Chicken is one of the most wine-friendly foods there is. On its own, it’s mild enough to go with red, white, rosé or sparkling, so the best match depends on how it’s cooked and what it’s served with. From a simple roast to a creamy pie or a spicy peri-peri, here’s how to choose the best wine with chicken.
What wine goes with chicken?
Match the wine to the sauce and the cooking method, not to the meat. Light, lemony dishes suit crisp whites, creamy sauces need a richer white, and tomato or red wine sauces call for a red. Here are our top picks:
- Roast chicken: a lightly oaked Chardonnay or a Pinot Noir
- Grilled and barbecued chicken: a dry rosé or a fruity Zinfandel
- Creamy chicken dishes: an oaked Chardonnay
- Chicken in tomato sauce: a Chianti
- Fried chicken: Champagne, Cava or Crémant
- Spicy chicken: an off-dry Riesling
- Cold chicken and salads: a Sauvignon Blanc or a dry rosé
What wine goes with roast and grilled chicken?
Roast chicken
With its crispy skin and buttery juices, roast chicken loves a lightly oaked Chardonnay, like a white Burgundy. If you prefer red, a light Pinot Noir or a Beaujolais won’t overpower the meat. With gravy and all the trimmings, the best wine with a Sunday roast can change a little.
Grilled and barbecued chicken
Grilling adds smoky, charred flavours, so the wine can be a bit bolder. A dry rosé is a great all-rounder for a summer barbecue. With a sweet, sticky barbecue sauce, choose a ripe, fruity red like a Zinfandel or a Grenache, which has enough fruit to match the sauce.
Lemon and herb chicken
When chicken is cooked with lemon, garlic and herbs, a fresh, citrusy white is the best match. Try a Sauvignon Blanc, a Picpoul de Pinet or an unoaked Chardonnay, whose zesty notes echo the lemon.
What wine goes with chicken in a creamy sauce?
Chicken in white wine or mushroom sauce
Cream needs a white with body and a rounded texture. An oaked Chardonnay from Burgundy or California is the classic choice for chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce, as its buttery notes mirror the sauce. With lots of mushrooms, an earthy Pinot Noir works well too.
Chicken pie
A creamy chicken and leek or chicken and mushroom pie suits the same rich whites: a lightly oaked Chardonnay or an Alsace Pinot Gris. They’re also our picks for most creamy stews and casseroles.
Chicken Kiev
A chicken Kiev, with its crispy coating and melted garlic butter, needs a crisp white to cut through the richness. A Chablis or a Sauvignon Blanc is ideal, with fresh acidity and citrus notes that suit the garlic and parsley.
What wine goes with chicken in a tomato or red wine sauce?
Chicken cacciatore and chicken parmigiana
Tomato sauces are high in acidity, so they need a wine that is too. With a chicken cacciatore, braised with tomatoes, peppers and herbs, an Italian red like a Chianti or a Barbera is a natural match. The same wines suit a chicken parmigiana, topped with tomato sauce and melted cheese, and most tomato-based pasta dishes.
Coq au vin
Coq au vin is chicken braised in red wine with bacon and mushrooms. The best match is the wine it’s cooked with, traditionally a red Burgundy, or another Pinot Noir with earthy, red fruit notes.
What wine goes with fried chicken?
Crispy, salty fried chicken is brilliant with sparkling wine, as the bubbles and acidity cut through the fat. Champagne, Crémant or Cava all work, and they’re just as good with other fried comfort food. With a breaded chicken schnitzel and a squeeze of lemon, try a crisp Grüner Veltliner or a dry Riesling.
What wine goes with spicy chicken?
Chilli heat makes tannic and high-alcohol wines taste harsh, so go for fresh, fruity wines, ideally with a touch of sweetness.
Peri-peri and jerk chicken
Fiery, garlicky peri-peri chicken is lovely with a chilled Portuguese Vinho Verde or an Albariño, both light, zesty and refreshing. With smoky, spicy jerk chicken, an off-dry Riesling cools the heat, while a juicy Zinfandel suits the sweet spices.
Chicken curry and tandoori chicken
A mild korma, a tikka masala and a hot madras all need different wines, so the best wine with curry depends on the sauce. Smoky tandoori chicken and chicken tikka are easier: a dry rosé works beautifully, as with many Indian dishes.
Teriyaki, stir-fries and sweet and sour chicken
Sweet and salty sauces like teriyaki pair well with an off-dry Riesling or a fruity Pinot Noir. With a chicken stir-fry or sweet and sour chicken, an off-dry Pinot Gris or a Gewürztraminer has the aromatics to match the ginger, garlic and soy.
What wine goes with cold chicken and salads?
Cold roast chicken, sandwiches and picnic food call for light, refreshing wines: a dry rosé or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Coronation chicken, with its creamy, lightly curried sauce and apricots, is best with an off-dry Riesling or a fruity Viognier. With a chicken Caesar, a Sancerre has the acidity to balance the creamy dressing, one of the classic matches for salads.
FAQ
Is red or white wine better with chicken?
Both work, as it depends on the sauce. White wine suits creamy, lemony and lightly spiced dishes, while light reds like Pinot Noir are better with roast chicken, mushrooms and tomato or red wine sauces.
What wine goes with chicken thighs?
Chicken thighs are richer and juicier than breast, so they can take a little more flavour. A fuller Chardonnay or a light red like a Pinot Noir or a Grenache is a great match.
Does rosé go with chicken?
Yes, a dry rosé is one of the most versatile wines with chicken. It’s especially good with grilled, barbecued and cold chicken, and with tandoori or peri-peri.
What wine should you cook chicken with?
Use a dry white like a Sauvignon Blanc or an unoaked Chardonnay for creamy and lemony sauces, and a fruity red like a Pinot Noir for coq au vin. Choose a wine you’d be happy to drink, and serve the same style at the table.
What wine goes with a chicken takeaway?
With fried chicken, open something sparkling, like a Cava or a Prosecco. For spicy wings, peri-peri or a Chinese chicken dish, an off-dry Riesling or a dry rosé is a safer choice.
