Do you like to have grilled chicken with a salad or perhaps pasta, and you’re curious about what wine would go best with that combination? Because chicken is so adaptable and is traditionally considered to be a meat that goes well with wine, it is not a difficult chore to match grilled chicken with a glass of vino.
However, while selecting a wine to go with chicken, it is important to take into account the marinade, sauces, and other components used in the chicken’s preparation.
Which wine is best to serve with chicken that has been grilled? A smokey flavor and attractive grill marks may be seen on the surface of chicken that has been grilled. The charbroiled chicken is delicious when served with Beaujolais, a large and oaky California Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz or Syrah, and Zinfandel.
A rosé or a gently chilled Spanish garnacha is a wonderful choice of wine to pair with chicken that has been rubbed with a large amount of herbs like rosemary and thyme before being grilled.
However, the kind of marinade and sauce might significantly change the wine that is appropriate for the dish.
In this post, we take a detailed look at the wines that are the ideal complements to grilled chicken and provide our findings in a tabletop format. The following are some of the most commonly asked questions concerning which wine pairs best with grilled chicken, as well as the reasons why particular components work better with the smoke and char flavor.
Contents
Do you drink red wine or white wine with grilled chicken?
White wine and red wine are both wonderful accompaniments to grilled chicken. When it comes to chicken that has been char grilled, however, white wines are the greatest choice since they bring out the nuanced smokey tastes in the chicken.
It is necessary to have a more acidic and powerful taste in order to match up with the flavor of the grilled chicken, which is why certain red wines do not mix nicely with grilled chicken.
A silky and dry white wine is the perfect accompaniment to the grilled chicken that is placed on top of a Caesar salad that has a creamy dressing.
Can you pair red wine with grilled chicken?
It is possible to have a glass of red wine with grilled chicken. On the other hand, be sure to choose red varieties that have a robust taste and are fruity, reasonably decent acidity, and low tannins. You may want to try merlot, shiraz, zinfandel, Grenache, or Aglianico.
A full-bodied red wine is an excellent complement to the robust flavors and peppery aftertaste of charred chicken, which may be enhanced by the grilling process.
What is the best wine to pair with grilled chicken?
The marinade and sauces that are used are the primary factors that determine the kind of wine that is chosen. As a direct consequence of this, sweet and spicy barbecue sauces will combine in a manner that is distinct from that of herb-based or tomato-based sauces.
The following are some considerations that should be taken into account when choosing a bottle of wine to go with grilled chicken.
- Herbed: Try a fresh oak wine such as Chardonnay or a noble grape such as Pinot Noir if the chicken was massaged with herbs such as thyme and rosemary. Keep in mind that the chars and smoky tastes are incorporated into the meat while it is being grilled, and as a result, you will need a drink that is much stronger.
- Barbecue sauce: Choose low-tannin reds that are fruity, like zinfandel, when the chicken is infused with some sticky barbecue sauce. Zinfandel is a good example of this. Choose a California rosé for your white wine—nearly it’s sweet, but it’s the ideal complement to the flavor profile of this chicken dish.
- Spicy: You could like to serve dry Riesling with chicken that has been marinated in a spicy sauce and grilled. The spice from the marinade will complement the flavor of the wine well. The fact that Riesling is low in alcohol content and can be enjoyed at any time of the day is perhaps the nicest aspect of this wine.
- Sweet: Choose a Riesling from either Oregon or Germany to pair with the grilled chicken if the sauce has a sweet mustard flavor. If it is more acidic, try a French chardonnay or Beaujolais that has been softly cooled.
Best wine pairings for grilled chicken
Because of the charring and maybe also because of the sauces and marinades that are used, chicken that has been grilled has a high degree of acidity. Having said that, grilled chicken and a variety of wines do not always make the ideal pairing.
The following wines are excellent complements to grilled chicken and are listed in no particular order:
- Pinot noir
- Sauvignon blanc
- Chardonnay, especially big, oaky California
- Zinfandel
- Pinot gris / Pinot grigio
- Riesling, especially off-dry
- Beaujolais
- Côtes du Rhône
Conclusion
It has long been accepted practice to serve red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat, but no one ever said we can’t break a few rules every once in a while. Keep in mind that grilled chicken has a hint of smokiness; as a result, the flavor of the chicken is best complemented by an acidic wine.
There are several dishes in which a glass of red wine complements grilled chicken quite well. If the food contains a creamy sauce or an acidic and rich tomato or barbecue sauce, then red wine is an excellent accompaniment to the dish.
Because of this, certain light white wines won’t mix well with red wines, while other red wines will. If there was any wine used in the marinade or sauce, grilled chicken should always be served with the wine that was used in the preparation of the chicken.
Traditional wine pairings recommend serving grilled chicken with Beaujolais, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, and Zinfandel. These wines all go well with the chicken. The choice of wine may be altered depending on the manner in which the charbroiled chicken is seasoned with other components, such as spices or sauces.
The tastes of the grilled chicken and the wine should be blended together in such a way that they complement one another. Always keep the concept of achieving a harmonious taste balance in mind when choosing the wine to go with your grilled chicken.
FAQs
Does red wine go with grilled chicken?
Due to the fact that barbecuing chicken amplifies the smokey tastes, it is now feasible to mix it with deeper red wines such as Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, or even Malbec, which is the greatest buddy of the barbecue. When pairing wine, go for sauces that are more savory and avoid those that are sugary.
Does Pinot Noir go with grilled chicken?
There are many different types of red wines, but one of the ones that pairs well with food is pinot noir. Because of the delicacy of its tastes, it does not compete with the taste of the meal that you are eating it with, and it is an excellent complement to fish, poultry, and red meat.
Is red wine OK with chicken?
For example, a straightforward roasted chicken goes well with a full-flavored red wine, a medium-bodied rosé wine, or a dry white wine just as well. In addition to that, an oak-aged Chardonnay or a Pinot Noir will be an excellent choice. Choose a red wine with a medium amount of body, such as a Côtes du Rhône, to pair with a dish that has a rich, savory sauce.
Is Pinot good with chicken?
It is normally served with red meat, but I can guarantee you that it also goes very well with chicken. The traditional pairing is red meat and chicken. Although Pinot Noir has a high acidity level, it does not have nearly as much tannin as other types of red wine.
Is Cabernet Sauvignon good with chicken?
We suggest going with a red wine if you are serving chicken that has been cooked with a sauce that is based on tomatoes or peppers. If you prefer Cabernet Sauvignon, though, by all means go with that instead of a decent Merlot, which would work well in this situation. In addition, if you’re roasting a chicken, you may try serving it with a red wine like a Merlot or a Cabernet Sauvignon to complement the flavor of the bird.
