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9 great wine pairings for duck (updated)

Posted by Fiona Beckett (Google+) on November 12 2024 at 12:44

Pinot Noir is the go-to wine with duck, and for good reason. Its lush fruit complements the meat in the same way as fruit like plums and cherries. But duck can be cooked many different ways, which means there’s plenty of opportunity to experiment.

The best wine with duck depends on how it’s prepared - roasted, confit, or cooked in wine, like my recipe for duck casserole with red wine, cinnamon and olives.

The common factor is that duck is a fatty meat that tends to need a wine with some sharpness and acidity to cut through and some ripe fruit to contrast with the rich flesh.

Here are the wines I think work best, plus my pairings for 10 popular duck dishes.

Pinot Noir

Whether it’s a fine old burgundy or an exuberant full-bodied pinot from California, Chile, Oregon or the Central Otago region of New Zealand, Pinot Noir is almost always going to make people happy. (See this pairing for example.) If you’re roasting a wild duck or serving it plainly cooked you might want to go for a more delicate red burgundy*. If you’re serving super-rare duck breasts or duck that has some kind of Asian spicing (e.g. Peking duck), a sweeter, riper style might work better. Whatever. Think Pinot.

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Comments: 9 (Add)

Larry Burr on January 28 2021 at 19:20

Good matches! Merlot from British Columbia or Washington State has the acidity to brighten the wine, and match it well with the duck

Tim Haslam on September 20 2020 at 15:05

One of my greatest food & wine matches was pan-fried duck breast in raspberry sauce with Feudi Di San Gregorio's Taurasi. Sublime.

Martyn Cornell on April 29 2019 at 13:00

Best drinks to go with duck: Imperial stout; kriek lambic; Rauchbier; strong dark barley wine; Alaskan smoked porter; hefeweize. Wine? Fuggedaboutit.

Jack Simmonds on April 27 2019 at 07:24

For heaven sake ! You didn't mention Gruner Veltliner? Where have you been?

Fiona Beckett on March 19 2017 at 21:11

That would work too, John especially with duck confit.

John on March 19 2017 at 16:51

What about a malbec? Cahors would be best but other malbecs are worth a try

Fiona Beckett on April 19 2015 at 09:15

Interesting suggestion. Will have to try though I don't make duck à l'orange that often TBH

Jim C. on April 19 2015 at 03:47

I'd second the Barolo or Barbaresco recommendation with most duck dishes; nothing works better than nebbiolo. But for Peking duck or duck a l'orange, I look for touriga nacional or blends from Douro or Dao.

Tim Steele on September 27 2014 at 23:11

I'd add a Corbiere or Minervois to that list. Those bitter tannins paired with the massive Syrah ripe red fruits match the heavy fats of a confit beautifully.

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