What wine goes with white meat? Chardonnay, Chenin or Pinot Noir
935 wines to serve with white meatWith white meat, serve a full-bodied white such as Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc, or a light, fruity red such as Pinot Noir. The sauce guides the choice: cream and mushrooms point to white, roasting juices and golden skin to red.
Poultry, veal and pork share tender, delicate meat. Our selection brings together Chenins from South Africa, Chardonnays from Burgundy, Rieslings, Pinot Noirs from all over the world and a few sakes for Asian-inspired recipes.
Riebeek Cellars & Ryno Booysen - Here & There Malbec 2023
A fresh and succulent expression of Malbec from the low yielding vineyards of Swartland.
Matías Riccitelli - Viñedos de Montaña - Chardonnay 2021
A fine and distinguished Chardonnay, from the magical terroirs of La Carrera and Gualtallary
Bousquet - Unoaked Chardonnay 2022
A fresh and charming Chardonnay
Panos Sarris - V for Vostilidi 2022
The sun of Greece united in this vintage full of freshness!
Paraduxx - Red Blend 2018
Seven grape varieties blended in Napa: silky tannins and a long, spicy finish.
Duckhorn - Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
One of the benchmark Cabernet Sauvignons in Napa Valley
Duckhorn - Merlot “Three Palms” 2020
One of the most famous Merlots in Napa Valley
Duckhorn - Chardonnay 2021
A rich and suave Chardonnay from the cool corners of Napa Valley
Silver Oak - Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
A legendary Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley
Lourens Family Wines - Lindi Carien 2023
A precise and complex blend from the emblematic terroirs of Cape Town
Vesevo - Beneventano Falanghina 2023
A cuvée made from Falanghina, an indigenous grape variety from Campania
Groot Constantia - Lady of Abundance 2021
An astonishing blend with flavors of black fruits and spices
Ferraris - Ruchè Castagnole di Monferrato "Castelleto Montemagno" 2017
A fine and aromatic wine made from Ruché, an indigenous grape variety from Piedmont
Ferraris - Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato "Sant'Eufemia" 2025
A fine and aromatic wine made from Ruché, an indigenous grape variety from Piedmont
Gianni Gagliardo - Barolo La Morra 2021
La Morra at its finest: refined tannins and a long finish.
Ceretto - Barbaresco 2023
Nebbiolo in its elegant style: fresh red fruit and forest-floor notes.
Sottimano - Maté Brachetto 2025
A bright, floral and fragrant wine.
Dalrymple - Pinot Noir 2022
A complex and elegant Pinot Noir from the island of Tasmania
Greywacke - Wild Sauvignon Blanc 2021
A Sauvignon Blanc out of the ordinary, complex and tasty
Paulus Wine Co - Bosberaad Chenin Blanc 2022
An extraordinary white wine, made using the most natural extraction of the fruit.
Matías Riccitelli - Old Vine From Patagonia Torrontés 2024
A high-end Patagonian wine, made from old Torrontes vines
Bousquet - Pinot Noir Reserve 2024
An altitude Pinot Noir with notes of undergrowth and spices
Thymiopoulos - OenosNature Naoussa 2022
A magnificent supple, elegant and very fragrant Xinomavro
Which wine for which white meat and sauce?
Here, the sauce matters more than the meat. Find your recipe and let us guide you.
| Dish | Wines to choose | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Roast chicken free-range chicken, guinea fowl, capon | Pinot Noir, Burgundy Chardonnay | Golden skin and roasting juices love red fruit as much as the roundness of Chardonnay. |
| Blanquette de veau blanquette, chicken in cream sauce | Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc | Cream calls for a full-bodied white, and the liveliness of Chenin brings lightness to the sauce. |
| Roast pork roast, pork tenderloin with prunes | Riesling, Pinot Noir, light Grenache | Mild, slightly sweet meat goes well with fruit and freshness. |
| Veal escalope piccata with lemon, saltimbocca | Falanghina, lively Italian white | Lemon and sage find an echo in a saline, crisp white. |
| Poultry with morels chicken with morels, chicken supreme with vin jaune | Barrel-aged Chardonnay, dry Tokaji Furmint | Forest floor notes answer the oak and richness of the white. |
| Spiced chicken chicken tikka, yakitori, lemongrass chicken | Riesling, Torrontés, sake | Floral aromas and freshness soothe the spices and go with sweet and savoury sauces. |
| Ribs and glazed pork barbecue ribs, caramel pork | Zinfandel, fruity Syrah | A sweet glaze loves a generous red with ripe fruit and soft tannins. |
With the same dish, a white highlights the tenderness of the meat, while a light red brings out the cooking juices.
Pinot Noir, the bridge between white and red
Pinot Noir is the most versatile red for white meat. Its fine tannins and cherry fruit go as well with a roast chicken as with a pork tenderloin, and it is served slightly cool, at around 14 °C. In Burgundy it gains forest floor notes; in New Zealand or California it offers brighter fruit that pleases the whole table.
For white wine, look to South Africa. Cape Chenin Blanc combines the roundness of a sun-ripened wine with vibrant acidity, ideal with a cream sauce. For an escalope with lemon, the Falanghina from Vesevo, in Campania, brings citrus notes and a saline finish. And for poultry with morels, a barrel-aged Chardonnay remains a classic that is hard to beat.
Three pairings to try
Sunday roast chicken and Pinot Noir. The cooking juices and red fruit make a comforting duo.
Blanquette and Cape Chenin. The tension of Chenin balances the richness of the sauce.
Yakitori and sake. A shared umami note, for a surprisingly precise pairing.
The Wine Wanderer Team
Your questions about wine and white meat
What wine goes with roast chicken?
With a roast chicken, serve a light Pinot Noir or a full-bodied Chardonnay. The red goes with the crispy skin and the juices, the white highlights the tender meat. A fruity Grenache also suits poultry with herbes de Provence. Find all our advice in the guide what wine goes with roast chicken.
White or red wine with white meat?
Both work with white meat: it all depends on the sauce. A cream or butter recipe calls for a round white such as Chardonnay; a roast with its juices or grilled poultry happily takes a light, low-tannin red such as Pinot Noir. A rosé with character is also a lovely summer option.
What wine goes with blanquette de veau?
For a blanquette de veau, choose a full-bodied, fresh white: Burgundy Chardonnay or South African Chenin Blanc. The cream and lemon in the sauce call for both roundness and liveliness. We go into the best pairings in our article on blanquette de veau.
What wine goes with roast pork?
With roast pork, serve an off-dry Riesling or a fruity red such as Pinot Noir. The mild meat of pork loves fruit and freshness. For a pork tenderloin with prunes, a generous Grenache brings a candied note that extends the garnish.
What red wine goes with white meat?
With white meat, choose a light red with supple tannins: Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cinsault or a lightly extracted Grenache. Served at around 14 °C, these wines go with poultry, veal and pork while respecting their delicacy. The Rouge Cinsault from Dorrance, in South Africa, is a fine example of this style.
At what temperature should wine be served with white meat?
Serve a full-bodied white between 11 and 13 °C and a light red at around 14 °C. A Chardonnay that is too cold loses its aromas, while a slightly chilled Pinot Noir gains brightness. Take whites out of the fridge twenty minutes before serving.