What Wine Goes With BBQ Chicken? Perfect Pairings for Your Backyard Cookout

At Coravin HQ, things are getting hot. The sun is out, the temperature is rising, and our team is working hard to change the way people around the world drink wine. As a team, we like to work hard and play hard. During the summer, we work together all day and then drink wine on the patios of our favorite restaurants or in our own backyards at night. Then, on weekends, we’re all about the outdoor grilling sessions or barbecues.

Cookouts utilizing the grill (cooking with hot flame) or BBQ (indirect cooking with smoke) are a fixture of warm weather gatherings here in New England where Coravin HQ is located. In this roundup, find the best wine for BBQ foods like grilled chicken, burgers, and BBQ ribs.

Hey there, fellow foodies! Summer is in full swing, and that means one thing: it’s BBQ season! There’s nothing quite like the sizzle of chicken on the grill, but let’s be honest – the right glass of wine can take your backyard feast from good to absolutely amazing.

I’ve spent years experimenting with different wine pairings for my weekend BBQs, and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned about matching wines with that smoky, saucy goodness of BBQ chicken. Whether you’re hosting a fancy dinner or just chilling with friends, I’ve got you covered!

Why Wine and BBQ Chicken Make a Perfect Match

Before diving into specific pairings, let’s chat about why wine deserves a place at your BBQ table:

Wine enhances flavors: The right wine can bring out the best in both your food and drink, creating a harmony of flavors that elevate the entire meal.
Balances richness: BBQ chicken often comes with rich, bold sauces that can be perfectly balanced by the right wine.
Refreshing alternative: While beer is the traditional BBQ beverage, wine offers a sophisticated and refreshing alternative.
Makes it special: Adding wine to your BBQ gathering instantly makes the occasion feel more celebratory and thoughtful.

Best Red Wines for BBQ Chicken

When there are rich, smoky flavors in the chicken, red wines can go really well with it. Here are some stellar choices:

Pinot Noir

One of my all-time favorite wines to pair with BBQ chicken is Pinot Noir. Its light to medium body and bright red fruit flavors make it versatile enough to go with the smoky flavors without overpowering the chicken. Its low tannin content also keeps it from clashing with the sauce.

Zinfandel

If your BBQ chicken has a bit more kick or a sweeter sauce, Zinfandel is your friend! This bold, fruity red has just enough spice to stand up to the richness of BBQ sauce while complementing the smoky chicken flavors. California Zinfandels are particularly good choices here.

Syrah/Shiraz

Syrah (also called Shiraz) is great for more hearty BBQ chicken dishes with strong, spicy rubs or sauces. The full body and notes of dark fruit, pepper, and spice can handle the richness and make the smoky flavors taste great next to each other.

Other Great Red Options:

Grenache: Light to medium-bodied with fruity flavors and low tannins.
Malbec: Works well with smoky and spicy BBQ chicken with its medium to full body and dark fruit flavors.
Tempranillo: Especially good with Texas-style BBQ due to its earthy, fruity characteristics.
Carménère: Pairs beautifully with classic BBQ sauce (Kansas City style).
Cabernet Franc: Another excellent match for classic BBQ sauce styles.

Best White Wines for BBQ Chicken

Don’t think that white wines can’t handle the heat of BBQ. In warmer weather, the right white wine can go great with chicken.

Chardonnay

A fuller-bodied Chardonnay, particularly one with some oak aging, has the structure to stand up to BBQ chicken. Its buttery and sometimes oaky flavors complement the richness of the sauce, while the fruity notes balance the smokiness.

Riesling

For spicier BBQ chicken, Riesling is a game-changer! Off-dry Rieslings especially can tame the heat while their acidity cuts through the richness. The sweetness complements spicy rubs and sauces beautifully.

Sauvignon Blanc

With its high acidity and citrusy profile, Sauvignon Blanc provides a refreshing contrast to BBQ chicken, particularly when your chicken has herbal elements or a vinegar-based sauce. It’s like a palate cleanser between bites!

Other White Wine Options:

Pinot Grigio: Light to medium-bodied with crisp apple and citrus notes.
Viognier: Fuller-bodied white with floral notes that work well with spiced BBQ.
Verdelho: Tropical fruit flavors complement sweet and spicy BBQ chicken.
Chenin Blanc: South African versions pair wonderfully with South African “Braai” style BBQ chicken.

