5 Best Wines to Pair With Chicken Marsala (2023)

5 Best Wines to Pair with Chicken Marsala Featured

Pure Deliciousness

Chicken Marsala is a delicious dish of Italian-American origin. It consists of pan-fried chicken cutlets with mushrooms in a thick Marsala wine sauce. For the most part, chicken Marsala is a restaurant staple. Do not let this discourage you, however, since it is super easy to make at home. A perfect dish to treat your guests and loved ones! To make chicken Marsala, you will need chicken breasts, heavy cream, shallots, garlic, chicken or vegetable broth, mushrooms, and several Mediterranean herbs. And needless to say, Marsala wine is a must ingredient, too.

What Is Marsala Wine?

Marsala is a brandy-fortified wine from Sicily that produces a thick and tasty sauce, perfect for combining with pan-fried chicken cutlets. Consequently, it is totally worth adding a bottle or two to your pantry. In fact, Marsala can stay fresh for months if kept in a cool, dry spot.

Bottle
Name El Enemigo Chardonnay Château de Campuget 1753 Viognier Champalou Vouvray Lioco Pinot Noir Morca Godina Garnacha
Color White White White Red Red
Country Argentina France France United States Spain
Grapes Chardonnay Viognier Chenin Blanc Pinot Noir Grenache
Taste Peach, Apricot, Nectarine, Brioche Bread, Toasted Wood, Pepper, Curry, Ginger Pineapple, Mango, Peach, Apricot, Stones, Vanilla Spice, Chamomile Pineapple, Mango, Peach, Apricot, Stones, Vanilla Spice, Chamomile Chocolate, Coffee, Cranberry, Plum, Tea, Forest Floor Redcurrant, Plum, Coffee, Cinnamon, Licorice
Food Pairing Chicken Marsala, Grilled Scallops, Crab Soup, Sauté Lobster With Butter, Oven-baked Chicken, Hazelnuts, Brie, Mature Cheddar Cheese Chicken Marsala, Smoked Salmon, Seafood, Sushi, Orzo, Asparagus Mousse Chicken Marsala, Smoked Salmon, Seafood, Sushi, Orzo, Asparagus Mousse Chicken Marsala, Duck, Pheasant, Salmon, Roast Pork, Mushroom Risotto Chicken Marsala, Roast Chicken, Slow-braised Beef, Scallop, Ratatouille, Macaroni Cheese
Alcohol Content 14% 13.5% 12.5% 13% 13%
Sugar Content Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry
Our Rating 4.8 out of 5 stars (4.8 / 5) 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) 4.7 out of 5 stars (4.7 / 5) 4.7 out of 5 stars (4.7 / 5)
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What Wines Pair Well With Chicken Marsala?

For starters, as the name implies, chicken Marsala is ideal with Marsala wine. That said, except for Marsala, you do not want to go big with this dish. For example, a dynamic Cabernet Sauvignon or a full-bodied Zinfandel might overwhelm the delicate nature of the chicken and the sweetness of the Marsala sauce. Therefore, you are far better off with a honeyed, oaked Chardonnay, Viognier, or Chenin Blanc. With red wines, opt for elegant, earthy Pinot Noir or aromatic, fruity Garnacha. But, without further delay, here are some wine recommendations to help you enjoy your chicken Marsala to the maximum!


Best White Wines With Chicken Marsala

El Enemigo Chardonnay

  • Winery — El Enemigo
  • Country/Region — Argentina, Mendoza
  • Type — Argentinian Chardonnay
  • Aroma — Apple, Pear, Peach, Lime, Orange Blossom, Smoke, Vanilla Spice, Cassis
  • Grapes — Chardonnay
  • Taste — Peach, Apricot, Nectarine, Brioche Bread, Toasted Wood, Pepper, Curry, Ginger
  • Alcohol Content — 14%
  • Sugar — Dry
  • Pairing — Chicken Marsala, Seafood, Shrimp, Halibut, Roast Chicken, Camembert
Overall Rating: 4.8

Positives
  • Balanced, Smooth Oaky Sensations
  • Complicated, Structured Palate
  • Velvety Texture
  • Stimulating Acidity
Negatives
  • Lacks A Little Bit Of Argentinian Character

Masterful Work

El Enemigo Chardonnay is a masterful white from Alejandro Vigil, a winemaker who enjoys pushing boundaries and crafting impressive wines with flair, like Fino Sherry. Salty, nutty, spicy, and toasty, the wine is refreshing with notes of honey and cream. In fact, this could be the best white wine with chicken Marsala! Undoubtedly, El Enemigo Chardonnay is another rock-star Chardonnay to pair with this dish.

