Red Wine Pairings with Chicken

Red Wine Pairings with Chicken
3 mins readFeb 10, 2020

When considering red wine pairings with chicken, it’s important to match the intensity of the dish with the intensity of the wine.

Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits is well-known for our huge selection of popular international name brand and hard-to-find wines, beers and spirits. The most convenient way to get everything you need quickly is to order online.

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Our Top Red Wine and Chicken Pairings

Select light to medium bodied red wines to pair with chicken. The richer the dish, the more color, richness and tannin you can have in your wine.

  • Cabernet Sauvignon: Cabernet is the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth and is excellent with chicken. It is dry, full-bodied and bursting with flavors. Try the Heitz Napa Cabernet from Napa Valley, California, with its rich layers of dark cherry, cassis, and vanilla.
  • Carménère: This medium-bodied red wine originated in Bordeaux but now grows almost exclusively in Chile. It is treasured for its red-and-black berry flavors and notes of green peppercorn. It pairs well with nearly every type of food, including poultry. Try the excellent Vina Maipo Carmenere Vitral from Chile’s Rapel Valley.
  • Malbec: Malbec features a rich, full bodied taste with berry-like fruit flavors. It is a dry wine and pairs well with grilled chicken, chicken enchiladas, and other chicken dishes. Try the Callia Alta Malbec from Valle de Tulum, Argentina.
  • Pinot Noir: Pinot Noir features strong, oaky overtones and is considered a moderately dry, medium-to-light bodied wine. The best Pinots originate in Burgundy, France, but you may be pleasantly surprised by the choices from Oregon, such as the exceptional Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir, an award-winner from Dundee Hills.
  • Shiraz: Shiraz is Australia’s claim to fame, but luscious versions also come from France, California and Washington. The wine pairs well with chicken dishes like Coq au Vin. The Yellow Tail Shiraz from South Australia is a staff favorite.
  • Tempranillo: A popular Spanish varietal, Tempranillo is flavorful but not too strong. Full of delicious fruit flavors, it pairs well with chicken wings, chicken enchiladas, and grilled chicken. We recommend the 2015 Bodegas Ramiro Ramiro’s from Castilla y Leon, Spain.
  • Zinfandel: The red variety of Zinfandel is known for its rich, dark color, high acidity, and medium to high tannin levels. It has a lighter body than other red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and can be enjoyed with many different foods, including chicken. Our staff recommends the Angry Bunch Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County, California

You’ll be surprised at how many successful chicken and red wine pairings there are! Pay a visit to Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits on Grand Cayman to be ready for your next special occasion and enjoy delivery, free of charge.