Don’t Forget About Rosé!

Rosé wines deserve special mention as they can be perfect for BBQ chicken, combining some of the structure of reds with the refreshing qualities of whites:

Grenache Rosé: Light-bodied with red fruit flavors that complement smoky, savory BBQ chicken.
Syrah Rosé: Medium-bodied with enough structure for richer BBQ sauces.
Pinot Noir Rosé: Light, refreshing, and versatile for various BBQ styles.

How BBQ Style Affects Your Wine Choice

The regional style of your BBQ chicken makes a big difference in what wine will work best. Let’s explore some popular styles:

Texas Style BBQ Chicken

Texas BBQ typically features bold spices, a smoky character from mesquite or oak, and often a tangy, tomato-based sauce with a bit of heat.

Best wine pairings: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, or Malbec for reds. For whites, try Viognier.

Carolina Style BBQ Chicken

Carolina BBQ is known for its vinegar-based sauces that are tangy rather than sweet, often with some heat from red pepper flakes.

Best wine pairings: Chardonnay, Riesling, Grenache, Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, or Pinot Gris.

Kansas City Style BBQ Chicken

Kansas City style features sweet, thick, molasses-based sauces with a balance of tangy and sweet flavors.

Best wine pairings: Zinfandel, oaked Chardonnay, rosé, Merlot, or Sangiovese.

Memphis Style BBQ Chicken

Memphis-style BBQ often uses dry rubs with paprika, garlic, and other spices, with sauce served on the side.

Best wine pairings: Zinfandel, Grenache rosé, Chardonnay, or Tempranillo.

International BBQ Styles and Wine Pairings

BBQ is a global affair! Here are some international styles and their perfect wine matches:

South African “Braai”: Typically uses dry rubs and has a smoky flavor. Pair with South African Chenin Blanc.
Korean BBQ Chicken: Marinated with gochujang and complex spices. Try an off-dry Riesling or fruity rosé.
Australian BBQ: Often features honey butter. Pair with Australian Shiraz.
Jamaican Jerk Chicken: Spicy and complex. Goes well with Gewürztraminer.
Greek Lemon Chicken: Simple and elegant with lemon and herbs. Match with Sauvignon Blanc.
Japanese Yakitori: Glazed with soy, mirin, and sugar. Try a light Pinot Noir.

How Sauces and Seasonings Impact Wine Pairing

The sauce on your BBQ chicken often has the biggest impact on which wine will work best:

Vinegar-Based Sauces

High-acid sauces need high-acid wines to balance them. Try Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, or other crisp whites.

Sweet BBQ Sauces

For sweet sauces, look for wines with some sweetness or fruitiness. Off-dry Riesling, Zinfandel, or well-structured rosé can match the sweetness without being overwhelmed.

Spicy Rubs and Sauces

Spicy elements will amplify alcohol in wine, so choose lower-alcohol options with good fruitiness. Grenache, Malbec, or off-dry whites like Riesling work well.

Complex, Multi-Flavor Sauces

For sauces with sweet, spicy, and tangy notes, versatile wines with good acidity and fruitiness bridge the gap. Try Tempranillo or a balanced Chardonnay.

5 Tasty BBQ Chicken and Wine Serving Ideas

Want to get creative? Here are some specific BBQ chicken dishes and their perfect wine partners:

Grilled BBQ chicken skewers with Pinot Noir: The light-bodied red complements the chargrilled flavors without overwhelming the chicken.
BBQ chicken pizza with Chardonnay: The buttery notes of Chardonnay enhance the melted cheese and BBQ sauce combo.
BBQ chicken sliders with rosé: These cute mini sandwiches are perfect with a refreshing glass of rosé.
BBQ chicken salad with Riesling: The crispness of the salad and the sweetness of the BBQ chicken are beautifully balanced by Riesling.
BBQ chicken tacos with Malbec: The bold flavors of this fusion dish stand up well to Malbec’s rich profile.

Serving Tips for the Perfect Experience

To really make your BBQ chicken and wine shine together:

Temperature Matters

Serve white wines chilled (45-50°F/7-10°C)
Serve red wines slightly below room temperature (60-65°F/15-18°C)
Sparkling wines should be very cold (40-45°F/4-7°C)

Choose the Right Glass

Use a glass with a large bowl and narrow rim to concentrate aromas. White wine glasses are typically smaller than red wine glasses to help keep the wine cool.

