The 3 best wines with fried chicken
1 Champagne Dry sparkling wine
The high-low pairing sommeliers love: toasty bubbles and crunchy, salty skin.
Serve 43-48°F Non-vintage from $35; vintage $70+
3 Grüner Veltliner Light-to-medium crisp white
Zippy and peppery; great with spicy Nashville hot chicken.
Serve 45-50°F From $12 (often in 1-liter bottles)
Best on a budget: Cava Brut: around $12.
Also good
What to avoid
- Tannic reds. Tannin and fried batter taste metallic together.
It depends how you cook it
| If you’re having… | Pour |
|---|---|
| Nashville hot | Off-dry Riesling cools the heat. |
| Korean fried chicken | Riesling or Prosecco. |
| Chicken and waffles | Demi-sec sparkling or Moscato d’Asti. |
Frequently asked questions
What wine goes with fried chicken?
Sparkling wine: Champagne, Cava or Prosecco. The bubbles and acidity cut through the fat.
Tried this pairing?
What readers poured
Tried Fried chicken? Tell us which bottle you opened and how it went. The first good one goes right here.
Share your pairing
More pairings
PoultryRoast chicken
Chardonnay · Pinot Noir · Gamay (Beaujolais)
PoultryThanksgiving turkey
Pinot Noir · Gamay (Beaujolais) · Riesling
PoultryDuck
Pinot Noir · Red Bordeaux blend · Nebbiolo (Barolo)
