Wine & Food Pairing: What wine to drink with a duck breast ? (10 recipes)

Duck Breast is red meat that comes from cutting the breast of the duck. It is one of the more famouse dishes of the delicious French southwestern cuisine. It is composed by a juicy flesh and fat. This meat is fine, tender and fleshy. It can be cooked in four ways: fresh, smoked, dried (Prosciutto) and tartar.

It’s important to pay attention to the cooking. The secret to having a crispy duck breast skin is to score the skin and to cook with objectives to preserve its tenderness, juiciness and a pink flesh. Low and slow is the way to go ! To test the doneness of the duck breast, touch it with your finger. The meat should be firm but still springy to the touch.

Concerning the pairing you’ll have to pay attention to the cooking method, the sauce as well as sides and seasonings. In general I advise you to promote regional pairings. In fact, the red wines from the South West of France and in particular Bordeaux wines are perfect for a wine pairing with a duck breast.

Below there are some Wine & Food Pairing suggestions to match with ten different Duck Breast recipes. I also invite you to read the article “Wine & Food pairing: The basics“.

Wine & Duck Breast Pairing : What wine to drink with duck breast with peaches ?

• Margaux – Bordeaux (red)
• Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – Bordeaux (red)
• Fronsac – Bordeaux (red)
• Canon-Fronsac – Bordeaux (red)
• Haut-Médoc – Bordeaux (red)
• Listrac-Médoc – Bordeaux (red)
• Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Bordeaux (red)
• Côtes de Bourg – Bordeaux (red)
• Graves – Bordeaux (red)
• Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru – Bourgogne (red)
• Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru – Bourgogne (red)
• Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, Combe au Moine – Bourgogne (red)
• Pic-Saint-Loup – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Red Bordeaux Blend, Napa Valley – California (red)
• Red Bordeaux Blend, Sonoma – California (red)
• Red Bordeaux Blend, Lodi – California (red)
• …

Wine & Duck Breast Pairing : What wine to drink with duck breast with morels ?

• Mazoyères-Chambertin – Bourgogne (red)
• Charmes-Chambertin – Bourgogne (red)
• Chapelle-Chambertin – Bourgogne (red)
• Latricières-Chambertin – Bourgogne (red)
• Griotte-Chambertin – Bourgogne (red)
• Pommard 1er Cru – Bourgogne (red)
• La Tâche – Bourgogne (red)
• Romanée-Conti – Bourgogne (red)
• La Romanée – Bourgogne (red)
• Richebourg – Bourgogne (red)
• Clos Vougeot – Bourgogne (red)
• Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru – Bourgogne (red)
• Corton – Bourgogne (red)
• Châteauneuf-du-pape – Rhône (red)
• Hermitage – Rhône (red)
• Crozes-Hermitage – Rhône (red)
• Côtes Rôtie – Rhône (red)
• Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – Bordeaux (red)
• Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Bordeaux (red)
• Lalande de Pomerol – Bordeaux (red)
• Montagne Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux (red)
• Saint-Georges Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux (red)
• Lussac Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux (red)
• Puisseguin Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux (red)
• Saint-Estèphe – Bordeaux (red)
• Saint-Julien – Bordeaux (red)
• Pauillac – Bordeaux (red)
• Graves – Bordeaux (red)
• Madiran – South West of France (red)
• Bergerac – South West of France (red)
• Côtes du Marmandais – South West of France (red)
• Cahors – South West of France (red)
• Corbières – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• …

Wine & Duck Breast Pairing : What wine to drink with duck breast with apples ?

• Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – Bordeaux (red)
• Lalande-de-Pomerol – Bordeaux (red)
• Castillon Côtes-de-Bordeaux – Bordeaux (red)
• Côtes de Bourg – Bordeaux (red)
• Margaux – Bordeaux (red)
• Chassagne-Montrachet – Bourgogne (red)
• Nuits-Saint-Georges – Bourgogne (red)
• Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Rhône (red)
• Condrieu – Rhône (red)
• Hermitage – Rhône (red)
• Vacqueyras – Rhône (red)
• Collioure – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Faugères – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• …

Wine & Duck Breast Pairing : What wine to drink with a duck breast with Green Peppercorn sauce ? 

