What wine goes with white meat? Chardonnay, Chenin or Pinot Noir
745 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.
L.A. Cetto - Petite Sirah 2021
Complex and intense red wine reflecting a remarkable concentration of fruits and spices.
Bodegas Tobia - Cuvée Tinto
A vintage full of fruit and sunshine to enjoy with friends!
Jasci - Montepulciano 2022
A concentrate of red fruits and sweet spices in this cuvée dedicated to pleasure.
Veramonte - Pinot Noir 2021
A typical Chilean Pinot Noir, well structured, delicious and organic!
Jasci - Trebbiano 2024
A textured and invigorating organic white with flavors of white fruits and yellow fruits!
Barco Del Corneta - Cucú 2022
A white wine from northern Spain combining aromatic richness and minerality!
Veramonte - Chardonnay 2023
Vinified naturally, this is an exotic, smooth and fresh Chardonnay.
Cantine Ermes - Marchese Montefusco Nero d'Avola 2025
An impromptu aperitif? We look further and uncork this delightful Silica wine full of fruit and freshness!
L.A. Cetto - Zinfandel 2023
A supple and fleshy red wine with flavors of jammy red fruits.
Cousiño Macul - Chardonnay 2017
A Chardonnay from one of the oldest estates in Chile combining roundness, freshness and expression.
Kabola - Malvazija 2021
An organic Croatian white wine made with finesse and lightness.
Bodegas Cenicero Viticola - Finca Cienvacas 2024
A drinkable vintage to enjoy with friends!
Moric - Blaufränkisch 2020
For Pinot Noir lovers, Blaufränkisch is an absolute must-try!
Birichino - Saint Georges Zinfandel 2021
A zinfandel from old vines over 90 years old, of incredible complexity and freshness!
D'Arenberg - The Olive Grove 2021
A beautiful chardonnay with a balanced and intense structure that delights and seduces the taste buds!
D'Arenberg - The Stump Jump White Blend 2025
A superb blend of 4 white grape varieties which results in an aromatic vintage full of freshness
Atamisque - Catalpa Chardonnay 2023
A fine and delicious Chardonnay with fine notes of stone fruits and fresh almonds, take note for lovers of Burgundy whites!
L.A. Cetto - Chenin Blanc 2022
A beautiful expression of tropical aromas to delight your aperitif!
Bodegas Tobia - Daimon White Seleccion 2018
A complex, round and delicious Rioja white that offers you a journey full of flavors.
Herdade Do Mouchao - Dom Rafael 2019
Made from foot-crushed grapes, this cuvée embodies intensity, complexity and pleasure!
Alfredo Maestro Tejero - A Dos Tiempos 2017
A timeless biodynamic wine made only with grapes, vines and healthy soils.
Vinicola Aurora - Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017
A lovely vintage for lovers of power with a balanced and persistent profile on the palate.
Moric - Hausmarke Rot 2017
Finesse and elegance will delight you in this surprising vintage from Moric.
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.