What type of wine would go with my chicken dinner? Red or white? Sweet or sour? These questions always plaque my thoughts anytime I want to get a bottle of wine for dinner. I started my search by heading to the wine shop near me, but it was filled with different sale-persons, telling me how unique each bottle I picked was. It turned out that either every bottle was unique or they wanted more sales. I concluded it was more of the latter.
I wandered around Hampstead high street and hit up a wine shop. By chance, I saw a friend and wanted to talk about my predicament. She offered to get me a bottle of wine and bring it over. She returned with a bottle of Kiwi Sauvignon. She thought that was the perfect wine to complement my chicken. And she was correct, I loved it.
I decided to dig further and did more online research until I started taking note of wine flavours, food compatibility, and of course, customer reviews. Taking all these into cognizance, I had a pick of ten bottles of wines and chose the best wine with chicken for either lunch or dinner, including Kiwi Sauvignon.
*If you are in rush then check the best sellers online. You can never go wrong.
These bottles of wines are the best you can get, especially if you are planning on eating chicken. I made a review of these wines with brand authority, flavour, value for money, and customer reviews in mind. With that being said, let’s get right into the review.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Wine with Chicken UK
1. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Mix (Kiwi Sauvignon)
An exuberant ocean of dazzling citrus, the Kiwi Sauvignon is known as the UK’s s favourite white wine. Made from New Zealand with a variety of vineyards, this mix has a great blend that no one can fault. This wine has its dominant varietal as Sauvignon Blanc.
This mix comes with a pack of 12 bottles, and each of them varies in aromas. It portrays a typical instance of “why have one when you can have 1”. Some might say, there is nothing better than a fresh cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. This statement rings true as this wine is outstanding and has a great taste, especially when paired with chicken.
Features
- A liquid volume of 750 Milliliters.
- Produced in Marlborough.
- It contains Sulphites.
Read More: Best Wine With Turkey On Christmas UK
2. Compass Road Red Wine Montepulciano, Italy.
The Compass Road Red Wine Montepulciano, Italy is gold. Montepulciano is a hilltop town in Tuscany, famous for being the epicentre of the regions surrounding vineyards. Compass Road is the wine manufacturer, hence the name of the wine. It is hand-harvested from low-yielding 30 -50-year-old vines.
I was drawn to this wine because of its ruby colour and most importantly, to the fact that it was carefully selected from Montepulciano grapes. It is perfect with pasta dishes and red meat; a Sunday roast or tomato sauces. Although I paired it with chicken, it came out perfectly as well.
Features
- The Italian Montepulciano has a bright, ruby colour.
- Thirteen per cent by volume of alcohol content.It ‘ss a dry wine from the vineyards of the Adriatic coast, Italy.
3. Terra Organica- Pinot Grigio
This wine is a dry, delicately fruity soft white wine with citrus and orchard fruit flavours with a hint of almonds. Produced by the brand, Terra Organica; this wine was made with minimal use of Sulphur dioxide, organic pinot grigio, and it is suitable for vegans. The brand, Terra Organica, also encourages the promotion of biodiversity to allow plants other than vines grow.
When served chilled, this bottle of wine goes perfectly well with chicken, salads and seafood.
Features
- 12 per cent alcohol content
- Organic white wine
- Made from Pinot Grigio
4.Terra Organica Malbec
This wine is a deeply coloured, creamy and fruity Malbec with distinguished flavours of damson plums, black cherries and a hint of mocha spice.
The best thing about this brand is their ethos- all Terra Organica wines are made from organic grapes. This means no synthetic fertilizers, no insecticides or even weed killers.
The best part is; this wine goes very well with a robust Ottolenghi roast chicken. Thinking of another wine that goes great with chicken, the Terra Organica Malbec is for you.
Features
- Gluten-free
- Vegan friendly
- 13 per cent alcohol content
5.Nostros Reserva Pinot Noir 2014
From the colder Casablanca region of Chile flows this wine in all its glory. If you are familiar with Pinot Noir, you ‘dd know that it is well balanced with chicken, pork and salmon. The pinot noir, which is the dominant varietal stroked my interest to purchase this wine.
