Jake Harper
Chicken Marsala is a traditional Italian dish that combines chicken, mushrooms, and a creamy Marsala wine sauce. The wine used in the dish is a fortified wine from Sicily, and it comes in both red and white varieties. The red variety is sweet, while the white is dry. When it comes to wine pairings, Chicken Marsala sits on the cusp between red and white wines, so you have options. A light-bodied red wine or a bold white wine will work well. If you're looking for a red wine to pair with Chicken Marsala, here are some options to consider:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wine type | Light-bodied red wine |
| Flavour profile | Light and elegant |
| Flavour notes | Cherry, raspberry, earthy fruit, balsamic vinegar, roasted tomato, herbs |
| Acidity | High |
| Tannins | Light |
| Aroma | Fruity and floral |
| Complementary flavours | Mushroom, butter, marsala wine, chicken |
| Wine examples | Pinot Noir, Lambrusco, Chianti, Gamay, Merlot, Barbera, Valpolicella |
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What You'll Learn
Light-bodied reds
Chicken marsala is a dish that sits at the cusp of red and white wine pairings. It is a rich, creamy dish with mushrooms, chicken, and a sweet and savory marsala wine sauce. The wine should complement the sauce, so it should be able to stand up to the sauce without overpowering it.
Another option is an Italian sangiovese, which has flavors of cherries, balsamic vinegar, roasted tomato, and herbs. Its light body and bright acidity will make it a refreshing pairing with the dish. Similarly, a Valpolicella, made from a blend of grape varieties in the Veneto region of Italy, has bright acidity and light tannins that make it a great match for the savory and slightly sweet flavors of chicken marsala.
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White wines
Chicken marsala is a dish that combines chicken, mushrooms, marsala wine, and cream into a savoury, rich meal. The sauce has mushrooms, which offer umami and savoury notes, and marsala wine, which imparts a rich sweetness. Chicken is a white meat that lends itself to a lighter wine.
When it comes to white wines, a bold white wine is generally preferred for chicken marsala. A heavy to medium-bodied white wine with high acidity is ideal for cutting through the richness of the dish. Here are some specific white wine recommendations:
- Chardonnay: A fresh, crisp Chardonnay has enough body to stand up to the creamy marsala sauce.
- Chenin Blanc: Chenin Blanc has a bright acidity that mingles nicely with the rich marsala sauce. Alheit Vineyards' Cartology wine, which is 92% Chenin Blanc and 8% Sémillon, is an excellent choice. For a more affordable option, try Catena's White Clay, which is 60% Sémillon and 40% Chenin Blanc.
- Riesling or Chablis: These wines have high acidity, which will cleanse the palate and make each bite taste refreshing.
- Sparkling Wines: Sparkling white wines, like champagne and cava, have high acidity and creamy notes of butter, brioche, and biscuit, along with fresh apples and pears. The bubbles act as scrubbers for your palate, providing a refreshing contrast to the heaviness of the dish.
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Sparkling wines
Chicken Marsala is a dish that combines chicken, mushrooms, Marsala wine, and cream into a savoury, rich meal. The sauce has mushrooms, which offer umami and savoury notes, and Marsala wine, which imparts a rich sweetness. Chicken is a white meat that lends itself to a lighter wine.
Chicken Marsala sits right at the cusp between red and white wine pairings, so you have options. You can opt for a light-bodied red wine or a bold white wine. However, if you are looking for sparkling wines to pair with chicken marsala, there are a few options to consider.
Another option is to go for sparkling white wines, such as champagne and cava. These wines have high acidity and creamy notes of butter, brioche, and biscuit, along with fresh apples and pears. The high acidity in these wines will help to cut through the richness of the creamy fats in the chicken marsala dish, providing a refreshing contrast. Additionally, the bubbles in sparkling wines act as scrubbers for your palate, cleansing it with each bite, especially when paired with pan-fried chicken.
When serving sparkling wines with chicken marsala, it is important to use the correct glassware and ensure that the wine is chilled.
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Pinot Noir
Chicken Marsala is a rich and savoury dish that combines chicken, mushrooms, Marsala wine, and cream. The best wine to pair with it will be a light red or a bold white. While some sources suggest a bold white wine is the best pairing for Chicken Marsala, a light-bodied red wine like Pinot Noir is also a good choice.
