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Wine writer Katie Spain shares her best wine matches for your favourite comfort foods – from KFC to cornflakes. No judgment here.
Chilly weather demands hibernation, and when the heater is on and the couch beckons, the order of the season is comfort food. Fortunately, wine is the just-right accompaniment to soul-warming food and relaxed evenings.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to break the bank. Pick an affordable bottle and give these pairings a whirl. It’ll be spring before you know it.
Fried chicken and Australian sparkling wine
Ask award-winning grape-whisperer Adrian Sparks what to pair with his favourite junk food (KFC fried chicken, FWIW) and he is quick to respond. “Australian sparkling wine,” says Mount Pleasant’s chief winemaker. “The fresh acidity cuts through the soft KFC skin, providing a beautiful combo.”
Two to try
Printhie Sparkling, Orange, NSW, $25
A bright, balanced chardonnay banger and the little sibling to the premium Swift sparkling range. If you’re feeling fancy, the exquisite Blanc de Blancs hits $165. printhiewines.com.au
Brown Brothers Prosecco Brut Reserve, King Valley, Vic, $25
Prosecco is a winner with greasy grub. This dry, refreshing bottle of bubbles tickles the senses with apple and lemon. Smashing value. Find it for $21.99 at some liquor stores. brownfamilywines.com.au
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Cornflakes and riesling
Earlier this week, I shared a glass of riesling with an elderly grape grower, who served it at 11am with a cornflake-filled cookie. The buttery biscuit’s toasty crunch and hit of sweet dried sultanas worked with the white variety’s zesty, acidic twang. If you’re partial to brinner (breakfast for dinner), a bowl of breakfast cereal with rizza is totally acceptable. There’s no judgment here.
Two to try
Tolley Clare Valley Riesling, Clare Valley, SA, $12.99
A head-turner in the Dan Murphy’s 2026 Best in Glass Wine Awards, thanks to the head-snapping, lip-pursing lime and lemon flavours. danmurphys.com.au
Wines by KT 2025 5452 Watervale Riesling, Clare Valley, SA, $30
Winemaker Kerri Thompson is renowned for outstanding riesling and this electric citrus-and-white-blossom beauty is no exception. This was the wine I shared with aforementioned grape-grower, Sandy Peglidis. Bravo KT. winesbykt.com
Chicken pie and chardonnay
Look, it makes sense. Roast chicken and chardy is a quintessential dinner table love-in. Australia produces some of the world’s best and, as value goes, all global eyes should be on Down Under. Add pastry to the mix, and you can’t go wrong.
Two to try
Hoddles Creek 2025 Estate Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, Vic, $25.99
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. Value doesn’t get better (or more baffling). The D’Anna family’s handpicked chardy is a gift to the world. It’s complex, comforting and won’t last long, especially with pie. hoddlescreekestate.com.au
Charlotte Dalton 2023 Grace Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, SA, $40
Hands-down one of my favourite Aussie chardonnays. Winemaker Charlotte Hardy named this stunner after her daughter, Ada Pixie Grace, and it lives up to the name. It’s taut and elegantly focused, carrying that gorgeous, crisp Adelaide Hills acidity. Best paired with a bubbling chicken-and-leek pie – the acidity cuts right through the creaminess and makes the rich flavours sing. charlottedaltonwines.com.au
Indian takeaway with chilled light reds or fiano
Before turning to biodynamic grape-growing and winemaking on the Mornington Peninsula, Shashi and Devendra Singh of Avani Cellar Door ran Indian restaurants around Australia. “Broadly, we find that wines with good fruit, good natural acidity and with lower tannins pair beautifully, especially pinot or Syrah,” Shashi says.
If whites are your thing, fiano (especially if it’s got a textural, savoury edge) can complement, rather than fight against spice.
Two to try
Aristotelis ke Anthoula Blood Red Orange, Far South Coast, NSW, $38
I can’t get enough of this perky light red. It’s crafted with co-fermented fiano and nero d’Avola grown on Gundagai’s ancient volcanic soils. As the name suggests, there’s a heavenly hit of bitter orange peel. A glorious accompaniment to bhaji (vegetable fritters). So fresh, so juicy. Chill it for all seasons. akea.wine
Billy Button ‘The Honest’ Fiano, Alpine Valleys, Vic, $32
The medals keep coming for this vibrant Italian head-snapper. It ticks all the boxes (fragrant, rippling texture and spice) and just enough acidity to hold its own with dhal. billybuttonwines.com.au
Chiko rolls with semillon
As the story goes, De Iuliis winemaker Mike De Iuliis once bought Chiko Rolls for everyone at the Hunter Valley Wine Show.
The bain-marie classic has just the right amount of crunch, salt and a smooshy cabbage, barley and beef interior to complement this underrated white variety.
Two to try
Evans & Tate Classic Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Margaret River, WA, from $11
You’ve got a tenner and change and you want a bottle to sip while your frozen Chikos warm up in the oven (yes, you can buy them at the supermarket). This white blend, the epitome of quaffers, can be found during your commute at most retailers. evansandtate.wine
Brokenwood 2025 Semillon, Hunter Valley, NSW, $25
All hail the champions of semillon. Brokenwood has more gold medals than your average Olympian and as an entry point, this vibrant bundle of joy is raring to go. Get thee to your nearest servo and let the good Chiko times roll. It will also age beautifully. brokenwood.com.au