This wine is dominated by strawberry and raspberry fruit flavour that gives a gentle, warming finish. It is a simple wine and does not have the complexities that most pinot noir wines portray.
Features
- Red wine
- A varietal composition of pinot noir
- The volume of 750 millilitres
6.Chapel Down Flint Dry, Still White Wine
The brand, Chapel Down, is famous for its full range of still aromatic wines and distinctive sparkling wines. They are one of UK’s s one of the most exciting drink companies in the county of Kent.
With a dominant varietal in Reichensteiner, Bacchus, Schonberger, Chardonnay, Huxelrebe, this wine is crisp and zesty. It can be used to drink dry Pinot Grigio varieties, and most importantly, it goes great with chicken or chicken salad.
Features
- Dry sweetness
- 12 per cent by volume alcohol content
- Award-winning English vineyard.
7.Vernaccia di San Gimignano by Cesani
Another refreshing organic white wine from Tuscany, this wine is produced by Cesani and marketed by the brand – Libiamo Wines “Libiam” is an expression meaning “We shall drink“, used in famous opera Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi.
This wine has a pale yellow colour with greenish reflections. It eludes a fruity and fresh on the nose giving off a green apple flavour. It has a dry after taste of almond on the palate, and it goes well with fish and white meat. When served chilled, it can also be paired with chicken.
Features
- Originates from Italy.
- Dry white wine.
- Has a pale yellow colour with greenish reflections.
8. Ultimate Australian Red and White Mix- Laithwaites Wine
Everyone can always rely on Laithwaites! This was one of the reviews from a customer on this wine, and it intrigued me further to find out what the fuss was all about. I was blown away, as well.
With a perfect blend of both red and white in a pack of six, this collection did not disappoint. So, either a white or a red wine lover, this blend is a perfect match for chicken, steak and kidney pie. The reds ooze deliciously warming richness that lands softly on the palate. This pack contains several flavours from all over the world. There is always a bottle of wine in a Laithwaites collection that can make you fall in love.
Features
- Australian mixed wine.
- Contains sulphites.
- The volume of 4500 millilitres.
9. Faustino VII Rosado 2010
With its rosy colour, The Faustino VII Rosado can be said to be a summer wine. It is made from 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha grapes. This combination gives this beautiful wine a pretty pink colour. It is coldly fermented to maintain smooth fruity aromas and flavours.
With a dominant varietal of Grenache with a varietal composition of Garnacha and Tempranillo, this rosy wine gives off an excellent fruity aroma that has an outstanding balance of acidity and alcohol.
Just like other wines above, this wine can be paired with fish, ham and chicken.
Features
- Rose wine
- Originates from Spain.
- Has a dominant varietal of Grenache.
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10. Domaine Paterianakis, Rare Natural Organic Dry White Wine
Domaine Paterianakis is a prestigious wine manufacturer whose winery is found in Crete, Greece. His family has always produced great wine, and just like generations before him, his wine can be termed as exquisite.
The Pateriankis wines are crisp with intense aromas and can be paired with salads, fruits, meat and of course, chicken. As an organic white wine, this tasted very dry due to the long period of fermentation. This wine is a 2017 vintage.
Features
- Rare Greek fine wine.
- Made in Crete, Greece.
- It is fermented in steel inox tanks, aged three months in the barrel.
Buying Guide Wine with Chicken UK
Now that we have reviewed the 10-best wine with chicken, let’s look at significant considerations to note when buying a bottle of wine.
I think the common connection we all share with wine is the quality. Most people do not understand that wine has taste. When your family visits your house, you go through a difficult time. You can’t serve them overly sweet, fatty foods, because it’s not their thing. That’s when you put on an orange label wine.
I think it’s more than the fact that you have a higher end of a wine, but the aroma of it and the taste. If you go out to eat, I’m sure you can imagine the smell of wine. It does not smell good to most people, especially because most places use plastic bags to hold the wine. They come at restaurants wrapped in those plastic bags, so you can’t smell them. You don’t want to ruin the meal with the smell of wine, so it is hard to enjoy.
