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.
Lourens Family Wines - Skuinskap Steen Chenin Blanc 2023
A refined Chenin Blanc, both luminous and deep, reflecting the terroir of the Cape mountains.
Tabalí - Talinay - Sauvignon Blanc 2021
An elegant and mineral Sauvignon Blanc, with aromas of spring flowers and citrus fruits
Patz & Hall - Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2017
A Pinot Noir that embodies the finesse and complexity of the Sonoma Coast
Torbreck - Hillside Vineyard Grenache 2021
Grenache at its best Australian expression
Jasci - Montepulciano sans soufre 2023
A concentrate of red fruits and sweet spices in this cuvée dedicated to pleasure.
Panos Sarris - Avithos muscat sec 2024
A fragrant and elegant muscat from pre-phylloxera muscat vines
Thymiopoulos - Atma Rouge 2021
A red wine from Northern Greece, combining indulgence and freshness
Glenelly Estate - Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2022
Stellenbosch Chardonnay fermented in 500-litre barrels, quince and lime zest.
Greywacke - Pinot Noir 2022
A Pinot Noir that embodies the elegance and complexity of the Marlborough terroir
Tolpuddle - Pinot Noir 2022
A masterfully crafted Pinot Noir, combining aromatic intensity, refinement, and remarkable depth.
Patz & Hall - Chardonnay Dutton Ranch 2018
A Chardonnay that embodies the finesse and complexity of the Russian River Valley
Kautz Family - The Big Top Zinfandel 2023
A charming and spicy Californian zinfandel
Thymiopoulos - Blanc des Côteaux Cuvée Amphore 2023
A complex, intense and saline blend
Panos Sarris - Panochori Vieilles Vignes 2023
Robola, the other great white grape variety of the Greek islands
Morra Gabriele - Foravia Langhe Nebbiolo 2024
A Nebbiolo crafted in the codes of the modern era: fresh, elegant and airy
Nickel & Nickel - C.C Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Single-varietal Rutherford: blackcurrant and wild raspberry on polished tannins.
Nickel & Nickel - State Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A single plot in Yountville, a Cabernet with a silky grain and a long finish.
Balassa - Tokaji Furmint Betsek 2024
A wine with a volcanic character from Betsek, bringing tension, complexity and finesse
Malma - Rara Avis Pinot Noir 2021
The top-of-the-range Pinot Noir from Domaine Malma, made from ungrafted vines
Matías Riccitelli - Old Vine From Patagonia Pinot Noir 2024
Old, ungrafted Pinot Noir vines planted in the heart of Patagonia
El Esteco - Don David Reserve Torrontés 2024
A fresh and aromatic Torrontés, from vines perched at an altitude of 1800 meters.
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.