Cooking a delicious grilled chicken is the perfect way to impress your family and friends.
But don’t forget about those important finishing touches!
A great wine pairing can make or break the entire meal experience.
However, you may be asking yourself, “Which type of wine should I pair with my juicy grilled chicken?”
That’s where this blog post comes in.
Here we will explore some of the best wines for pairing with grilled chicken to ensure that your next dinner party is a hit!
From classic white wines to fruity rosés, there are so many options available when it comes to finding the perfect bottle for your dish.
We’ll go over different types and flavors of wine as well as recommended brands that will bring out all the unique flavors in your masterpiece.
So get ready to take notes – because you’re about to learn how to pair cooked perfection with delicious vino!
But first, what wine goes with grilled chicken?
The best wines to pair with grilled chicken are oaked Chardonnay, Gamay, and Pinot Noir. These wines have a light body and bright fruit flavors that will complement the flavors of the chicken. For a more complex flavor profile try pairing with Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling.
Why Consider Serving Wine With Grilled Chicken?
Serving wine with grilled chicken is a great way to elevate your meal and impress your guests. Pairing the right type of wine with grilled chicken can help bring out subtle flavors in the dish that you might not have noticed otherwise.
Plus, there are so many different types of grilled chicken dishes that it’s easy to find a wine to pair with each: from spicy Asian-inspired recipes, to Italian classics like pollo alla diavola or Mediterranean recipes such as Greek Souvlaki.
With so many delicious options, why not take the opportunity to enjoy some good vino?
The key is finding the right wines for your dish—but don’t worry; we’ll go over some tips on how you can do this later in this guide!
The Best Red Wines For Grilled Chicken
When it comes to red wine pairings with grilled chicken, you want to look for wines that have a good balance between tannin and acidity. Red wines with more tannins can be too overpowering with grilled chicken, while those low in acidity can be too flat.
One of the best types of reds for pairing with grilled chicken are Pinot Noirs. These lighter-bodied wines have just enough tannins and fruitiness to stand up to the smoky flavors of a perfectly cooked piece of grilled chicken without being overly heavy.
A great alternative for those who don’t prefer Pinot Noir is Gamay, which has bright berry notes that work well with the flavor profile of barbecued or smoked meats. Other options include Zinfandel and Grenache, as these bolder styles also work well when paired with roasted or barbecued meats such as poultry dishes like grilled chicken.
The Best White Wines For Grilled Chicken
White wines are always a great choice for grilled chicken dishes. If you’re looking for something sharp and acidic, opt for a Sauvignon Blanc that has hints of citrus and tropical flavors.
Pinot Grigio is light-bodied and pairs nicely with the crunchy texture of grilled chicken or the subtle spices in marinated recipes.
Chardonnay is an obvious crowd-pleaser and can be found in both oaked and unoaked varieties to suit your palate.
It’s also important to consider how the sauce or seasoning will affect the pairing as some herbs like rosemary pair better with white wines than reds or rosés.
Finally, if you want something truly special, try a Chenin Blanc from France – it has bright acidity, intense aromas of stone fruit, floral notes, and subtle sweetness that makes it an ideal accompaniment to grilled chicken.
The Best Rosé Wines For Grilled Chicken
Rosé is a versatile wine that works well with many types of grilled chicken dishes. Since the flavors can range from dry to sweet, it’s important to pick one that complements the marinade or glaze you’re using.
For instance, if you’re grilling chicken with a spicy marinade or sauce, a Provencal rosé will pair well as its light acidity and fruity notes can tame the heat. If you are serving your grilled chicken with something like a honey-mustard sauce, try pairing it with an off-dry Spanish Rosado which has a slight sweetness that adds balance to the dish.
On the other hand, if you prefer something more savory and herbal like rosemary garlic-marinated chicken skewers or kebabs served over basmati rice then opt for an Italian Rosato such as Bardolino Chiaretto Rose Wine. Its tartness and minerality will bring out all those delicious herb flavors in your dish.
Other Wines To Pair With Grilled Chicken
If you’re looking to experiment a bit with your grilled chicken wine pairing, there are some other options that can be quite tasty as well.