Tips to buy wine at the supermarket:
- Know your budget. Where possible, go for a wine that will pair with whatever it is you are planning to cook – trying to maximise flavour isn’t necessary. Whisky doesn’t go with steak. Wine does.
- Know your vintage. Going for a decent vintage wine is a good choice as it may be under the radar of big commercial breweries and producers, and will benefit from sitting for longer before serving.
- Don’t be pressured into buying cheap. Big supermarkets are under huge pressure to make a profit – with a price tag that could only be achieved by sourcing cheap wines.
- Shop around. If you go to a nearby independent wine merchant, you can usually get a better deal. Make up your own mind. If it’s a supermarket you are more familiar with, try to make up your mind based on your budget and size of shopping trolley rather than jumping from one offer to the next.
- Try different wines. It doesn’t always matter if you buy the same stuff at the supermarket every week, it’s important to try different things to find one that suits you.
- Try it with food. If you don’t like it, you can always bin it! But if you do, then you can move on to the next bottle.
- Stay organised. Come in with a clear plan of what you want to buy and what you are looking to eat or cook, and you will have a much better experience.
- Take note of what’s on special. Try to look out for certain wine labels during promotions as this can make a huge difference to the cost per bottle.
Read More: Best Wine With Turkey On Christmas UK
What flavours do you enjoy?
Wine flavours are unique; however, your preferences matter. I had picked out a couple of wines with different tastes, but if you had noticed, I tilted towards more fruity wines because I enjoy fruity flavours. Ensure that you have a flavour in mind that you have tried out or you’d like to explore.
Consider the occasion
Are you expecting guests, or would you like to dink alone? Are you pairing the wine with a meal or are you using it to prepare a recipe? These are valid questions to ask before purchasing a bottle of wine. I was trying to find the best wine with chicken, so I only went for wines that can be paired with chicken. Ensure that the occasion matches your choice of wine.
Be sure to read the label to get more information on the wine.
The information on the label of the wine might seem daunting, but it is essential. Always look out for sweetness, acidity, tannin, and alcohol content. Also take note of wine notes or aromas that might include familiar flavours like citrus, black cherry, apple, or chocolate.
Do not write off bottles with screwcaps.
You might be missing out on a bottle of delicious wine just because you do not like the screwcaps on the bottles. The caps are placed there because the wine is to be consumed within that year for “freshness” purposes.
Go for value over price.
Price matter but value matter more. Stick within a budget but ensure that you are getting deal for the little money spent. Surf the net, do your research and never be swayed by the price when purchasing a good bottle of wine.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What red wine goes with chicken?
Pinot’s is not the only red wine to pair with chicken, but it can be great when paired with chicken.
What other drinks go with chicken?
Whiskey, Gin, and many other drinks.
Does Pinot Grigio go with chicken?
Yes, it does, if you are a fan of Italian-style Pinot Grigio.
Conclusion
While I have come to the end of the review, the wine tasting never ends. The top 10 picks above are the best wines with chicken. They all have great value for money and taste great. Depending on your preference, there is a wine for everybody as long as you are pairing it with chicken.
If you are new to wine picking, follow the buying guide, and it should not be so severe. Although there are ten wines in my review, I have a favourite. This would be the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Mix (Kiwi Sauvignon), and it is, of course, a Laithwaites wine. If you read the review, you would see why it is my favourite and probably might be yours.
The most expensive for me was the Chapel Down Flint Dry, Still White Wine whilst the cheapest as an amazon brand is the Compass Road Red Wine Montepulciano, Italy. I got the best value for my money with the Ultimate Australian Red and White Mix- Laithwaites Wine. This is because I got to try different varieties in a pack of 6 bottles of wine at no extra cost. This wine was money well spent mainly as it could be used to entertain guests, paired with meals and even as a drink after a long day at work. Which of these wines would you try? Let me know in the comments.
