Wine with Chicken

Chicken remains one of the most popular foods in the world because it is both affordable and delicious.  All sorts of dishes feature chicken as the main ingredient, from chicken pot pies to fried chicken to chicken alfredo.  And no matter what type of chicken you prepare, there are always several types of wine that can be served with it to give the flavor an added boost.

One good thing about chicken is it goes with many types of wine, unlike some meats.  For example, you can easily pair fruity rose wine, full-flavored red wine or white dry wine with the typical roast chicken.  This means it won't take you many taste tests to learn which wine you like best with a certain chicken entree.  You can probably enjoy a flavorful combo with the very first wine you try.

Get Creative

Wine pairing for chicken can be accomplished several ways.  Pair wine by the flavor of the ingredients that accompany the chicken.  If cooking a spicy chicken dish, opt for wine with a subtle flavor, such as white citrus-flavor wine or mild fruity blends.  Spicy chicken can also be offset by chilled sweet red wine.  You can try various white wines with barbecue-flavored chicken or chicken seasoned with paprika, cumin and other mild spices.  Chicken cooked with peas and other green sides can go well with mild white wine or prune-flavored red wine.

And don't forget to consider culinary regions in various countries.  Sometimes the best choice is to use wine from the same region where the dish originated.  You might try a chicken recipe that's Mediterranean style.  In this case, you can serve a wine from Spain or Greece.  Italian style chicken can be complemented with wine from Italy.  The same goes for America, France, Australia, Greece and other parts of the world.

Chicken Dish Wine Recommendations

It becomes much easier to select the proper wine when you know the names of a few tasty wines for particular chicken dishes.  One popular way to prepare chicken is in a stir-fry.  This dish is created by adding chicken slices or chunks to special sauce (such as a teriyaki blend) and various vegetables in a frying pan with just enough oil to cover the bottom.  The chicken will take on the flavor of the mixture and will taste tender and delicious.  Stir-fry chicken dishes work well with wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Alsace Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Riesling.  Another home cooking favorite is fried chicken.  With fried chicken, the flavor may vary from spicy to salty to herbal-type flavors depending on the breading batter that's being used.  Be sure to choose the wine carefully.  Common wines for fried chicken include Chenin Blanc, Beaujolais, Sauvignon Blanc, sparkling wine, Zinfandel, Italian Valpolicella or Chianti.

Roast chicken can be cooked with various spices as well, but it is generally a mild, tender dish.  Some great wines to try include French Cotes du Rhone, Italian Dolcetto, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Beaujolais, Pinot Noir and Merlot.  Chicken tetrazzini orginated in America and offers a blend of flavorful ingredients such as carrots, onion, celery, mushrooms, heavy cream or butter and even almonds.  It is usually served over noodles.  Some wines to consider for this dish are Chianti, Chardonnay or Viognier.

With barbecue chicken, the flavor might be mild, sweet, smokey or spicy.  So it's good to buy a few types of wine if possible to find the right one.  For spicy barbecue, try Beaujolais, Zinfandel (California), Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Noir or Riesling (citrus flavor).  For other flavors, consider wines such as French Cotes du Rhone and Chenin Blanc. 

If you like tomato-based dishes, then chicken cacciatore is always a winner.  This dish is prepared Italian style with tomatoes, herbs, onions, mushrooms and bell peppers.  It can be slow cooked and served over pasta or rice with bread.  Some delightful wine matches for this dish include French Rhone, Zinfandel, Chianti and Nebbiolo.  For chicken parmesan, try Chianti, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Sancerre or Merlot.

For chicken curry with potatoes rice and herbs, our suggestions are to try Zinfandel, Riesling, Gewurztraminer or even Sauvignon Blanc.  And, for chicken kiev (rolled breast with butter, cheese, vegetables and breading), consider wines such as Chardonnay (not the oak variety), Gewurztraminer, Riesling or white burgundy.

Wine Sauce for Chicken

Chicken can be dipped in wine sauce, or you can use the sauce for cooking.  Some great ingredients in wine sauce for chicken include thyme, garlic, flour, parsley, salt, pepper, oil, chopped onions, mushrooms, and white or red wine.  Serve it as a dip for chicken roll-ups or grilled chicken strips.  Or pour it over a variety of chicken dishes.

If you plan to entertain guests soon, consider these wine ideas for chicken so you can make a great impression.  Offer several types of wine for guests to choose from - it's sometimes hard to please everyone!  And don't make a big fuss over trying to make the dinner too fancy.  Even a meal that includes wine can be enjoyable and relaxed.

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