Best wines to pair with chicken on the braai

Wine is to a braai what pickled ginger is to sushi — a palate cleanser. The traditional wine pairing advice is to drink white wine with chicken, but it would be difficult to find a white wine that pairs well with chicken cooked on an open fire.

For the traditional sweet and savory BBQ sauce, there are a lot of good red wines and rose wines that will work really well. It’s the nature of the BBQ sauce that should be your primary focus when choosing a wine to pair with; the meat should be secondary. Usually, given the robust nature of the BBQ sauces that people use, you’ll want a robust wine that can stand up to the flavours.

You should also consider your surroundings. If you are eating outside, which is common with braais, you may find your wine warming up more than usual. This will make lower alcohol wines a preferable choice because when wine warms, the alcohol becomes more pronounced and this will have a negative impact on both the wine and the food.

Here are some wines we suggest you enjoy with your braai chicken:

Smoky BBQ Chicken and Wine

If your barbecue sauce has a smokier flavour, strong reds like a Merlot will work. A well-chilled dry rose can also work well if you want a wine that is more refreshing, especially in warm weather.

ORC_Rose

Orange River Rose

 

Sweet BBQ Chicken and Wine

If your braai sauce has a sweeter flavour, you’re better off with lighter, off-dry wine.

de_krans_moscato

De Krans Moscato

 

Spicy BBQ Chicken and Wine

If your barbecue sauce is spicier, you’ll want a sweeter wine that will stand up to the heat. A Riesling or Gewürztraminer would be a good choice to pair with spicy barbecued chicken, but some people find that Sauvignon Blanc also works.

van-loveren-christina-sauvignon-blanc-robertson-south-africa-10483793

Van Loveren Christina Sauvignon Blanc

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