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.
Villa Oliveira - 2e Edição NV
A deep, taut white from the Dão, carried by the granite freshness of the Serra da Estrela.
Tedeschi - Marne 180 2022
A deep, velvety Amarone, where ripe fruit meets spice and the finesse of marl soils.
Schloss Johannisberg - Silberlack Trocken GG 2023
A great dry Riesling from the Rheingau: deep, saline and intensely chiselled.
Schloss Johannisberg - Goldlack Trocken 2020
A broad, taut Rheingau Riesling, where ripe fruit meets a saline finish.
Schloss Johannisberg - Gelblack Trocken 2024
A dry Rheingau Riesling, vibrant and mineral, with a freshness made for the table.
Schloss Johannisberg - Bronzelack Trocken 2021
A dry Riesling from the Rheingau, taut and luminous, where fruit meets saline minerality.
Quinta da Carolina - Xis Branco 2021
A fresh, mineral white from the Douro, carried by luminous fruit.
Portal del Priorat - Gotes del Montsant 2022
A generous, mineral Priorat, where ripe fruit meets the freshness of schist.
Portal del Priorat - Trossos Sants 2019
An ample, saline white from Priorat, where ripe fruit meets the minerality of schist.
Planeta - Cerasuolo Di Vittoria 2023
A luminous Sicilian red, fresh and delicious, between crunchy fruit and floral finesse.
Planeta - Chardonnay 2023
A great Sicilian Chardonnay, sun-drenched and precise, between creamy richness and maritime freshness.
Oremus - Dry Petracs 2021
A dry Furmint from Tokaj, chiselled and saline, where freshness meets volcanic depth.
Oremus - Dry Mandolas 2022
A dry Furmint from Tokaj, vibrant and mineral, where rich fruit meets saline freshness.
Moss Wood - Chardonnay 2022
A great Margaret River Chardonnay, at once sunny, taut and deeply elegant.
Maverick - Twins Barrel Select GSM 2021
A generous, spicy Barossa GSM, between ripe black fruit and savoury elegance.
Macán - Macán 2020
A great Rioja Tempranillo, deep and silky, where controlled power and freshness move forward together.
Mac Forbes - Coldstream Villages Pinot Noir 2020
An ample, precise Pinot Noir from Coldstream, where depth of fruit meets the freshness of the Yarra Valley.
David & Nadia - Grenache 2022
The finesse of South African granite in an ethereal Grenache
Hahn - Smith & Hook Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A Californian Cabernet Sauvignon that is generous and structured, combining intense fruit, spice, and elegant oak.
Hahn - Pinot Noir 2021
A juicy, balanced Californian Pinot Noir, where coastal freshness highlights vibrant fruit and silky tannins.
Hahn - Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A Californian Cabernet Sauvignon combining ripe dark fruit, elegant oak, and a velvety structure.
Hahn - Boneshaker 2020
A powerful and generous Californian Zinfandel, where rich fruit combines with a velvety and warm texture.
Hahn - Chardonnay 2022
A generous and balanced Californian Chardonnay, where coastal freshness meets rich fruit.
Giannikos Winery - Pegasus 2022
A Greek red from the Peloponnese, combining mature fruit, freshness, and elegant structure.
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.