Sparkling wines such as Champagne and Prosecco are excellent for cutting through the richness of grilled meats like chicken.
Another great option is sake, which can bring out the smoky flavors of any grilled dish.
The sweetness of a Riesling or Chenin Blanc provides another interesting flavor combination when paired with grilled chicken.
A late harvest Gewurztraminer is another sweet alternative that complements the umami flavors of grilled poultry perfectly.
Finally, if you want to go for something unique and unexpected, why not try an off-dry rose or Verdejo? The combination will create an amazing balance between fruity notes and savory spices!
5 Tips For Picking A Wine
When it comes to wine pairing for grilled chicken, there are a few tips you can use to pick the best wines. Here are five of our favorites.
- Consider what is being served with the chicken – Wine pairs better when there is a complementary flavor profile between the dish and the wine. If your grilled chicken has bold flavors like garlic or herbs, then look for a full-bodied red or white to match up with those robust flavors.
- Match the weight of the food with an appropriate wine – Grilled chicken tends to be light and lean, so you want to pair it with lighter-bodied wines such as Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blancs.
- Balance sweet & spicy flavors – If your grilled chicken recipe includes ingredients like honey or cayenne pepper, try finding a sweeter style of white wine such as Riesling or Gewurztraminer that will counterbalance any spiciness from these ingredients in your dish.
- Don’t forget acidity – A common mistake is to overlook how important acidity is in a good pairing – try something acidic like Vermentino or Chenin Blanc which will bring out brightness and freshness in your dish!
- Pick something that you enjoy! – Last but not least: don’t forget about personal taste preferences when selecting a wine for grilled chicken! Choose something that appeals to you; after all, no one knows what tastes best more than yourself!
Grilled Chicken Wine Pairing: 3 Ways To Go About It
Now that you know which wines work best with grilled chicken, let’s talk about the different ways of pairing wine with it.
The first option is to have a single bottle at the table and just pour everyone a glass. This way all your guests share the same experience and hopefully enjoy it as much as you do!
The second option is to have multiple bottles, each one representing a different flavor profile. This could be especially fun if you are having dinner with friends who like to explore new flavors.
Finally, there’s nothing wrong with having one bottle per person so they can enjoy their favorite type of wine while enjoying their meal. In this case, make sure everybody knows what their options are before pouring them out so they can choose according to taste preferences or dietary restrictions.
Serving Temperature And Glassware
Serving temperature and glassware are also important components of any grilled chicken wine pairing.
Generally, white wines should be served chilled, and red wines should be served at room temperature. However, there are exceptions to this rule depending on the type of wine you’re serving.
For example, some sparkling wines can actually benefit from being served slightly warmer than whites.
When it comes to glassware for your grilled chicken wine pairing, it’s best to opt for a larger bowl-shaped stemmed glass that will allow the aromas from the wine to develop fully as you sip or swirl.
Stemmed glasses are generally preferred because they also prevent heat transfer from your hands warming up the beverage before consumption.
Conclusion
Grilled chicken is a widely popular dish that can be easily paired with the right kind of wine to really elevate the meal.
Whether you’re serving grilled chicken as part of a summer cookout or just trying to figure out what kind of wine goes best with your healthy weeknight dinner, there’s something for everyone in this guide.
So, what wine pairs well with grilled chicken?
The best wines to pair with grilled chicken are oaked Chardonnay, Gamay, or Pinot Noir. Oaked Chardonnay will provide a full-bodied creamy texture that pairs well with the smoky flavors of grilled chicken. Gamay and Pinot Noir both have a light body and fruity notes that enhance the flavors of grilled chicken.
With the right advice, some experimentation, and a little guidance on different techniques for pairing wines, you can make sure that your next meal is an enjoyable one. So go ahead and give it a try – not only will you impress your guests but you might just find yourself discovering new favorite dishes and bottles of wine!
Jenny has always been passionate about cooking, and she uses her platform to share her joy of food with others. Her recipes are easy to follow, and she loves giving tips and tricks to help others create their own unique culinary creations.