We recently asked our panel of wine experts to recommend a wine to pair with roasted chicken. While a variety of recommendations came forth, the clear winner of the day was New Zealand's Spy Valley Pinot Noir as two of our experts independently suggested this gem of a wine.
I would recommend a Pinot Noir. Pinot is a great match for fowl. The roasted qualities of this preparation call for one that is perhaps a bit smoky or has some toasty oak notes (within reason). I am going to recommend a Spy Valley Pinot Noir from New Zealand. This is another in a line of very good Pinot Noirs being produced by this relatively young wine producing area. Their Pinot is a fruit forward wine with upfront cherry notes and complex layering of earth and spices. It can be drunk young but cellaring will be rewarded. It is available for under $30 (under $25 with some searching). The 2006’s are on the store shelves now, but the older ones are fine as long as the store keeps the wines cool and well stored. - Loren Sonkin, IntoWine.com Featured Contributor and the Founder/Winemaker at Sonkin Cellars.
-------------------------------------------
Buy Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du RhoneAlthough roast chicken can be prepared in a myriad of ways, I like to stud mine with a few garlic cloves before liberally coat the bird in a concoction of olive oil, parsely, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. This roast chicken a la Provencale begs for a fruit driven red with warm fruit flavors that complement but do not over power the roasted herb and meat flavors. A solid entry level Grenache based Cotes du Rhone is a perfect choice. I really like the 2006 Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone “Reserve” $15.99. If you choose to tone down the herbs and garlic on your roast chicken this Cotes du Rhone should still complement the savory roasted flavors as well. - Mulan Chan, Rhône and French Regional Buyer, K&L Wine Merchants
-------------------------------------------
Buy Spy Valley Pinot NoirI can go with white or red when it comes to chicken, though I tend to drink red more often. I also like the brown meet and crispy skin. Not such a breast man, myself, more into legs. Anyway, that said, I enjoy both, so how about a nice Pinot Noir? In fact, just yesterday, I was drinking Spy Valley Pinot Noir, one of the wines we import, a top quality Pinot from Marlborough in New Zealand, with roast chicken from a fantastic take out place called 8½ in Richmond, Virginia. It went perfectly with the roast chicken but to say that any wine is “the best wine with roasted chicken” is a bit far reaching because chicken can be paired perfectly with so many varietals and regions. It is safety food for wine pairings. So, I stick to the old adage, what is the best wine? The last one! Of course, I don’t drink bad wine, so I’m safe enough here! - Bartholomew Broadbent, CEO, Broadbent Selections, San Francisco
-------------------------------------------
Buy Leitz Eins Zwei Dry RieslingMatching a wine with chicken seems like a no brainer, but it all depends on your marinade or rub with the chicken and how exactly you roast it, whether that’s on the grill or in the oven. On its own, chicken is fairly benign and any roasted version benefits from a slight smoky quality, especially over an open flame. A bone dry Riesling like the German producer Josef Leitz and his Eins-Zwei-Dry Riesling Trocken 2007 ($15) has enough acid and minerality to sooth any charring of the bird. This Riesling, with mild citrus notes and a hint of caramel will stand up to most any rub or marinade including sweet bar-b-que, but not overpower the meat of the chicken itself. The slight effervescence will also clean the palette. - Michael Cervin, Wine Judge, Restaurant Critic, and IntoWine Featured Writer
-------------------------------------------
Buy Chateauneuf du Pape, Les Cailloux Andre BrunelLast weekend I enjoyed one of the best roast chickens on earth...from Zuni Cafe, in San Francisco. It was a beautiful day to eat outside, and we paired a Chateauneuf du Pape, Les Cailloux, Andre Brunel, 2005 with their succulent roast chicken... wow! I'd actually do any Chateauneuf, or even a Gigondas, with a nice juicy chicken -the interesting fruit, acid and complexity are a great match. - Laely Heron, Owner/Winemaker, Heron Wines
-------------------------------------------
Buy Soter RoséRoasted chicken is one of those foods that is so versatile in flavor and preparation that it is easy to pair almost any wine – which makes choosing just one a difficult decision. From chardonnay to pinot noir, roasted chicken deserves a wine with flavor because roasted chicken is full of it. At its best, the skin is crispy, but the meat should be juicy and smoky. My pick, Soter Vineyards North Valley Rosé. Made primarily from Pinot Noir, this wine also gets an infusion of Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. What makes this wine work so well is its fruity character and its easy-going flavor. After all, roasted chicken is a rustic fare. It is not serious. It is simple. What could be easier to drink than rosé? (About $18) – Ben Spencer is a diploma student with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and an IntoWine Featured Writer.
There is currently a raging debate as to the validity of what an “influencer” is. Who are the most influential wine people in the United States, and how exactly do you define ‘influential?’ Does an influential mean a person who moves markets, impacts consumers, inspires winemakers, forms policy,...
People love lists; they can be a great source of education and discussion. But making a list such as this is not an easy process. Who are the most influential wine people in the U.S., and how exactly do you define ‘influential?’ Does influential mean people who move markets, impact consumers, inspire winemakers, and create debate? In a word, yes. These 100 people, from winemakers to law makers, bankers to bloggers, and sommeliers to celebrities are definitely people who influence wine; how it is made, marketed, perceived, sold, shipped, purchased and shared.
Our 2013 iteration of this list is intended as a source of education and discussion. The making of this list is never an easy process. Who are the most influential wine people in the United States, and how exactly do you define ‘influential?’ Does influential mean people who move markets, impact consumers, inspire winemakers, form policy, and create debate? Yes. Though some decry the consolidation of the wine industry (and that is an issue worth considering) we are not trying to suggest who is “good” or “bad” within America’s wine industry. We merely define the Top 100 people, from winemakers to law makers, bankers to bloggers, and sommeliers to celebrities who influence wine; how it is made, marketed, perceived, sold, shipped, purchased, shared and consumed. As was true in 2012, we sought help to assemble this list people from a diverse group of people and we are grateful for their input. And we chose to release it today, January 29th, as it was on this day in 1919 when the pathetic policy of Prohibition was ratified; the effects of this lunatic legislation still evident in our country’s inability to ship and sell wine across state lines. We honor winemakers, wine drinkers and wine lovers of every conceivable demographic. Use this list, comment on it, share it with everyone, learn from it, and continue your joy of being IntoWine.
Ah the ubiquitous list. Everywhere you turn these days there is a top 10, the best 50, or some iteration of a who’s who list. So we can’t resist, besides, our Top 100 Most Influential Wine Industry list scored a lot of buzz, created a lot of chatter and even made a few enemies. This list is all about winemakers, those currently making wine here in America – not the great ones who have come before, but folks who make wines you can find now. There are some 7,000 bonded wineries in the U.S., and there’s a lot of forgettable wine being made. And in a world of homogenization of wine styles and a sense that our domestic wine industry is not legitimate without a French or Italian flare, we desire to promote regional flavor profiles of all American wine craftspeople. There are names here you’ll know and recognize, and names you never heard of but everyone on this list is influencing the public, fellow winemakers and the media in large and small ways. Use this list to learn about wines, varieties and regions you may not have considered; comment on it, share it with everyone, but above all continue your joy of being IntoWine.
BEST OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH NAPA TASTING ROOMS After having visited numerous renowned wineries, many of us are looking for the hidden gems within the Napa Valley. Good wines are certainly valued, but the entire experience a winery provides leaves guests wanting to return and telling their friends and family to visit. Each winery listed in this article has some special draw, whether it’s art, architecture, ambiance, gardens or compelling history.
