red wine with chicken?
A simple roasted chicken, for example, pairs equally well with a full-flavored red, a rosé, or a dry white. How do you make the best match?Mar 9, 2021