Isn’t it obvious? Wine and food were meant for each other. Wine is the seasoning that brightens up your typical, everyday meal. The golden rule when selecting a wine to accompany a dish is all about the correct balance. The more delicately flavored the dish, the more delicately flavored the wine, and when food and wine are paired perfectly, it makes the whole meal taste even better.

Chicken and wine! I’m not talking about Kentucky Fried Chicken or Chicken Shack, not that there is anything wrong with that. I’m talking about choosing the best wine to accompany your favorite chicken dish. For instance, Chinese Chicken Salad is an ideal, hot-weather, main-course dish. A slightly off, dry Riesling is the perfect match for the sesame ginger dressing and the toasted sesame seeds in the salad. For Sweet and Sour Chicken, basically a sweet dish, you could also pair a Riesling from the Mosel in Germany, a perfect complement with its high acid mouthfeel. Another idea would be a sweet, slightly effervescent Moscato d’Asti from Italy.

My all-time favorite is barbecue chicken, sizzling on the grill, dipped in a robust, heavy barbecue sauce, and paired up with my favorite Red Zinfandel. Yummy!

Here are a couple of suggestions you could try from our Nino’s wine department.

Armida Poizin Sonoma Zinfandel 2014-$19.99

This is definitely the wine to die for when you’re cooking up your favorite barbecue chicken. It is lush and delicious, bursting with cherry and spicy peppercorn, ending with hints of chocolate and vanilla.

Saracco Moscato D’Asti, 2015

Delicate and fresh with a slight effervescence, driven by flavors of fresh peaches, pears, and candied fruits, this wine is perfect for summer chicken salads, with a slight sweetness in the dressing.

Dr. Loosen Riesling, 2014

One of my favorite all-around Rieslings that pairs perfectly with any chicken that has a little spice, the Dr. Loosen Riesling is fruity and fresh with flavors of pear, peach, apple, apricot mango, and a zest of lime. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

I hope you found this helpful!

Simone