Wings and Wine?
I love wine, but I also love wings, maybe even more than I love wine. Not sure… Anyhow, my love of the wing prompted my brother and I to create www.cluckbucket.com several years ago. The Cluckbucket is a place where we share wing recipes, places to find good wings, and even proper wing eating techniques.
Because of my love for both wings and wine, I have often received the question - “what wine pairs best with chicken wings”? Well, I hate to break it to you, the answer is a resounding - none, choose beer. An ice cold beer of almost any variety is definitely going to be the best pairing companion for a plate of wings. That said, if you must have wine with your wings, here are my thoughts…
Not all chicken wings are created equally, so the first thing you need to think about is what type of wing are you going to have - plain fried wings, traditional buffalo wings, Asian wings, BBQ wings, etc… Let’s break it down one by one:
Plain fried wings: crispy, breaded, deep fried wings are pretty heavy and fattening so you need a wine that will punch back, something that is light, crisp, and slightly acidic. I like a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Gris here because it will really balance out the fried chicken flavor.
Traditional buffalo wings: whether you like them mild or hot, smoked or fried, breaded or naked, nothing beats a great plate of buffalo wings. The traditional hot sauce and butter combination of buffalo wings requires a wine that smooth and creamy, much like the blue cheese that is served with the wings. For this, I like a Chardonnay or a Viognier.
Asian wings: I’m fortunate to live in Portland, the original home of Pok Pok and Ikes Vietnamese Fish Sauce wings. Many Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese restaurants crank out fantastic wings that are definitely worth checking out. Asian wings are very flavorful and often very spicy so you need a wine that is able to cool off your mouth and mellow things out. For this, I like a dry Riesling or Gruner Veltliner.
BBQ Wings: Fire up the grill or smoker, coat with a dry rub, slather on some sauce, and get ready to feed the masses with some messy, tasty, BBQ wings. BBQ wings give us a great opportunity to shift over to a red wine for paring and in this case I like something that is big, fruity, and bold. For me, this is where a Syrah or a Zinfandel can bring a really nice compliment to any sort of BBQ - wings, ribs, or pulled pork.
In closing, like I said at the beginning - when eating wings, drink beer….but, if you must drink wine I hope this guide helps narrow down your choices.