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Wine Pairing With Chicken Marsala | Our 7 Favorite Pairings
- Last Updated - 3/7/23
Quick Answer: To truly enjoy your chicken marsala, go for a wine with subtle tannins, low to medium acidity levels, and light to medium-bodied characteristics. Therefore pair with a Merlot, Malbec, or Pinot Noir for the perfect red wine accompaniment. If you prefer white wines, nothing goes better than a delightful Chardonnay. And if you feel like a unique sparkling wine pairing, enjoy a fizzy Lambrusco sparkling wine!
When selecting a wine for the meal, choose one that offers either an ideal contrast of sweetness to balance out the marsala wine sauce or perfectly pair with its earthy flavor. However, you must be careful not to choose one that is too intense or it will dominate the rich and unique flavors of this meal. Feel free to experiment by selecting varieties that exhibit fruity flavors as well!
In this blog post, we will discuss seven (7) wine pairings (from red to white wines) that are sure to complement this chicken marsala dish perfectly. So, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
What is Chicken Marsala?
Chicken Marsala is a classic Italian-American dish that features chicken cutlets, escalopes, or breasts that are cooked in butter and then sautéed with mushrooms, garlic, and shallots. The resulting dish is simmered in Marsala wine which gives it its unique flavor and aroma to make a Marsala reduction sauce. It’s commonly served over pasta or rice but can also be served alone.
This tasty dish can be traced back to the 19th century, when it was likely first cooked up by English families living in western Sicily – home of Marsala wine.
If you’re looking for an Italian classic that’s easy to make and packed with flavor, Chicken Marsala is the dish for you! Every bite of this exquisite meal contains flavors of smoky, sweet, and earthy. Not only is it a culinary delight but making it won’t take up too much time either – perfect for those busy weeknight dinners!
What is Marsala Wine?
Marsala wine is a fortified wine made from native grapes grown in Sicily. And Marsala wine is aged and can be dry or sweet depending on the style chosen. But with its nutty, caramelized profiles, Marsala wine is the perfect ingredient to create mouth-watering sauces and elevate any dish.
Best Wine Pairings With Chicken Marsala
This wine has ripe fruit flavor notes of cherry, plum, dark chocolate, and mocha that pair perfectly with the sweetness of the chicken marsala dish.
Furthermore, its medium-bodied nature ensures a delicate and sophisticated flavor that accentuates without overpowering the chicken meat.
And lastly the velvety texture of the wine will perfectly complement the creaminess of the sauce.
This dry, medium-bodied red wine has flavors of blackberry and plum that are sure to enhance the earthy richness of the mushrooms in the chicken Marsala wine sauce.
And the medium acidity and tannins of this varietal also make it an ideal match for chicken marsala bringing out its smoky, sweet, and earthy nuances.
Typically, chicken marsala is not thought to be a great pairing with this medium bodied wine due to its high tannins which could overpower the flavors of the chicken marsala.
However, the wine has intense jammy flavors of blackberry and cherry along with some peppery notes. And I found that the dark fruit flavors provided an enjoyable contrast to the richness of the chicken marsala wine sauce.
Plus the addition of peppery notes in the wine further enhanced the flavor complexity of the dish.
This wine has delicate fruit flavors such as raspberry, cherry, and cranberry that will bring out the sweetness of the Marsala sauce. And it also typically has a low tannin level which makes it a great wine pairing for chicken marsala without its flavors overtaking the smoky complexity of the meal.
And this dish’s mushroom flavors are exquisitely balanced out by the earthy notes of this wine, creating a delicious harmony. Furthermore, its light to medium-bodied profile allows the nuances and flavors of the dish to shine through.
This is a dry to off-dry Italian wine that has sweet and slightly tart characteristics. Its low tannin content helps to bring out the rich flavors of the Marsala wine sauce while its slightly carbonated nature help cut through the creaminess of the chicken marsala dish.
As per our first wine pairing rule, why not pair an Italian dish with a delicious glass of Italian vino.
This white wine (typically produced in California) is notorious for its creamy and buttery flavors. But depending on where the Chardonnay is from, it also has citrusy and herbal notes that provide a great contrast to the sweetness of the Marsala sauce.
And its medium to full body helps to bring out the velvety texture of the creamy sauce, making it a perfect chicken marsala wine pairing.
Plus, its oaky character adds depth to the wine and helps to bring out the smoky notes of the dish.
Riesling is a white wine that has floral and fruity aromas, with some having intense minerality. For those looking for a refreshing wine, this wine is your answer!
Not only does its high acidity assist in cutting through the creamy sauce, but also its tart and citrusy notes effectively balance out the richness of chicken marsala. And the wine will be a good palate cleanser after each bite.
What are the Best Chicken Marsala Recipes?
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