Chicken Pinot Noir with Wild Mushrooms and Fresh Basil is a dish with a European flair that blends the richness of a French-inspired wine sauce with the earthy flavours of wild mushrooms and the brightness of fresh basil. The recipe involves seasoning chicken breasts with salt and black pepper, heating olive oil in a Dutch oven, and browning the chicken. Onion, garlic, tomatoes, wine, chicken broth, oregano, and thyme are then added to create a rich sauce. This dish can be served with twice-baked mashed potatoes and a wedge salad with blue cheese dressing.
Another recipe for Easy Pinot Noir Chicken with Mushrooms involves sauteing chicken in olive oil, sweating onions and mushrooms with salt, pepper, and butter, and then adding chicken stock, cornstarch, and wine to create a bold sauce. This dish can be served over pasta or with mashed potatoes.
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Italian reds
Chicken Marsala is a traditional Italian dish that combines chicken, mushrooms, and creamy Marsala wine sauce. The sweet and savoury notes of the Marsala sauce complement the complex notes found in red wines, while the chicken itself pairs well with white wines. The key is to find a wine that can stand up to the sauce without being overpowered.
When it comes to Italian reds that pair well with Chicken Marsala, here are some options to consider:
Pinot Noir
A light-bodied red wine with a delicate flavour profile, Pinot Noir offers notes of cherry and raspberry. Its light and elegant nature makes it a perfect match for the rich and savoury flavours of the dish. The hint of earthiness in Pinot Noir also pairs amazingly with the mushrooms in the Marsala sauce, while its backbone of dark fruits complements the lightly sweet Marsala wine sauce. Additionally, the bright acidity of Pinot Noir helps to cut through the richness of the dish, creating a well-balanced pairing.
Lambrusco
Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine that adds a unique touch to the pairing. While there are sweet options available, it is recommended to go for a dry Lambrusco when pairing it with Chicken Marsala.
Valpolicella
Produced in the Veneto region of Italy, Valpolicella is a red wine made from a blend of grape varieties. It offers a fruity and floral aroma with notes of cherries, spices, and chocolate. The bright acidity and light tannins of Valpolicella make it an excellent choice to match the savory and slightly sweet flavours of Chicken Marsala.
Chianti
Chianti is a dry and medium-bodied red wine produced in the Chianti region of Tuscany, Italy. It is often paired with Italian cuisine and is a great choice for Chicken Marsala. Chianti boasts bold and robust flavours of black cherry, dried herbs, and tobacco. The wine's dry finish helps to balance the sweetness of the Marsala wine.
Barbera
Barbera is another Italian red wine that pairs well with Chicken Marsala. It has a fruity and earthy taste with a hint of spicy flavour, which matches beautifully with the spices in the dish.
These Italian reds offer a range of flavour profiles and characteristics that can enhance your Chicken Marsala dining experience. Whether you choose a light and elegant Pinot Noir, a sparkling Lambrusco, or any of the other suggested wines, you're sure to enjoy a delightful pairing that complements the dish's unique flavours.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicken marsala is a dish that sits on the cusp of red and white wine pairings. While a bold white wine is often recommended, there are several red wines that can be paired with the dish. These include:
- Pinot Noir, a light-bodied red wine with notes of cherry and raspberry, and a delicate flavour profile.
- Lambrusco, a sparkling red wine with bubbles that can act as scrubbers for your palate.
- Chianti, a dry and medium-bodied wine with bold and robust flavours of black cherry, dried herbs, and tobacco.
- Barbera, a fruity and earthy red wine with a spicy flavour.
- Merlot, a medium-bodied wine with soft, smooth tannins and a flavour profile that includes notes of mushrooms.
As a general rule, lighter-bodied red wines with earthy fruit flavours are recommended to complement the umami of the mushrooms and the sweetness of the marsala sauce.
Chicken marsala is a traditional Italian dish that combines chicken, mushrooms, marsala wine, and cream into a savoury, rich meal. It is considered a fancy dish but is deceptively easy to make.
Marsala is a type of fortified wine, mixed with a stronger spirit as a preservative and source of flavour. It is made in Sicily, near the village of Marsala, and comes in both red and white varieties. Red marsala is sweet, while white marsala is dry. It is most often used for cooking but can also be served as an aperitif or a dessert wine.
Marsala wine can be found in the Italian wine section of grocery stores, or with other cooking wines like sherry. It may also be available in the fortified wine section, alongside sherry, port, and Madeira. If your local supermarket doesn't carry it, try a specialty liquor or wine store.
Yes, besides red wines, chicken marsala also pairs well with bold white wines such as Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, and sparkling wines like champagne and cava.
