CHICKEN AND
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General InformationWine pairing with chicken is extensive and varied with practically all white and rose wines capable of pairing well with chicken, and even some red wines pairing with ease during certain circumstances. When in doubt, whites always pair best. There is small chance of a white wine overpowering the flavours of chicken, while you could potentially go wrong with a red, even a rose. When all is said, It really comes down to how the chicken is prepared in order to narrow down the best wine pairing.
As with chicken, many wines fit the bill for turkey, even a wild turkey. Turkey is often eaten as an oven roast and is paired with the likes of cranberry sauce, gravy and mayonnaise. For turkey, look for wines whose flavours theme on autumn and that pair nicely with the turkey's sides and toppings. In Depth PairingFor a chicken prepared in oven roast form, with simple light herbs, a Chardonnay with its creaminess pairs well with garlic and butter. A Savignon Blanc or a rosé would pair quite nicely with dishes using thyme, rosemary or citrus flavors. A nice light bodied Pinot Noir or Granache goes well with rosemary seasoning as well as saltier chicken dishes. Viognier pairs better with aromatic sage and lavender seasoning.
A chicken in a white sauce pairs best with a creamier Chardonnay which accompanies the cream of a white sauce with its butter like quality. Cote Du Rhones white wines also stand up to a richer cream sauce. If that sauce is tomato based, a white may not stand up to the flavours. This is a job best suited for a lighter bodied jammy red wine such as a Merlot or Zinfandel, or even a lighter Italian wine like Chianti with its cherry and tomato flavours. Chardonnay also stands up to the greasiness of a deep fried chicken but some might say a good ol sparking white wine, Lambrusco or champagne is best for cutting the grease here. Poached chicken removes much of the inherent chicken flavour. A Chenin Blanc is the right wine for this style as it is a light flavoured wine itself, pairing well with light flavours. When that chicken is being prepared barbeque style, with zingy sweet barbeque sauce or spicy style sauce, turn to the jammier light bodied reds such as a light to medium bodied Zinfandel, Malbec, Shiraz or Merlot. When it comes to an asian curried chicken dish, look to a Riesling or even a Muscat where their sweetness can stand up to the curry spice. For turkey, turn to a Grenache Blanc with its green apple emphasis or turn to a white Rhone blend adding Viognier to the Grenache turning this crisp apple drink into a tropical fruit mix. Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir also pair well with a turkey. A more medium bodied Pinot Noir can stand up to the gravy topping often accompanying a turkey. A turkey with jammy cranberry sauce might pair nicely with a jammier light red such as a Merlot or Zinfandel . |
Wild Game Wines @ wildgamewines.com
Natalie MacLean @ nataliemaclean.com
Two Sisters Wine Tripping @ twosisterswinetripping.com
Match My Wine @ matchmywine.com
Wine Folly @ winefolly.com
Natalie MacLean @ nataliemaclean.com
Two Sisters Wine Tripping @ twosisterswinetripping.com
Match My Wine @ matchmywine.com
Wine Folly @ winefolly.com