by Lorri | Jul 18, 2012 | UnCorked
The wines you can serve with chicken dishes are seemingly limitless. In fact I would venture to say that there is not a varietal that can’t be matched with chicken.
Over the years more families opt for chicken over beef or even fish when it comes to everyday dinners, with many of us turning to organic, grain-fed birds or free-range chicken as our main meat several nights a week.
As with most pairings, it’s how you cook the chicken and any dominant flavorings that guide us in creating the ideal pairing. These are a few of my favorite chicken dishes we have experimented with recently and wines to match.
Roasted chicken: cabernet sauvignon, merlot, sangiovese, malbec, rioja
THE VALUE
- 2010 Alamos Malbec, Argentina (about $13 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2010 Marques de Caceres Rioja, Spain (about $21 retail)
Chicken breast in creamy sauces: pinot noir, Riesling, tempranillo, chardonnay, viognier
THE VALUE
- 2011 Banrock Station Chardonnay, Australia (about $10 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2011 Peter Nicolay Mosel Riesling, Germany (about $18 retail)
Smoked or barbecued chicken: zinfandel, cabernet franc, tempranillo
THE VALUE
- 2010 Silver Peak Vineyards Zinfandel, California (about $13 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2010 Ghost Pines Zinfandel, California (about $20 retail)
Grilled chicken: semillon, chardonnay, pinot noir
THE VALUE
- 2011 Chateau St. Michelle Semillon, Washington (about $14 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2010 Louis Jadot Pinot Noir, France (about $26 retail)
Cajun chicken gumbo: NV Champagne, sparkling wine, pinot gris, chardonnay, pinot noir
THE VALUE
- 2011 Columbia Crest Two Vines Chardonnay, Washington (about $14 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2011 Ponzi Pinot Gris, Oregon (about $20 retail)
Chicken Curry with Vegetables: Spanish cava, sparkling wine, rose, sauvignon blanc
THE VALUE
- 2011 La Vieille Ferme Rhone Rose, France (about $12 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2011 Honig Sauvignon Blanc, California (about $17 retail)
by Lorri | Feb 25, 2009 | UnCorked
A friend called last week wanting to know my recommendations for the best wine to serve with chicken.
When it comes to chicken, there is no easy one-wine-fitsall answer.
Chicken can be prepared using a wide variety of techniques and flavors and can be as complex or simple as the cook chooses.
We grill, roast, bake and fry it — all while adding an array of flavors ranging from delicate herbs, such as rosemary, to robust sauces, like hearty barbecue.
That’s a lot to ask of just one wine.
The only cautious advice: Consider chicken a light meat and therefore easily overwhelmed by full-bodied wines. But, as always when it comes to food and wine, there are many opportunities for the perfect match. The easiest place to start is with the cooking method and dominant flavors.
Smoky, barbecued or grilled: malbec, zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon
THE VALUE
- 2006 Cline Cellars Zinfandel, California (about $12 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2006 Ravenswood Amador County Zinfandel, California (about $22 retail)
Plain roasted or grilled: chardonnay or pinot noir
THE VALUE
- 2007 Yalumba Oxford Landing Chardonnay, Australia (about $9 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2006 Martin Ray Angeline Pinot Noir, California (about $20 retail)
Sweet-and-sour flavors: semillon, Riesling, chardonnay, merlot
THE VALUE
- 2007 Montes Classic Merlot, Chile (about $11 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2003 San Simeon Monterey Chardonnay, California (about $25 retail)
Asian stir–fries or with coriander, cilantro and lime: Riesling, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc
THE VALUE
- 2007 Penfolds Rawson’s Retreat Chardonnay, Australia (about $10 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2007 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $22 retail)
Fried chicken: sauvignon blanc, merlot, gamay or Valpolicella
THE VALUE
- 2007 Lindeman’s Bin 40 Merlot, Australia (about $8 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2006 Beringer Founders’ Estate Merlot, California (about $11 retail)
Mediterranean dishes with tomatoes and garlic: French blends, syrah/shiraz
THE VALUE
- 2006 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz, Australia (about $12 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2006 Greg Norman Shiraz, Australia (about $22 retail)
