What Is Coq Au Vin?
Coq Au Vin is a French dish that literally translates to “rooster with wine.” It’s a classic dish that originated in the French countryside and is considered a staple peasant food. The key ingredients of a Coq Au Vin are bone-in chicken, mushrooms, bacon, onions, and red wine. Initially, Coq Au Vin came about as a way to make old rooster birds tender and tasty.
But as roosters aren’t easy to find anymore, any other bird can be used to prepare Coq Au Vin. The best part of the Coq Au Vin is that it is not easily perishable. You can consume it the next day as well. In fact, it is said that the flavors of the Coq Au Vin become more enhanced and complex on day two.
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(4.5 / 5) What Wines Pair Well With Coq Au Vin?
To make Coq Au Vin, usually tender chicken, bacon chunks, mushrooms, and various other ingredients are braised in red wine. This classic French stew is said to be one of the best dishes that can provide warmth during cold weather. As red wine is one of the key elements of Coq Au Vin, pairing the dish with a glass of red wine would be the best choice. Typically, Coq Au Vin is served with a glass of Pinot Noir or another light-to-medium-bodied red wine.
Coq Au Vin is an earthy and rustic dish, so it goes best with a wine with earthy, oaky notes. You can also enjoy it with the Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Some of the best red wine with Coq Au Vin include Domaine du Père Caboche Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Andrew Rich Prelude Pinot Noir, Joseph Drouhin Chorey-Les-Beaune, Borsao Bodegas Zarihs Syrah, and the Cellier des Princes Châteauneuf-du-Pape. These wines are known for their high acidic content, full-bodied structure, elegant tannins, and smooth finish.
Best Red Wines With Coq Au Vin
Domaine du Père Caboche Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Winery — Domaine du Père Caboche
- Country/Region — France, Rhone Valley, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Type — Southern Rhône Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Aroma — Cherry, Plum, Oak, Nuts
- Grapes — Grenache
- Taste — Blueberry, Blackberry, Vanilla, Cherry, Raspberry
- Alcohol Content — 15%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Coq Au Vin, Steak, Pork Chops, Oxtail Soup. Roasted Grouse
Domaine du Père Caboche Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a red wine characterized by a complex and fresh taste. The wine is prepared by fermenting the grapes in a mix of foudre, stainless steel, and concrete tanks. It is a full-bodied wine that is well-balanced between sweetness and an excellent tannic structure. It has an elegant and long finish and consists of a mix of red and black fruits and notes of orange blossom and violet. It has a deep ruby red color with a tinge of blue and gives off aromas of red fruits and minerals and smoky hints with a soft pepper finish.
The Domaine du Père Caboche is among the oldest wineries in France and was started by a group of winemakers and blacksmiths of the Boisson family. Most of the wines produced here are composed of 80 percent Grenache, 15 percent Syrah, and 5 percent Mourvedre. Their vineyard sprawls 17 hectares and has a high density of the famous La Crau soil, adding density and fullness to their wines.
Andrew Rich Prelude Pinot Noir
- Winery — Andrew Rich
- Country/Region — United States, Oregon, Willamette Valley
- Type — Oregon Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Cherry, Chocolate, Earl Grey Tea, Dried Fruit
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Strawberries, Rhubard, Dark and Red Fruits
- Alcohol Content — 15%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Coq Au Vin, Brussel Sprouts, Bolognese, Dark Meat
If you are looking for an American Coq Au Vin wine pairing, your search ends with Andrew Rich Prelude Pinot Noir. This red wine originates in the Willamette Valley in Oregon and is created by Andrew Rich, a veteran winemaker. Andrew Rich Prelude Pinot Noir is considered to be more fine-boned than Californian Pinot Noir.
The preparation process of this wine involves de-stemming and fermenting the grapes in stainless steel, followed by aging it in French oak barrels for eleven months. Andrew Rich Prelude Pinot Noir wine can be distinguished by its smooth finish and flavors of black cherry and cola nut. The wine also contains notes of delicate flowers, mushrooms, and truffles, with prominent aromas of strawberry and raspberry. It has a supple and spicy texture with fresh acidity.
