Pairings | Ale

8 great wine (and other) matches for roast chicken

Posted by Fiona Beckett (Google+) on July 31 2022 at 07:22

Roast chicken. Possibly everyone’s favourite Sunday roast. It can take a red or a white wine so the key thing to focus on is what flavourings - or stuffing - you put with it and the sides you serve.

If you’re cooking it simply with its own roasting juices I’d incline towards a white or light red. Roast it British-style with gravy and loads of vegetables and I’d go for a more substantial red such as a Côtes-du Rhône - though not a full-bodied one like a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Shiraz unless you’re dealing with some sweetness and spice in the seasoning - as with this honey-roast chicken recipe

White burgundy or other good quality oaked chardonnay

A blissful match with a simply roast chicken without much done to it - or accompanied by mushrooms or truffles as Lucy Bridgers reports here. Also a good choice if you’re seasoning it with tarragon or serving it with a creamy sauce.

Viognier

This rich white is a good choice when you have a slightly spicy stuffing or one with fruit like apricots in it.

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Tags: cider champagne lager blonde ale golden ale beer Brouilly Beaujolais Cote du Rhone Pinot Noir red burgundy Viognier Chardonnay white burgundy roast chicken food:chicken & poultry

Comments: 8 (Add)

Maureen Steer on April 11 2021 at 09:20

Just had roast chicken with cider - Dunkertons of course - brillant combination
Recently joined your newsletter and very grateful for the introduction to a whole range of interesting wines I would not have picked up otherwise !
Cheers !!

Chris B on April 21 2017 at 07:52

Had roast chicken over the Easter weekend with Eileen Hardy chardonnay, which was absolutely sublime. A really lovely wine.

Nitpicker on September 13 2015 at 23:55

Surely Vacqueyras is no longer a CdR Village?

Fiona Beckett on January 3 2015 at 15:12

That would make a refreshing change. Nice idea!

Stephen on January 3 2015 at 14:48

This year I had a nice Riesling with my roast chicken Christmas dinner. Its so flavourful and goes down really easily.

Stefano from Trieste (Italy) on October 20 2013 at 21:31

I love roast chicken and I like all the matches even if I prefer wine as my personal taste ....

Fiona Beckett on September 4 2013 at 07:04

Funnily enough have been reading about them just yesterday and I agree. Will correct that - thanks

siepert on September 3 2013 at 23:10

fabolous suggestions all, actually made me crave both wine and chicken now, one minor correction: the beers served at oktoberfest are export strength plus, so actually punchier and more full bodied than either budvar or brooklyn. not that they're available for purchase in the uk, but hey.

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