Chicken can be served so many different ways you might wonder which type of wine makes the best pairing. The truth is there’s no single answer – it depends on your own personal taste and the way it’s cooked – but here’s a simple guide:
Given that chicken is a light meat, it won’t surprise you to learn that white wine is generally a more flexible match with smooth dry whites like chardonnay happily partnering a great many chicken dishes. But there are recipes I’d definitely pair with a red . . .
When to drink white wine with chicken
Go for a lightly oaked Chardonnay or other smooth dry white like oaked Chenin Blanc orViognier with:
Chicken in a creamy sauce, especially with mushrooms or creamy chicken pies
Creamy or cheesy pasta dishes like chicken tetrazzini
Chicken caesar salad
Mild chicken curries like kormas
Aromatic whites like medium-dry Riesling and Pinot Gris match well with spicy chicken dishes such as
Thai green chicken curry
Stir-fries with chicken
Sweet and sour chicken
Chicken tikka masala
Asian-style noodle dishes
A crisp dry white like a Pinot Grigio, Picpoul or Sauvignon Blanc is good with
Fried chicken dishes or Mexican-style dishes with guac and sour cream like chicken enchiladas
When to drink red wine with chicken
With tomato- and pepper-based sauces – try a medium-bodied southern French or Spanish red like a Côtes du Roussillon – or aMerlot
Chicken with a barbeque sauce can take a more full-bodied red with a touch of sweetness like a Shiraz, Grenache or Zinfandel.(Not too big or oaky though. Chicken isn’t steak!)
With chicken in a red wine sauce like coq au vin drink a similar wine to the one you use for the recipe. Burgundy is traditional but I’d probably go for a red from the Rhône or Languedoc
When either red or white would do
Simply roast chicken. Either an oaked Chardonnay or a Pinot Noir will be great but if you’ve got a dark savoury gravy with it I’d go for a medium-bodied red like a Côtes du Rhône.
Grilled chicken with herbs. You could go for a crisp dry white as above or a light red such as a Beaujolais or other gamay
There are, of course, many other possibilities – fruity rosés also work well with spicy chicken dishes, sparkling wines with fried chicken and cider is generally a great all-rounder but if you want to keep it simple, this is a start!
By: Fiona Beckett
***Grabbed from: https://www.matchingfoodandwine.com/news/pairings/wine-with-chicken-red-or-white/?tag=top