What Wine Goes with Chicken? (Wine Pairings for 10 Dishes)

by Anthony Zhang

Chicken is a highly versatile protein - part rich dark meat and part lean white meat - that can easily pair with many side dishes, accompaniments, sauces, and even wines!

It's less fussy than red meat, which demands a robust, full-bodied red wine, or fish that requires a white wine with crisp acidity.

So, what wine goes with chicken dishes?

Let’s explore a few common chicken sauces and their best wine pairings. We’ll also look at 10 specific chicken dishes and give you wine suggestions for each!

What Wine Goes with Chicken: The Basics

Since chicken is hybrid meat, it equally pairs well with red, white, and rosé wine. However, specific sauces and taste profiles go well with particular wines.

1. Spicy Chicken

For a spicy chicken dish, you want to balance the hotness with a sweet wine like a Moscato or a Riesling. A cold glass of one of these will help refresh your tastebuds and cool your palate.

Since these wines usually have a lower alcohol volume, you can also drink a couple of glasses without regretting it the following day!

Some other white wine suggestions are Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Gewürtztraminer.

2. Tomato-Based Chicken

The tomato sauce typically infuses the chicken dish with a wonderful acidic flavor.

A classic example is Chicken Cacciatore. This dish pairs best with a lighter red wine like a Pinot Noir, which can help balance the acidity of the tomato-based sauce.

For a dish like Chicken Parmigiano, this wine will not only tame the tart tomato but will do so without losing the richness of the cheese, creating a perfect pairing.

Other red wine suggestions are Gamay, Grenache, Primitivo, or Cinsault.

3. Sweet Chicken

A sweet chicken dish like the orange chicken has a refreshing dash of zest that makes them a perfect companion to dry wine.

A dry rosé or white wine like a Chenin Blanc or Pinot Gris can bring out these sweet flavors without overpowering your palate for an exhilarating culinary experience. Red wine fans can’t go wrong with a New World Merlot or a full-bodied Pinot Noir.

Keep reading to learn which wine pairs best with specific chicken dishes and some fantastic wine recommendations for each dish!

Wine Pairing Ideas with 10 Chicken Dishes

We’ve listed 10 everyday chicken dishes and explored which wines pair best with each.

BBQ Chicken
Chicken Cacciatore
Chicken Curry
Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken Marsala
Chicken Piccata
Chicken Salad
Fried Chicken
Grilled Chicken
Roast Chicken

1. BBQ Chicken

BBQ Chicken has delicious smoky flavors, making it possible to pair this chicken dish with darker, bolder reds like Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Malbec, or Barbera.

These wines and their characteristic dark fruit flavors perfectly complement the sweet barbeque sauce to create a delicately balanced meal.

Wine Suggestions:

2018 Familia Zuccardi 'Finca Piedra Infinita' Gravascal, Paraje Altamira, Argentina ($310)
2012 Vineyard 29 Aida Estate Zinfandel, Napa Valley, USA ($130)

2. Chicken Cacciatore

There’s no better fit to Chicken Cacciatore than a classic Pinot Noir with a balance between its fruity and earthy flavor.

Our tip: cook this dish using Cabernet Sauvignon to create harmony between the wines!

Wine Suggestions:

2019 Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, France ($519)
2013 Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir, Martinborough, New Zealand ($62)

3. Chicken Curry

Dry Viognier can offset the heat of a red or green Thai curry.

Typically, the Thai Chicken Curry would be no match against a bone-dry wine, but Viognier’s sugar concentration will help temper the spice.

Wine Suggestions:

2017 Chateau Grillet Condrieu La Carthery, Rhone, France ($291)
2015 Cave Yves Cuilleron Condrieu Les Chaillets, Rhone, France ($84)

4. Chicken Enchiladas

Enchiladas might be a Mexican dish, but an Italian wine like a Pinot Grigio serves well with the flavors of guacamole and sour cream.

A crisp, dry Sauvignon Blanc is another noteworthy option.

Wine Suggestions:

2016 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux, Bordeaux, France ($324)
2016 Il Carpino Vis Uvae Collio, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy ($42)

5. Chicken Marsala

Chicken Marsala is a hot yet creamy chicken dish that pairs well with a lighter red wine or a fuller white wine.

Our top picks of red wine are Pinot Noir and Malbec, or Chardonnay and Riesling for whites.

Wine Suggestions:

2005 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault, Cote de Beaune, France ($421)
2016 Meiomi Pinot Noir, California, USA ($24)

6. Chicken Piccata

Known for its creamy sauce with hints of lemon, parsley, and black pepper, the right wine pairing here is a buttery Chardonnay.

You can also pair your Chicken Piccata with other whites like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Blanc to bring out the dish’s more subtle flavor.

Wine Suggestions:

2000 Louis-Benjamin - Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex, Loire, France ($420)
2008 Domaine Henri Gouges La Perriere Blanc, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru, France ($148)

7. Chicken Salad

A simple yet fulfilling dish, like Chicken Salad, works beautifully with a classic chicken wine pairing: an oaked Chardonnay!

If you prefer, you can also go for a dry white like a Viognier or a Chenin Blanc.

Wine Suggestions:

2016 Kistler Vineyards 'Kistler' Chardonnay, Sonoma Valley, USA ($371)
2018 Francois Villard Condrieu De Poncins, Rhone, France ($45)

8. Fried Chicken

The bread combination in Fried Chicken Dishes requires a mild wine pairing like a dry Chardonnay, a sparkling wine like Champagne, or even a beautiful Grenache.

Chardonnay can offer citrusy flavors, while Champagne’s acidity can cut through the fried coating. Grenache offers delightful red fruit and spice notes to sophisticate this chicken dish.

Wine Suggestions:

1985 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Brut, Champagne, France ($448)
2018 Bodegas Alto Moncayo 'Veraton' Garnacha, Campo de Borja, Spain ($31)

9. Grilled Chicken

A Grilled Chicken breast goes beautifully with an oaked Chardonnay as the rich flavors play with the smokiness to make your mouth water!

Red wine fans can choose a lighter wine like a Gamay or a Pinot Noir.

Wine Suggestions:

2017 Rene et Vincent Dauvissat-Camus Les Clos, Chablis Grand Cru, France ($406)
2015 Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon 'Cuvee Marcel Lapierre,' Beaujolais, France ($68)

10. Roast Chicken

As a homely meal that can lift your spirits, Roasted Chicken pairs best with a dry white, medium-to-full-bodied rosé, or a full-bodied red wine.

This selection depends on the flavors and spices you’ve used in your chicken recipe.

To make it easier, you can go with an oaked Chardonnay or a light Pinot Noir to bring out the dish’s rich flavors without compromising on taste.

Wine Suggestions:

2005 William Fevre Les Clos, Chablis Grand Cru, France ($179)
2018 Anthill Farms Campbell Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, USA ($51)

Host Your Next Dinner Party with the Perfect Wine!

Now that you know which wine to pair with your chosen chicken dish, we bet your next dinner party will be a roaring success!

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