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How to pair wines with chicken

Chicken lovers unite! Whether you’re a casserole connoisseur, a fried chicken fiend or simply believe that roast chicken and a good bottle are the ultimate Sunday lunch combination, here's some wine pairing advice to get you started.

Roasted, grilled, fried, poached… However you like to enjoy your chicken, there will be a wine to match it. This versatile ingredient takes centre stage in a whole host of dishes from casseroles and tagines to salads and stir-fries. It can make a simple mid-week supper of grilled chicken skewers or a lavish Sunday lunch of roast chicken with all the trimmings.

When it comes to pairings, the first thing to note is that it’s not all about white wine. While it’s true that white wine with chicken – especially Chardonnay in its various guises – is a classic match, the rule isn’t as concrete as you might think. Rosé and orange wines can also make a winning partner for chicken dishes; the skin-contact that gives these wines their colour can also give them food-friendly texture.

If you’re a rosé fan, look out for the darker pink styles, which usually have more tannin and structure than their pale pink cousins, making them more gastronomic and better for food pairing generally. Following the same principle, lighter red wines with good acidity can also work well with chicken dishes.

Look for grapes such as Pinot Noir, Gamay and Garnacha, which can produce lively, fruity red wines with good acidity, that can even be enjoyed chilled. Even reds with a little more body can work with heavier dishes, such as a casserole or chicken pie.


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