Southern

White · Medium · Dry

The most-planted white grape and the most chameleon-like. Crisp and steely from Chablis; rich, oaky, and tropical from California. Read the label, then match the style to the dish.

Works with Southern · Southern Fried Oven Chicken · Southern Fried Chicken And Biscuits

Red · Light · Dry

Burgundy's most temperamental grape, but the rewards are real — translucent ruby with a perfumed lift of red cherry, forest floor, and clove. Silken tannins and bright acid make it the most versatile red on the table; serve cool, around 58°F.

Works with Southern · Southern Fried Oven Chicken · Southern Fried Chicken And Biscuits

White · Light · Off-dry

Washington and Finger Lakes Rieslings split the difference between Mosel delicacy and Alsatian heft — bright stone fruit, modest sweetness, lively acid. A natural with Thai, Indian, and anything off the spice rack.

Works with Southern Fried Catfish · Southern Oyster Casserole

Red · Medium · Dry

Bordeaux's everyday-quality tier — Merlot-led blends with a touch more aging than basic Bordeaux. Reliable food-friendly claret at honest prices.

Works with Chicken Southern Fried · Southern Fried Chicken

Southwest France's quiet appellation — Bordeaux-style Merlot/Cabernet blends at fraction-of-Bordeaux pricing. Honest, food-friendly, never showy.

Works with Chicken Southern Fried · Southern Fried Chicken

Rosé · Light · Dry

Provence's gift to summer — dry, pale, faintly strawberry-and-citrus, with low alcohol and crisp acid. Made to drink cold, with food, in the shade.

Works with Southern · Southern Fried Oven Chicken

Red · Full · Dry

Old-vine Shiraz from Barossa or McLaren Vale: dark, peppery, and unembarrassed about its size. Black plum, smoked meat, licorice, and a finish that lingers like the last embers of a grill.

Works with Chicken Southern Fried · Southern Fried Chicken

White · Medium · Dry

California and Pacific Northwest Gewürztraminer — lychee, rose petal, ginger, made riper and fuller than Alsace. The American spicy-food companion.

White · Light · Dry

California's take — riper than Sancerre, calmer than Marlborough, with grapefruit, melon, and a clean mineral finish. The everyday white that pairs with almost anything green or briny.

Red · Medium · Dry

The cooler-climate sibling of Cabernet Sauvignon — leaner, more aromatic, with notes of bell pepper, raspberry, and graphite. The Loire's Chinon and Bourgueil do it best.

Red · Full · Dry

The benchmark for full-bodied red — structured, age-worthy, unapologetic. Black currant, graphite, and tobacco lead into firm tannins that demand protein on the plate. Decant young bottles; cellar the serious ones.

Sparkling · Light · Dry

Spain's traditional-method sparkling, made in Catalunya. Crisper and chalkier than Prosecco; remarkable value next to Champagne. Pair with jamón, tortilla, and grilled vegetables.