There is, perhaps, no more "Southern" a dish than fried chicken. Its roots go deep, and it harkens back to the days when yardbird was plentiful and money was not. A quick chop, some vigorous plucking, and zip-bam-boom...dinner for a crowd. A finger-lickin', knuckle-suckin' good dinner, I might add.
These days, I'd venture to guess most fried chicken dinners aren't prepared at home, but it seems it has seen a bit of a resurgence at even the "classier" restaurants. Regardless of the setting or occasion, fried chicken is good. I still get as giddy as a school girl when I know it's on the menu. And what beverage is worthy of such a noble meal? Well...wine, of course.
I can't lie. Sweet tea is freakin' good with fried chicken. Fresh lemonade ain't bad either. But if you are like me and believe wine always has a place at the table (ok, not the kids table...unless you're in one of those families where anyone under 40 still sits at the kids table), then I submit to you that there are some mighty fine pairings out there for fried chicken with all the fixins. Give 'em a try, and wine will become an automatic side. Right there with biscuits, mashed potatoes, white gravy, corn on the cob, red beans and rice, purple hull peas..............must.....re.....fo.......cus.
We begin with bubbly. I don't know what it is, but something about the carbonation in sparkling wine creates a magical match with greasy dishes (yes, fried chicken is greasy...get over it). Like ebony and ivory, the light effervescence of sparking wine does indeed create harmony with the greasy, spicy richness of fried chicken. I prefer lighter, snappier sparklers with spicier fried chicken, and toasty, yeasty styles for milder fried chicken dishes. Now, I'm not suggesting you raid the cellar for the bottle you bought to commemorate the birth of your first child - although Hooters does offer Dom Perignon (seriously) - to pair with your next box of fried chicken. There are plenty of less expensive bubblies out there if you want to experiment. I would suggest the Domaine Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Brut for the lighter, crisper style; Segura Viudas Brut Reserva for a richer, toastier style; and Barefoot Bubbly Brut for something in between. Try it. You'll like it. Might even give you an excuse to take the wife to Hooters.
Another solid wine choice for fried chicken is Chardonnay. Often called the "red wine in white clothes", Chardonnay has flavors that complement fried chicken - lemon, apple, toast, nuts, butter - but also the body to keep up with the big, rich flavors of that crispy deliciousness. Unlike sparkling wine, where the bubbles sort of neutralize the grease, you need a Chardonnay that can open-mouth kiss your sloppy dinner right back. It's not always my favorite style of Chard, but you need a ripe, full-blown one to stand up to fried chicken in my opinion. Those made by Bernardus, Ferrari-Carano, Alamos, Frei Brothers, Frank Family, La Crema, and J. Lohr "Riverstone" reliably "put out" in that regard.
If you really want to experiment, try Novy Oley Dessert Wine Viognier with the soul food classic chicken and waffles. Sweet, sticky goodness. Nuff said.
So, go grab a box, get spiffed up to have it served to you on a plate, or purchase a live chicken to kill...but be sure to snag a bottle of vino to go with it. Let me know what you think...
Wine + Southern Cuisine = Yum
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