What wine goes with white meat? Chardonnay, Chenin or Pinot Noir
927 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.
Acústic Celler - Montsant Blanc 2019
A Catalan vintage made from old vines aged 40 to 80 years old
460 Casina Bric - Mesdì Rosso
A beautiful expression of Nebbiolo, the flagship grape variety of Piedmont
Fattoria di Basciano - Chianti Rufina 2024
A full-bodied Chianti combining complexity and freshness
460 Casina Bric - Ansi Langhe Rosso 2021
A superb blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera, mastered to perfection by Gianluca Viberti
Aneto - Branco Reserva 2023
An elegant, ample and distinguished white wine from the Douro Valley
Caselles & Guillaume Letang - Turno de Noche 2023
A distinguished Malbec grown at an altitude of over 1000 meters
Storm - Vrede Pinot noir 2018
A true local wine, this Pinot Noir expresses purity, elegance and aromatic depth
Fantini - Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2024
A dense, fruity and balanced wine, with a marked typicality of Abruzzo
Delicato Wines & Alex Gittins - Shadow Point Pinot Noir 2019
A delicious and charming Pinot Noir from the Monterey Valley
False Bay - Slow Chenin Blanc 2022
A pure and digestible Chenin blanc with notes of ripe fruit
Koehler Ruprecht Saumagen - Spätburgunder Trocken 2020
A delicious and nervous German Pinot Noir, with notes of forest fruits
David & Nadia - Topography White 2020
A Chenin full of elegance with seductive mineral notes
David & Nadia - Red From Mountain Soils 2019
A duo between Cinsault and Grenache with a spicy and juicy profile
Valenciso - Tinto Reserva 2014
A dense, deep and complex Rioja crafted with elegance
NZ WINERIES & Samantha Bailey - Cloud Factory Pinot Noir 2020
A fresh and delicious Pinot Noir, grown near the coastal areas of New Zealand
Valenciso - Valenciso Blanco 2021
A wine combining texture, balance, minerality and elegance.
Wildeberg & JD Rossouw - Seascape Malbec 2020
A 100% Malbec from the coastal regions of South Africa
Wildeberg & JD Rossouw - The Capeography Sauvignon Blanc 2025
A clean and refreshing Sauvignon from the Elgin region
Shafer - One Point Five 2019
One of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in California
Barone di Villagrande - Etna Rosso 2020
An organic red wine from the volcanic soils of Etna, of rare elegance!
Matetic & Guillaume Letang - Sierra Grande Pinot Noir 2020
A delicate and elegant Pinot Noir with flavors of wild ripe fruit
Paarl Heights - Shiraz 2019
A distinctive Syrah from the foothills of the Paarl mountain
Pittacum - Petit Pittacum 2020
A seductive and juicy expression of the Mencía grape
Kautz Family - Burlesque Zinfandel 2020
A charming and spicy Californian zinfandel
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.