• Côtes-de-Bourg – Bordeaux (red)
• Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – Bordeaux (red)
• Pomerol – Bordeaux (red)
• Pauillac – Bordeaux (red)
• Saint-Estèphe – Bordeaux (red)
• Côtes Rôtie – Rhône (red)
• Médoc – Bordeaux (red)
• Haut-Médoc – Bordeaux (red)
• Graves – Bordeaux (red)
• Saint-Joseph – Rhône (red)
• Cornas – Rhône (red)
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Rhône (red)
• Saint-Chinian – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Faugères – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Cahors – South West of France (red)
• Pécharmant – South West of France (red)
• Vin de Corse, Figari – Corsica (red)
• Patrimonio – Corsica (red)
• Ribera del Duero – Castille – Léon, Espagne (red)
• Syrah, Olifants River Valley – South Africa (red)
• Bordeaux Blend, Stellenbosch – South Africa (red)
• Pinotage, Stellenbosch – South Africa (red)
• Syrah, Mendoza – Argentina (red)
• Syrah, San Juan – Argentina (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, San Luis Obispo – California (red)
• Bordeaux Bland, San Luis Obispo – California (red)
• Syrah, Paso Robles – California (red)
• …

Wine & Duck Breast Pairing : What wine to drink with a Grilled Duck Breast (BBQ) ?

• Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – Bordeaux (red)
• Lalande-de-Pomerol – Bordeaux (red)
• Pomerol – Bordeaux (red)
• Castillon Côtes-de-Bordeaux – Bordeaux (red)
• Côtes de Bourg – Bordeaux (red)
• Margaux – Bordeaux (red)
• Saint-Julien – Bordeaux (red)
• Saint-Estèphe – Bordeaux (red)
• Pauillac – Bordeaux (red)
• Saint-Georges Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux (red)
• Puisseguin Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux (red)
• Crozes-Hermitage – Rhône (red)
• Pommard 1er Cru – Bourgogne (red)
• Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes – Bourgogne (red)
• Cornas – Rhône (red)
• Côtes Rôtie – Rhône (red)
• Vacqueyras – Rhône (red)
• Cahors – South West of France (red)
• Hermitage – Rhône (red)
• Saint-Joseph – Rhône (red)
• Haut-Médoc – Bordeaux (red)
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Rhône (red)
• Patrimonio – Corsica (red)
• Madiran – South West of France (red)
• Collioure – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Côtes du Rhône – Rhône (red)
• Faugères – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Bergerac – South West of France (red)
• Côtes du Marmandais – South West of France (red)
• Vinsobres – Rhône (red)
• Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne – Rhône (red)
• Irouléguy – South West of France (red)
• Pécharmant – South West of France (red)
• Côtes du Roussillon – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Ventoux – Rhône (red)
• Cabardès – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Malepère – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Barolo – Piedmont, Italy (red)
• Brunello di Montalcino – Toscana, Italy (red)
• Chianti Classico – Toscana, Italy (red)
• Syrah, Olifants River Valley – South Africa (red)
• Pinot Noir, Stellenbosch – South Africa (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch – South Africa (red)
• Cabernet Franc, Stellenbosch – South Africa (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza – Argentina (red)
• Syrah, Mendoza – Argentina (red)
• Pinot Noir, Mendoza – Argentina (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle Central – Chile (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle de Casablanca – Chile (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle de Curico – Chile (red)
• Pinot Noir, Valle Central – Chile (red)
• Carménère, Valle de Casablanca – Chile (red)
• Carménère, Valle de Curico – Chile (red)
• Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley – Oregon, United-States (red)
• Pinot Noir, Columbia Gorge – Oregon, United-States (red)
• Pinot Noir, Sonoma – California, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma – California, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi – California, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – California, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley – California, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, San Luis Obispo – California, United-States (red)
• Syrah, San Luis Obispo – California, United-States (red)
• Pinot Noir, Marlborough – New Zealand (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Marlborough – New Zealand (red)
• …

Wine & Duck Breast Pairing : What wine to drink with a duck breast with red fruits ?

• Crozes-Hermitage – Rhône (red)
• Nuits-Saint-Georges – Bourgogne (red)
• Vacqueyras – Rhône (red)
• Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – Bordeaux (red)
• Puisseguin Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux (red)
• Cahors – South West of France (red)
• Pomerol – Bordeaux (red)
• Lalande de Pomerol – Bordeaux (red)
• Irouleguy – South West of France (red)
• Fronton – South West of France (red)
• Bergerac – South West of France (red)
• Côtes de Bergerac – South West of France (red)
• Vinsobres – Rhône (red)
• Côtes du Rhône – Rhône (red)
• Minervois – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Ventoux – Rhône (red)
• Corbières – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Beaujolais Villages – Beaujolais (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi – California, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – California, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma – California, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Outer Coastal Plain – New Jersey, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Franc & Cabernet Sauvignon, Outer Coastal Plain – New Jersey, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza – Argentina
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch – South Africa
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Marlborough – New Zealand (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle Central – Chile (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle de Casablanca – Chile (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle de Colchagua – Chile (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle del Rappel – Chile (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley – Canada (red)
• …

Wine & Duck Breast Pairing : What wine to drink with a duck breast with Foie Gras ?