Packed with varietal aromas of pear and apple peels, peaches, limes, and orange blossoms, it will bring nuances from the barrel and contribute oaky sensations on the nose. On the palate, the wine combines flavors of crushed-stone fruits, such as apricots and nectarines, with the distinctive character of yeasts in the style of Jerez. In addition, expect the tastes of brioche bread and toasted wood, hints of pepper, curry, and ginger which define the mouth. The wine has a velvety texture and high acidity, as well.

Producing Fine Wine in Latin America

El Enemigo produces world-class wines in Argentina. The people behind the winery have attempted to capture the attention of the international wine industry for decades since European immigrants first settled in Argentina.

Back then, immigrants sought to make fine wines reminiscent of their homeland. By 1936, Petit Verdot and Malbec were the most widely planted varietals in Argentina. Over the years, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have been produced, too, such as El Enemigo Chardonnay.


Château de Campuget 1753 Viognier

  • Winery — Château de Campuget
  • Country/Region — France, Vin de Pays, Pays d’Oc, Gard
  • Type — French Viognier
  • Aroma — Honeysuckle, Violet, Orange Peel, Peach, Apple, Lime, Sage
  • Grapes — Viognier
  • Taste — Pineapple, Mango, Lychee, Banana, Honey, Thyme, Brioche Bread, Almond, Hazelnut
  • Alcohol Content — 13.5%
  • Sugar — Dry
  • Pairing — Chicken Marsala, Grilled Scallops, Crab Soup, Sauté Lobster With Butter, Oven-baked Chicken, Hazelnuts, Brie, Mature Cheddar Cheese
Overall Rating: 4.5

Positives
  • Dynamic, Structured Palate
  • Balanced Nuttiness
  • Lengthy Finish
Negatives
  • Oxidized Sensations

Tasting Notes

This Viognier shows an irresistible bouquet of stone fruits, passion fruits, and honeysuckle, with a core of mango, lychee, and pineapple. The wine starts with fragrances of honeysuckle, violets, orange peel, and Meyer lemons. Layers of peach and nuances of lime, sage, pear emerge slowly. The palate is structured and creamy, presenting flavors of thyme, honey, and toasted brioche bread. These tastes combine with mango and pineapple to add extra sensations.

On top of this, banana is also discernible, as are touches of nuts, such as almond and hazelnut. The finish is long and lingering, while the acidity is balanced. Consequently, 1753 Viognier makes a perfect Chicken Marsala wine pairing.

Experienced Winemaking Traditions

Château de Campuget has a long winemaking history. Since 1941, the winery has been owned by the Dalle family. They produce wine in a traditional style while making the most of modern enological techniques. Their wines are created with precision, ensuring that every aspect is controlled to produce consistently fine wine.


Champalou Vouvray

  • Winery — Champalou
  • Country/Region — France, Loire Valley, Middle Loire, Touraine, Vouvray
  • Type — Loire Chenin Blanc
  • Aroma — Apple, Pear, Nectarine, Honeysuckle, Cinnamon Spice, Chalk, Pepper, Flint
  • Grapes — Chenin Blanc
  • Taste — Pineapple, Mango, Peach, Apricot, Stones, Vanilla Spice, Chamomile
  • Alcohol Content — 12.5%
  • Sugar — Dry
  • Pairing — Chicken Marsala, Smoked Salmon, Seafood, Sushi, Orzo, Asparagus Mousse
Overall Rating: 4.5

Positives
  • Complex Bouquet
  • Mouthwatering Tastes
  • Emphatic Aftertaste
Negatives
  • Tad Too Sweet

Refreshing With Perfect Balance

As masters of Loire Chenin Blanc, Champalous produces Vouvray in different but approachable styles, from aged in stainless steel to incredibly concentrated wine, representing their flagship Cuvée. This Vouvray is refreshing on the palate, boasting a perfect balance between minerals, honeyed fruit, and touches of dried flowers.

With a pale-lemon appearance and golden reflections near the rim, Champalou Vouvray starts elegantly. Pronounced nuances of apples, pears, nectarines, honeysuckle, and cinnamon spice combine with chalk, pepper, and flint to create a complex nose. Medium-to-full-bodied, the palate is refreshing with a perfect balance between honeyed stone and tropical fruits, touches of dried spring flowers, and minerals. Peaches, apricots, pineapples, and mangoes combine with the subtle tastes of stones, vanilla spice, and chamomile, finishing long and emphatically.

