Chicken is a versatile protein that can be prepared in endless ways from simple roasted chicken to more complex dishes like chicken marsala or coq au vin. With so many options it can be tricky to know which red wine to pair with chicken. But with a few guidelines, you can easily find a red that brings out the best in your chicken dish.
Light-Bodied Reds
Light-bodied reds with bright acidity and low tannins are a great match for simply prepared chicken. The lighter weight of the wine won’t overpower the delicate chicken, while the acidity helps cut through richer preparations. Good options include:
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Pinot Noir Both Old World Burgundy and New World styles have fresh cherry flavors that complement roasted chicken or chicken braised with mushrooms Frequencies Pinot Noir – 6, Burgundy – 2, New World – 1
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Beaujolais: Made from the Gamay grape, Beaujolais is light-bodied with tart red berry notes. It’s perfect with roast chicken or fried chicken. Frequency: Beaujolais – 2.
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Garnacha: The soft, fruity wines from Garnacha (Grenache) grapes grown in Spain pair nicely with Spanish-style chicken braised with peppers and onions. Frequency: Garnacha – 2.
Medium-Bodied Reds
For heartier chicken dishes with richer sauces move up to medium-bodied reds with a bit more structure. Recommended grapes and regions
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Sangiovese: The bright cherry and herbal notes of Chianti Classico or Vino Nobile di Montepulciano match well with chicken cacciatore or chicken pasta dishes. Frequency: Sangiovese – 2.
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Merlot: The plush, fruit-forward Merlots from Napa Valley or Washington State complement pan-seared chicken served with a red wine reduction sauce. Frequency: Merlot – 2.
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Malbec: Smoky, plum-scented Malbec from Argentina stands up to rich chicken mole sauce or barbecued chicken off the grill. Frequency: Malbec – 2.
Bold, Spicy Reds
For intensely flavored preparations with spice, sweetness, or smoke, go for fuller-bodied reds with robust fruit. Options to try:
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Shiraz/Syrah: Smoky, peppery Shiraz from Australia’s Barossa Valley pairs beautifully with jerk chicken or chicken tikka masala. Frequency: Shiraz/Syrah – 2.
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Zinfandel: Sweetly fruity California Zinfandels match nicely with barbecued chicken slathered in sauce. Frequency: Zinfandel – 2.
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Tempranillo: The savory cherry and tobacco notes of Rioja Reserva or Ribera del Duero Tempranillo complement chicken braised in Spanish aromatics like saffron, paprika and chorizo. Frequency: Tempranillo – 3.
Regional Specialties
When preparing chicken in a particular ethnic style, consider reds from the same region. The flavors of the wine and food will naturally complement each other. Pairings to try:
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Chicken mole or fajitas: Fruit-forward Tempranillo blends from Mexico’s Baja region. Frequency: Tempranillo – 1.
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Chicken tagine: Earthy, medium-bodied reds from Morocco like a Merlot/Cabernet blend. Frequency: Merlot – 1, Cabernet – 1.
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Coq au vin: Elegant, earthy Pinot Noir from Burgundy. Frequency: Pinot Noir – 1, Burgundy – 1.
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Chicken paprikash: Fruity, spicy Kadarka or Kekfrankos reds from Hungary.
Key Tips for Pairing Reds with Chicken
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Match lighter chicken dishes with lighter reds, and vice versa. Don’t overpower the chicken.
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Acidity is important for cutting through fattiness and sauces. Look for bright, high-acid reds.
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Herb-rubbed or lemon chicken calls for vibrant, fruity red wines.
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Roasted chicken can pair with a range of reds from Pinot Noir to Merlot to Garnacha.
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Opt for an off-dry Riesling or Moscato with spicy Thai or Indian chicken dishes.
Chicken’s versatility makes it suited to all different styles of red wine. Keep these tips in mind, consider the flavor profile of your chicken dish, and experiment with different reds to find that perfect pairing. With a little practice, you’ll be able to confidently match red wines with any chicken preparation.
Types of Poultry Paired with Wine
A quick tip is to think “lighter meat, lighter wine.” Roasting poultry preserves a lot of the rich flavors, so sometimes you can get away with a red wine with more complexity.
Chicken – A lightly flavored, medium textured meat. Poussin – Poussin is like a mini chicken, tastes like chicken, often prepared like Quail. Quail – More assertive flavor than chicken but not as strong as duck. Very tender, small, usually with bones. Sweet nutty flavor. Quail is traditionally stuffed with forcemeat due to a small size. Turkey – The breast meat of turkey is lightly flavored and has a strong texture.
In this case.. “Darker meat, darker wine.” Below are the best birds to pair with red wines.
Pigeon Squab (rock dove) – Succulent but earthy with darker meat and delicate texture. Pheasant – Pinkish-white meat, with delicate flavors that are a touch more exotic and apple-like than chicken. Partridge – The texture is not as delicate as pheasant or squab but with a similar flavor of earthy dark meat. Guinea Fowl – Tastes like a combination of chicken and turkey with dark meat overtones. Duck – More assertive flavor with an oily and gamey note. Depending on the preparation, duck can be more reminiscent of pork. Turkey – Long grain and strong textured meat. Turkey has a rich buttery and nutty flavor. Goose – Almost like a wild turkey with all dark meat. Often noted as being similar to roast beef. Ostrich – Unlike other birds and more steak-like in texture. Ostrich is an extremely lean and tender red meat, so try to pair it with wines that have less tannin and more juiciness, such as a Côtes du Rhône or Syrah.
Cooking Styles Paired with Wine
Wondering why you haven’t seen Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah on this list yet? Whether or not you can pair a bolder red wine with your meal will depend mainly on how you prepare and season your bird. Below are wine pairings to some common styles of chicken.
What Wine Goes with Chicken
FAQ
What red wines are good with chicken?
- Vino Nobile, Chianti, Negromaro, Salice Salentino are good reds for that.
- If you do not want to search for those, an Australian Shiraz or a Zinfandel would work nicely.
- If you are overly sensitive to tannins, Chianti or Beaujolais or Pinot Noir are good options.
Can I eat chicken with red wine?
Wines Paired with Recommended Dishes. While the sauce will greatly affect the flavor of the meat, here are some great wines to try with lighter and more delicately flavored poultry. Did you know that chicken can pair well with both red and white wines?
What wine goes with chicken?
Best wine to serve with roast chicken – oaked chardonnay (white) Buttery, unctuous roast chicken needs a wine of similar stature, which is why an oaked chardonnay works so well. You can expect melon and herb flavours from the wine, plus a buttery finish.
What red wine goes best with roast chicken?
Yes, you can absolutely enjoy red wine with roast chicken! If you’re a fan of red wine, we recommend an elegant Pinot Noir. French Pinot Noir, particularly from Burgundy, is renowned for its delicate fruit notes of raspberry, cherry, and violet, along with a touch of gamey complexity as it ages.