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What Wine Pairs With Chicken?

pairing wine with chicken

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Chicken is wine-friendly meat that can be used in a variety of ways, so pairing it with wine isn’t difficult. However, let’s have a look at what wine pairs with chicken in order to make the meal even more enticing and delectable!

When it comes to wine with chicken, the simple guideline is to pair it with the sauce and seasonings used in the preparation of the chicken, rather than the chicken itself.

The basic guideline is that white wine goes with white meat and red wine goes with red meat. This is not, however, a hard and fast rule. White wine is preferred since it is gentler and does not overshadow white meat. Chicken is flavorful meat that absorbs the flavors of the seasonings, herbs, and sauces that are used to prepare it. It’s a wine-friendly meat that goes well with a wide range of wines.

Because chicken can be prepared in a variety of ways, there is no one-size-fits-all answer as to which wine is the finest. The type of sauce (tomato/herb/cream-based sauce) and seasonings used in the preparation of the chicken will define the wine to be served with it. Personal taste preferences, on the other hand, will have to be considered. Let’s have a look at some popular chicken dishes and the best wines to pair with them.

WINE PAIRING FOR GRILLED CHICKEN

Grilling the meat chars it and gives it a smokey flavor. This is much different from fried chicken. Mild white wines will be too bland for such chicken recipes. To match their flavor, you’ll need something stronger and more acidic.

Chardonnay

Because its powerful oak flavor cuts through the sharpness of the charred, smoked flesh, oaked Chardonnay is ideal for grilled chicken.

Pinot Noir

This light red wine also pairs well with grilled chicken. This wine complements the smokey flavor of grilled chicken without overpowering the flavors of the dish because it is neither too mild nor too powerful. It’s also delicious with herb-crusted grilled chicken. If the grilled chicken is seasoned, however, this wine should not be used.

Sauvignon Blanc

This wine’s intense acidity goes well with grilled chicken in a fresh herb sauce. Its herbaceous flavor blends well with herb-based sauces and marinades. Grilled chicken with lemon and thyme pairs beautifully with Sauvignon Blanc.

Zinfandel

This fruity red wine pairs well with grilled chicken thanks to its spicy, acidic character, which counteracts the smoky notes. This wine, which has a high alcohol concentration, combines nicely with roasted chicken.

WINE PAIRINGS WITH ROAST CHICKEN

A decent bottle of wine is all it takes to turn a roast chicken into a meal. A full-bodied red, a fruity rose, or a dry white wine go well with roasted chicken. You’ll need a wine that will enhance rather than overshadow the roast marinade. Which in some cases can be a red wine sauce.

Chardonnay

It pairs well with butter-roasted chicken because of its creamy, silky texture and exquisite freshness. Because oaked Chardonnay can be overbearing, it’s recommended to stick to the unoaked or lightly oaked variants. With roast chicken, you may blindly pair an unoaked Chardonnay.

Pinot Noir

Red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat are exceptions to the rule. Pinot Noir is one of those rare exceptions. This light red wine is a great match because it isn’t too heavy and, unlike Cabernet Sauvignon, doesn’t have a lot of tannins. Its acidity and earthy flavor go very well with the flavors of roasted chicken.

Riesling

This wine’s citrus notes will go well with practically any marinade for roasted chicken. Furthermore, the sweetness of this wine makes it an excellent match for a spicy chicken roast.

Viognier

This white wine with apricot and peach aromas goes nicely with roasts packed with gently spicy stuffing. If your chicken has been butter-roasted with lemon and a herb, Viognier is a great match.

WINES TO PAIR WITH SPICY CHICKEN DISHES

It might be difficult to match wine with spicy foods. To cut the spiciness in spicy sauces and marinades, wines with a higher tannic content are required. The spice in the meal should not overpower the wine. Furthermore, the wine you choose should have a low alcoholic level, as the higher the alcoholic content, the more burning sensation your palate will feel. As a result, stick to lighter-bodied, sweeter wines.

Pinot Gris

This crisp, fragrant white wine has a rich, sweet, and spicy undertone that goes well with spicy chicken meals such as hot chicken drumsticks. Pinot Gris pairs well with Thai green chicken curries, Indian gravies, and other Asian dishes. Its opulence and freshness, which are slightly sweet, enhance the spice of the foods.

Riesling

This off-dry white wine has a subtle sweetness to it, and the low alcohol concentration tempers the dish’s heat. It goes nicely with spicy chicken wings, grilled chicken, and other foods. If you’re making an Asian dish like sweet and sour chicken, Riesling is also a great choice. The bell peppers and onions in the meal will intensify the wine’s fruitiness even more.

Sauvignon Blanc

This fruity wine pairs beautifully with spicy chicken recipes. It complements the food rather than competes with it, bringing out all of its nuances. For spicy Mexican and Southwestern cuisine, Sauvignon Blanc is ideal. This is due to its herbaceous flavor, which pairs nicely with lime and cilantro in Mexican cuisine.

Summary: What Wine Pairs With Chicken?

Chicken is a wine-friendly meat that can be used in a variety of ways, so pairing it with wine isn’t difficult. However, let’s have a look at some of the greatest wines to pair with chicken in order to make the meal even more enticing and delectable!

When it comes to wine with chicken, the simple guideline is to pair it with the sauce and seasonings used in the preparation of the chicken, rather than the chicken itself.

The basic guideline is that white wine goes with white meat and red wine goes with red meat. This is not, however, a hard and fast rule. White wine is preferred since it is gentler and does not overshadow white meat. Chicken is a flavorful meat that absorbs the flavors of the seasonings, herbs, and sauces that are used to prepare it. It’s a wine-friendly meat that goes well with a wide range of wines.

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