Wine with chicken and poultry: choose by the cooking, not the meat
By OnlyWines editorial team
With chicken, the cooking and the sauce decide the wine, not the meat itself. Roast or grilled chicken pairs with a smooth Chardonnay or a light Pinot Noir. Chicken in cream sauce pairs with a creamy white wine. Turkey and duck ask for a little more body.
In this article
Chicken is so mild that it tolerates almost anything. So look at what sits beside the meat on your plate.
By preparation
Roast chicken with gravy
White: Chardonnay with light oak ageing.
Red: Pinot Noir or Beaujolais.
Grilled with lemon or herbs
White: Sauvignon Blanc or Vermentino.
Red is not needed. A light Gamay at most.
Cream sauce or mushrooms
White: Chardonnay or Viognier.
Red: Pinot Noir.
Tomato sauce
White: Verdicchio.
Red: Chianti or Barbera.
Chicken curry
White: Riesling or Gewürztraminer.
Red: chilled Gamay.
Fried chicken
Bubble: champagne or cava.
Or a rosé.
Turkey
Drier and more neutral than chicken, often with cranberry or chestnut. Pinot Noir is the classic, and a Chardonnay with body works too.
Duck
More fat and a pronounced flavour. A high-acid Pinot Noir cuts through the fat. With orange or cherry, a fruity wine fits even better.
Goose
Rich and fatty. A Riesling Spätlese with a little residual sugar, or a Pinot Noir, gives the freshness you need.
Pheasant and partridge
Game birds ask for a red wine with character: Pinot Noir from Burgundy, Rioja or Nebbiolo.
See also red wine with meat. A Cabernet Sauvignon is better kept with the beef, because poultry has little protein to tame tannin.
Fat in the meat needs acidity in the wine. That is why Pinot Noir and Riesling are so loved with poultry.
Holidays
Two bottles on the table
A full white wine or bubble as an aperitif, and a Pinot Noir with the main course. You will find more ideas in wine for the holidays.
With chicken, turkey or duck
Four bottles for poultry
ChardonnaySan Colombano Bianco DOC - Guglielmini
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir · Piemonte
Smooth with roast chicken and cream sauce.
Pinot NoirDavid Finlayson Pinot Noir 2023
Pinot noir · Stellenbosch
The classic with turkey, duck and mushrooms.
Rhône redKammuca Rosso - Romano
Merlot, Syrah · Sicilië
Syrah or Grenache gives spice with duck and game.
BubbleBonarda - Guglielmini
Croatina · Piemonte
Champagne or cava cuts through fried chicken.
Frequently asked questions
Which wine pairs best with chicken?
That depends on the preparation. Roast chicken pairs with a smooth Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, chicken in cream sauce with a creamy white wine, grilled chicken with a fresh Sauvignon Blanc.
Can you drink red wine with chicken?
Yes. Choose a light red wine with little tannin, such as Pinot Noir or Beaujolais. Heavy red wine overwhelms the mild meat.
Which wine pairs with turkey?
Pinot Noir is the classic. A Chardonnay with some body also works well, especially with a fruity or creamy sauce.
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