Pairings | Chicken tagine

Which wine to pair with a Moroccan tagine?

Posted by Fiona Beckett on July 30 2022 at 06:24

Exotic and aromatic, Moroccan tagines somehow manage to suit all types of weather and not being particularly spicy are relatively simple to match with wine. The best wine pairing for tagine depends of course on the type of tagine you’re eating.

It’s all about complementing the dish’s warm spices and rich, slow-cooked flavours. Consider the dominant elements in the tagine—whether it’s earthy, sweet, or citrusy—and match the wine’s weight and acidity accordingly. A medium-bodied wine with a touch of spice or fruitiness often works beautifully, while whites with bright acidity can lift dishes featuring preserved lemon or olives. The right pairing will enhance the dish without overshadowing its intricate balance of flavors.

In this guide I’ll cover my top wine matches for different popular styles of tagine including lamb tagine, of course, as well as chicken and vegetable tagines, and even duck!

Lamb tagines

Lamb tagines usually incorporate some kind of fruit, most commonly dried fruits like figs or prunes, so the wine should mirror its sweetness while balancing the spices.

I generally like lamb tagine with mellow aged reds like Rioja reservas or similar oak-aged Spanish reds, inexpensive southern Italian reds such as Nero d’Avola, Negroamaro and Aglianico, Lebanese reds or of course reds from Morocco itself.

You could also try a brighter, fruitier red with good acidity like this Marcel Lapierre Morgon I reported on here, especially if lighter fruits such as apricots are involved. See also...

Lamb tagine with prunes and Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Lamb tagine with dates, prunes, and apricots and a very good Beaujolais

Chicken or vegetable tagines with preserved lemon
You’d think white wine would be the natural go to for a dish like this but I’d be cautious. The lemon flavour in the tagine may well strip out any citrussy flavours in the wine so I’d go for a simple crisp white rather than a Sauvignon Blanc which is a bit too similar in taste. Or for a Hunter Valley Semillon as suggested here.

Better still would be a strong dry southern French rosé such as the Costières de Nimes I mention here or, you might be surprised to learn, an aged Rioja or similar Spanish red as recommended above. You might think red is a weird choice with this type of dish but it works really well provided the wine is not too alcoholic or ripe. So not a 14.5% Chilean or Californian blockbusters!

What wine goes best with chicken - red or white?

Posted by Fiona Beckett on October 16 2020 at 08:15

When it comes to pairing wine with chicken, the good news is that you’re spoiled for choice.

Whether you lean toward red or white, the best pairing depends on how the chicken is prepared and your personal taste. That said, the versatility of chicken as a light meat means white wines often have the edge, with options like lightly oaked Chardonnay proving reliable across a wide range of dishes.

But don’t dismiss red wine out of hand. Certain recipes, such as coq au vin or are cooked with tomatoes and olives can happily take a red.

I’ll also share surprising pairings for dishes like Moroccan tagine, chicken liver pâté, and fried chicken (spoiler: sparkling wine might be your new best friend). Read on for tips to elevate your next chicken dinner.

White wine pairings with chicken

Go for a lightly oaked Chardonnay or other smooth dry white like oaked Chenin Blanc or Viognier with:

Chicken in a creamy sauce, such as chicken alfredo or creamy chicken pies
Creamy or cheesy chicken pasta dishes like chicken tetrazzini
Chicken caesar salad or other chicken salads with a creamy dressing
Mild chicken curries like kormas

Aromatic white wines such as Riesling and Pinot Gris pair well with spicy chicken dishes such as

Thai green chicken curry
Stir-fries with chicken
Sweet and sour chicken
Chicken tikka masala
Asian-style chicken noodle dishes

chicken curry with an aromatic white wine

A crisp dry white like a Pinot Grigio, Picpoul or Sauvignon Blanc is good with

Fried chicken dishes or Mexican-style dishes with guac, lime and coriander

Red wine pairings with chicken

With tomato- and pepper-based sauces - try a medium-bodied southern French or Spanish red like a Côtes du Roussillon - or a Merlot
Chicken with a barbeque sauce can take a more full-bodied red with a touch of sweetness like a Shiraz, Grenache or Zinfandel. (Not too big or oaky though. Chicken isn’t steak!)
With chicken in a red wine sauce like coq au vin drink a similar wine to the one you use for the recipe. Burgundy is traditional but I’d probably go for a red from the Rhône or Languedoc
dishes made from chicken livers like a chicken liver paté - light fruity reds work well with these
And rich chicken dishes like chicken marsala can take a full-bodied red wine like an aglianico

coq au vin with red wine

Four favourite wine matches for coq au vin

When either red or white wine pairings would do

Simply roast chicken. Either an oaked Chardonnay or a Pinot Noir will be great but if you’ve got a dark savoury gravy with it I’d go for a medium-bodied red like a Côtes du Rhône.
Grilled chicken with herbs or lemon chicken. You could go for a crisp dry white as above or a light red such as a Beaujolais or other gamay
With a Moroccan-style tagine with preserved lemon. You’d think white wine but an aged red like a rioja can work surprisingly well as you can see here

There are, of course, many other possibilities - fruity rosés also work well with spicy chicken dishes and Spanish-style chicken dishes with rice, sparkling wines with fried chicken and chicken kiev and cider is generally a great all-rounder but if you want to keep it simple, this is a start!

You may also find these posts useful:

Photo credits: grilled chicken (top) ©gkrphoto, chicken curry ©voltan, coq au vin ©HLphoto, all at Fotolia.com

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Pairings | Chicken tagine

Which wine to pair with a Moroccan tagine?

What wine goes best with chicken - red or white?

When either red or white wine pairings would do

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