Joseph Drouhin Chorey-Les-Beaune
- Winery — Joseph Drouhin
- Country/Region — France, Bourgogne, Côte de Beaune, Chorey-lès-Beaune
- Type — Burgundy Côte de Beaune Red
- Aroma — Cherry, Leather, Tobacco, Cinnamon
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Cranberries, Cherries, Raspberries, Oak, Vanilla
- Alcohol Content — 13%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Coq Au Vin, Filet Mignon, Squid Ink Pasta, Black Bass, Rabbit
Joseph Drouhin Chorey-Les-Beaune is a red wine with origins in Bourgogne, France. It was launched by Joseph Drouhin, a well-known wine producer, and is produced using Pinot Noir grapes. Joseph Drouhin Chorey-Les-Beaune is produced by first extracting and separating the free-run juice from pressed juice. The maceration and vinification of the wine grape take about 2-3 weeks in temperature-controlled environments, with indigenous yeasts used in wine production.
Joseph Drouhin Chorey-Les-Beaune wine has a bright red color and a tender, rounded, supple palate. It’s a very dry wine with notes of cherry, raspberry, vanilla, and oak. The presence of intense aromas and lingering aftertaste with a tinge of blackberry jam make this wine a good drink to pair with your Coq Au Vin.
Borsao Bodegas Zarihs Syrah
- Winery — Borsao Bodegas
- Country/Region — Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja
- Type — Spanish Syrah
- Aroma — Oak, Blackberry, Licorice, Toast
- Grapes — Syrah
- Taste — Blackberry, Vanilla, Oak, Cherry, Chocolate
- Alcohol Content — 15%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Coq Au Vin, Barbecue, Heavier Cheeses, Spicy Food
Borsao Bodegas Zarihs Syrah is a 100 percent Syrah varietal that is aged for almost 12 months in 40 percent oak barrels and 60 percent in stainless steel tanks. Borsao aims to produce premium quality Garnacha. Grown in a continental climate with cold Atlantic and summery Mediterranean influences, their wines are able to retain acids with a balance of tannins. Borsao Bodegas Zarihs Syrah is an opaque red-black colored wine with a crimson-purple rim.
The nose has notes of dark chocolate, blackberries, wood smoke, and sweet vanilla. Upon drinking, you get flavors of dark berries, wild blackberries, dark plums, and lingering notes of espresso coffee. This wine has a polished and thick texture that is complemented by well-balanced tannins and balsamic acidity. The acidic content in the wine carries notes of black pepper, ripe plum, soy sauce, and earthen flavors. This red wine goes well not only with the Coq Au Vin but with barbecued ribs as well. It is known to have a full-bodied palate, a creamy and lush texture, and an abundance of oaky flavors.
Cellier des Princes Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Winery — Cellier des Princes
- Country/Region — France, Rhone Valley, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Type — Southern Rhône Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Aroma — Strawberry, Cassis, Mineral, Rosemary
- Grapes — Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre
- Taste — Raspberry, Pepper, Blueberry, Earthy Flavors, Herbal Notes
- Alcohol Content — 15%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Coq Au Vin, Blue Cheeses, Meat Cuts, Chicken Wings
Cellier des Princes Châteauneuf-du-Pape is produced by the Rhone wineries in the Rhone Valley of Southern France. It is known for its deep ruby red color and complex nature. Aromas of red currant, red cherries, and blackberries dominate the nose, along with spicy undertones of thyme, lavender, and rosemary. It has a fruit-forward and lingering aftertaste. In addition, the presence of black and red berries helps the wine to develop a thick, round palate that gives a smooth and elegant finish.
The Grenache grapes used in the production of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape are grown in sandy soils. Once harvested, these grapes are destemmed and vetted, followed by 20-30 days of storage in stainless steel tanks. The grapes are then pumped over and over repeatedly, till all the juice has been extracted. Next, the wine is matured for 10-12 months in concrete tanks at temperatures ranging from 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius) to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).
Conclusion
As Coq Au Vin is a dish that has red wine as one of its key ingredients, it pairs beautifully with a glass of red wine. Usually, red wines pair well with dishes such as roasted chicken, turkey, and other meat-based dishes. Hopefully, this list gives you a few of the best choices for a Coq Au Vin wine match.