Sustainable Viticulture in Combination With the Lunar Cycles

The Champalou Domaine began in 1983 when Catherine and Didier Champalou decided to continue the trend of Vouvray, producing high-quality Chenin Blanc wines. The Champalou family farms over 20 hectares of vineyards, embracing sustainable farming and biodynamic viticulture by following the lunar calendar. They plow their lands regularly to aerate the soil, thus enabling the grapevines to collect as many nutrients as possible. The resulting wines are tender, elegant, and highly aromatic, with a flawless balance.


Best Red Wines With Chicken Marsala

Lioco Pinot Noir

  • Winery — Lioco
  • Country/Region — United States, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
  • Type — Californain Pinot Noir
  • Aroma — Pomegranate, Orange Blossom, Raspberry, Wet Slate, Blackberry, Violet
  • Grapes — Pinot Noir
  • Taste — Chocolate, Coffee, Cranberry, Plum, Tea, Forest Floor
  • Alcohol Content — 13%
  • Sugar — Dry
  • Pairing — Chicken Marsala, Duck, Pheasant, Salmon, Roast Pork, Mushroom Risotto
Overall Rating: 4.7

Positives
  • Perfectly Balanced
  • Flavor Depth
  • Fine-grained Tannins
Negatives
  • Moderate Aftertaste

Tasting Notes

Aromas of pomegranates and wet slate form the bouquet, while notes of cranberries, tea, and forest floor dominate the palate of this Mendocino County red. Hands-down, Lioco Pinot Noir might be the best red wine with chicken Marsala.

This wine is a dynamic blend from some of Sonoma’s best vineyards and captures the stony and salty finesse of the Pinot Noir grapevines cultivated on the Sonoma Coast. As soon as you uncork the wine bottle, the fragrances of pomegranates, orange blossom, and raspberries surface, followed by wet slate, blackberries, and violets. On the palate, chocolate, and mocha coffee offer depth, as tastes of cranberries, plums, tea, and forest floor emerge. Smooth and fine-grained tannins accompany the rounded texture, driving into a moderate but leathery finish.

Old Vine Wine Inspired by the Burgundian Masters

Lioco was established in 2001 when two friends and colleagues in the wine industry, Kevin O’Connor and Matt Licklider, embarked on a winemaking odyssey. Inspired by European winemakers, they invested in the production of wines via state-of-the-art winemaking. They focus on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Carignan wines from grapes grown on sites with older vines, rich soil, and heritage clones.


Morca Godina Garnacha

  • Winery — Morca
  • Country/Region — Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja
  • Type — Spanish Grenache
  • Aroma — Raspberry, Vanilla, Cedar, Cassis, Asian Spices
  • Grapes — Grenache
  • Taste — Redcurrant, Plum, Coffee, Cinnamon, Licorice
  • Alcohol Content — 13%
  • Sugar — Dry
  • Pairing — Chicken Marsala, Roast Chicken, Slow-braised Beef, Scallop, Ratatouille, Macaroni Cheese
Overall Rating: 4.7

Positives
  • Concentrated Aromas
  • Smooth, Ripe Tannin
  • Refreshing Acidity
Negatives
  • A Bit Overwhelming Pepper Flavors

Tasting Notes

This wine is bold, full-bodied, having aged for a long time in French oak. Morca Godina Garnacha is rich with spice and jammy berry notes. At the same time, soft, velvety tannins make the wine very approachable and enjoyable.

Concentrated fragrances of cherries, raspberries, vanilla, cedar, cassis, and Asian spices dominate the bouquet, as bold flavors of redcurrants, plums, coffee, cinnamon, and licorice define the palate. Smooth and ripe tannins contribute to the fruity structure, as a creamy and peppery aftertaste concludes the flavor profile. Meanwhile, a refreshing, bright acidity offsets the creaminess, providing balance and harmony.

Premium Spanish Winemaking

Bodegas Morca is based in Campo de Borja, a Spanish Denominción de Origen for wines in the Campo de Borja commune, in Zaragoza. The dominant feature of this wine region is the Moncayo mountain range, which creates a micro-climate perfect for giving a distinctive character to wines. It is represented by Blue Ventures Marketing, a firm focused on family-owned and operated wineries competing in the ultra-premium wine market segment, so Bodegas Morca produces quality wines, fully expressive of the Spanish terroir.

Conclusion

Finding the perfect wine to partner with chicken Marsala is a bit challenging. To phrase it differently, choosing a wine other than Marsala for your chicken Marsala wine match takes some research. This list should cover your wine needs and help you appreciate this simple yet complex dish!

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