• Romanée-Conti – Bourgogne (red)
• Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – Bordeaux (red)
• Chambertin – Bourgogne (red)
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Rhône (red)
• La Tâche – Bourgogne (red)
• Côtes Rôtie – Rhône (red)
• La Romanée – Bourgogne (red)
• Mazis-Chambertin – Bourgogne (red)
• Charmes-Chambertin – Bourgogne (red)
• Grands-Echezeaux – Bourgogne (red)
• Chapelle-Chambertin – Bourgogne (red)
• Saint-Joseph – Rhône (red)
• Crozes-Hermitage – Rhône (red)
• Margaux – Bordeaux (red)
• Mazoyères-Chambertin
• Clos Vougeot – Bourgogne (red)
• Lalande-de-Pomerol – Bordeaux (red)
• Graves – Bordeaux (red)
• Pessac-Léognan – Bordeaux (red)
• Madiran – South West of France (red)
• Saint-Estèphe – Bordeaux (red)
• Montagne Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux (red)
• Pauillac – Bordeaux (red)
• Cornas – Rhône (red)
• Cahors – South West of France (red)
• Haut-Médoc – Bordeaux (red)
• …

Wine & Duck Breast Pairing : What wine to drink with a duck breast with figs ?

• Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – Bordeaux (red)
• Pomerol – Bordeaux (red)
• Puisseguin Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux (red)
• Côtes de Bergerac – South West of France (red)
• Corbières – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Ventoux – Rhône (red)
• Saint-Joseph – Rhône (red)
• Lirac – Rhône (red)
• Bergerac – South West of France (red)
• Côtes du Rhône – Rhône (red)
• Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne – Rhône (red)
• Côtes du Roussillon Villages – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Gaillac – South West of France (red)
• Irouleguy – South West of France (red)
• Languedoc – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Cahors – South West of France (red)
• Collioure – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Costières-de-Nîmes – Rhône (red)
• Fronton – South West of France (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza – Argentina (red)
• Syrah, Mendoza – Argentina (red)
• Pinot Noir, Mendoza – Argentina (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle Central – Chile (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon – Valle de Casablanca – Chile (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon – Valle del Maule – Chile (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon – Valle del Rappel – Chile (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi – California, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – California, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc – New Jersey, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot – New Jersey, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma – California, United-States (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley – Canada (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Marlborough – New Zealand (red)
• …

Wine & Duck Breast Pairing : What wine to drink with Duck Breast Prosciutto ?

• Côtes du Rhône Villages – Rhône (red)
• Câteauneuf-du-Pape – Rhône (red)
• Saint-Joseph – Rhône (red)
• Pommard 1er Cru – Bourgogne (red)
• Crozes-Hermitage – Rhône (red)
• Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – Bordeaux (red)
• Bandol – Provence (red)
• Fitou – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Bergerac – South West of France (red)
• Saint-Georges Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux (red)
• Puisseguin Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux (red)
• Faugères – Languedoc Roussillon (rouge
• Fronton – South West of France (red)
• Collioure – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Madiran – South West of France (red)
• Saint-Estèphe – Bordeaux (red)
• Côtes Rôtie – Rhône (red)
• Ajaccio – Corsica (red)
• Patrimonio – Corsica (red)
• Vin de Corse Figari – Corsica (red)
• Côtes du Marmandais – South West of France (red)
• Lussac Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux (red)
• Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Bordeaux (red)
• …

Wine & Duck Breast Pairing : What wine to drink with a Honey Roasted Duck Breast ?

• Côtes-de-Bourg – Bordeaux (red)
• Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – Bordeaux (red)
• Pomerol – Bordeaux (red)
• Saint-Foy Bordeaux – Bordeaux (red)
• Puisseguin Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux (red)
• Minervois – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Crozes-Hermitage – Rhône (red)
• Beaumes de Venise – Rhône (red)
• Lirac – Rhône (red)
• Collioure – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Fronton – South West of France (red)
• Côtes du Rhône – Rhône (red)
• Bergerac – South West of France (red)
• Côtes de Bergerac – South West of France (red)
• Côtes de Duras – South West of France (red)
• Cahors – South West of France (red)
• Ventoux – Rhône (red)
• Corbières – Languedoc Roussillon (red)
• Côtes de Millau – South West of France (red)
• Patrimonio – Corsica (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley – California (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – California (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma – California (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza – Argentina (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon – Valle de Casablanca – Chile (red)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza – Argentina
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch – South Africa
• …

Jonathan Choukroun Chicheportiche