How to Pair Wine With Italian Chicken

Pair wine with chicken to balance flavors.

Italian chicken refers to a number of Italian-influenced dishes, from breaded and herb-encrusted baked chicken with delicate flavors to robust chicken entrees topped with cream-based or tomato-based sauces. Choosing wine to complement your Italian chicken dish requires considering personal preferences and the flavor palette of the ingredients. White wines tend to complement herbed chicken dishes by matching the herbal flavors and not overpowering the food. Robust reds with soft tannins typically stand up against the acidity of tomato sauces and sharp cheeses such as Parmigiana-Reggiano or Asiago that top an Italian chicken dish.

Instructions

1. Study the menu or recipe description of the type of sauce used to complement the Italian chicken dish. Pair a full-bodied red wine such as Amarone, Chianti, Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir with chicken parmesan or chicken cacciatore that infuse tomato-based or Marsala sauces and hard cheeses.

2. Choose a white wine with a fruity flavor such as Riesling or a red with soft tannins including Pinot Noir to complement Italian chicken dishes with an arrabiata (spicy) tomato sauce or pepper based sauce.

3. Select a white wine with buttery, fruity or oak undertones such as Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, white Bordeaux or Chablis to pair with butter, cheese, wine or cream-based sauces. Italian chicken dishes that implement such flavors include parmesan-encrusted chicken, chicken Marsala or chicken fettucine Alfredo.

4. Pair Italian herb-encrusted, breaded or lemon-flavored chicken dishes that implement earthy herbs such as garlic, oregano and rosemary or citrus flavors with dry or fruity white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling or Pinot Grigio.

References

• Food and Wine Pairing: Poultry
• Food and Wine: An Expert's Pairing Advice; Ray Isle
• Wined In: Food and Wine Pairings
• French Scout: Major Types of Red Wines
• Bar School: Wine Dictionary