What Wine Goes With Chicken?
By Bordeaux Brian for Pair It & Share It · Published
BOTTOM LINE
Chicken takes on the flavor of its sauce, so pair the sauce. Roast chicken is happiest with Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. Lemon and herbs suit Sauvignon Blanc. Creamy sauces suit a rounder, oaked Chardonnay. Fried chicken loves sparkling wine. Barbecue chicken suits Zinfandel or rosé.
Quick decision
- Roast chicken→ Chardonnay or Pinot Noir
- Lemon, garlic and herbs→ Sauvignon Blanc
- Creamy or mushroom sauce→ Oaked Chardonnay or Pinot Noir
- Fried chicken→ Champagne or another dry sparkling wine
- BBQ or jerk chicken→ Zinfandel, off-dry Riesling or rosé
Roast chicken: the most flexible dinner
A golden roast chicken works with both a medium-bodied white and a light red. Chardonnay matches the richness of the skin; Pinot Noir adds red fruit without heavy tannin.
Bright flavors need bright wines
Lemon, capers and fresh herbs need a wine with similar acidity. Sauvignon Blanc and other crisp whites keep up; a soft, oaky white can taste flat next to lemon.
Fried and spicy chicken
Bubbles and acidity cut grease and salt, which is why sparkling wine and fried chicken work so well. For spicy styles, an off-dry Riesling cools the heat.
Common questions
- Red or white with chicken?
- Either. White is the usual default, but Pinot Noir works with roast chicken, mushrooms and darker meat.
- What wine goes with chicken parmesan?
- Tomato sauce changes the pairing toward Italian reds. See our chicken parmesan guide for details.
Choosing a glass? See the Chardonnay, oaked and unoaked wine glasses its makers document, in the free Wine Glass Finder.
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About the author. Bordeaux Brian brings more than 30 years of wine experience and firsthand experience in vineyards and wine regions around the world. His focus is practical: helping people make better wine decisions without the intimidation.