Common Pairing Mistakes to Avoid

I’ve made these mistakes so you don’t have to:

Mixing too many dominant flavors: Choose one dominant flavor—either in the chicken, the sauce, or the wine—to prevent flavor clash.
Ignoring acidity levels: Match your wine’s acidity to the fat content in your chicken cut. Higher fat cuts need higher acid wines.
Misjudging sweetness: If your BBQ sauce is sweet, be careful with sweet wines as they might cancel each other out rather than complement.

Final Thoughts

Pairing wine with BBQ chicken is all about enhancing the experience, not complicating it. Remember that the chicken is the star—your wine should complement, not overpower those delicious flavors you worked hard to create.

My best advice? Have fun experimenting! Try different combinations to discover what brings you the most joy. There’s no “wrong” choice if you enjoy it.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a date with some BBQ chicken and a glass of Zinfandel waiting for me in the backyard. Cheers to summer grilling!

what wine goes with bbq chicken

5 Best wines for BBQ foods and grilling

TL;DR: When in doubt choose rosé. This refreshing pink wine goes with almost every grilled or smoked food. Read on for more specific BBQ wine pairings.

Sweet sauce calls for sweet wine. If you’re smoking some pork flavored with sweet BBQ sauce (think: honey BBQ, maple BBQ, or the classic Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue Sauce), opt for a Zinfandel or Riesling. You can get your friends interested in your favorite drink by introducing them to these two wines.

With every sweet option, we need to give you a spicy one. For steak with spicy black pepper BBQ sauce, we suggest a medium-bodied red wine like Tempranillo or Sangiovese from Italy. Both have cherry notes, herb flavors, and medium-high acidity. You’ll also be pleased to find high-quality, affordable options in your local wine shop.

White meat pairs well with white wine. For traditional grilled chicken, we suggest Sauvignon Blanc. If you want to try something new, a Vinho Verde is a great choice for the summer.

What’s a cookout without classic beef burgers? This summer staple calls for one of the world’s most popular wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, with a Syrah or Shiraz coming in at a close second. Cabernet Sauvignon’s black fruit flavors combined with notes of cedar, baking spices, and graphite, pair well with grilled red meats and peppery sauces. If you’re trying to choose between Cabernet Sauvignon vs. Syrah, choose Cab Sauv for black peppery burgers and Syrah for burgers with a spicy kick.

We can’t leave out the veggies. While vegetables are often an afterthought at the cookout, they have the potential to be the star of the show. Our top pick for grilled veggies or veggie skewers is Chenin Blanc followed by a white Bordeaux. Chenin Blanc is a light-bodied, high-acidity white wine with refreshing fruit, chamomile, and honey flavors.

Missing from our shortlist are grilled fish dishes. For salmon, we like something sparkling. For white fish, you could make those grilled chicken wines do double-duty. We know there’s many more we could add. Tell us what you’d add to the list – tag us in your BBQ wine pairings on social all summer long.

BBQ Chicken Lollipops And A Wine Pairing

FAQ

What kind of wine goes well with barbecued chicken?

Chardonnays from Australia, Spain, South Africa or California are your best bet here. Sauvignon Blanc: This herbaceous white wine complements dry spice-rubbed BBQ chicken as well chicken smothered in vinegar- or mustard-based sauces.

Is red or white wine better with BBQ?

Barbecue & Dry Rub Its smoky, sweet, and spicy flavors demand a gutsy, full flavored red. Look for rich, fruit-driven, low tannin reds like ZINFANDEL, West Coast SYRAH or Australian SHIRAZ, or full throttled reds from the SOUTHERN RHONE.

What drink pairs well with barbecue chicken?

Why do iced tea, lemonade, and light, fruity wines like rosé and Riesling go well with BBQ chicken and side dishes? Because BBQ chicken is sweet and smokey, these drinks go well with it. If you’re serving beer, go for crisp lagers or wheat beers.

What pairs best with barbecue chicken?

As sides, I’ve talked about roasted sweet potatoes, cucumber-tomato salad, coleslaw with Greek yogurt dressing, grilled vegetable skewers, cauliflower rice, Greek-style roasted eggplant, avocado-mango salsa, and zucchini noodles with pesto. All of these are tasty and healthy.