Four Summer Salad Recipes for Chardonnay Pairing
Ideal salad wine pairings can be elusive. Traditionally, the biggest challenge lies in the use of highly acidic vinegar, which can overwhelm the delicate flavors of any wine. But, given the right seasonal mix of ingredients and judicious use of milder vinegars, building a pairing bridge from this healthy meal staple to a full-bodied wine like chardonnay is an adventure worth exploring. The key is matching acid levels and using crossover components like nuts to link up flavor profiles. Lightly-oaked, more balanced chardonnay with vibrant acidity, like Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay, is the easiest to pair since it allows more flexibility in the recipe elements. To show how chardonnay is an ideal salad wine pairing, we assembled four recipes featuring summer’s vegetable bounty. Enjoy!
Ideal Salad Wine Pairings for Chardonnay
French Green Bean Salad
This simple salad is loaded not only with crisp-tender green beans but also fresh, seasonal ingredients, such as sweet peaches and spicy arugula. We use milder Sherry vinegar that echoes the light oak aging in chardonnay, as well as fresh, creamy corn that mimics the body of the Queen of White Wine. Enjoy this incredible salad wine pairing on a beautiful summer or early fall evening.
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Grilled Corn Salad with Roasted Peppers & Arugula
This summer garden-inspired salad showcases a mélange of gorgeous produce at their seasonal zenith. Sweet, grilled corn signals summer and the roasted red peppers and spicy arugula add texture and nuance to the dish. The simple vinaigrette of tart lemon juice, dusty cumin, Dijon mustard, and curry powder adds savory elegance. With so many layers of flavor, you might think this salad wine pairing with Chardonnay wouldn’t work. But the creaminess and crisp acidity of Jordan Chardonnay brings all the flavors together.
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Grilled Romaine Salad with Aged Balsamic Vinaigrette
Charred romaine lettuce meets bold radicchio and mellow endive in this quick, easy summer salad recipe. But no worries, the bright acidity of chardonnay smooths out any bitter edges. Coupled with nutty walnut oil, the rich complexity and slight sweetness of aged balsamic vinegar make this salad wine pairing not only unique but conversation inducing. And sure to elevate your next summer barbecue.
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Cucumber Salad
Stunning as well as delicious, this cucumber salad recipe is our favorite. It plucks perfectly ripe summer vegetables like cucumber, corn and edible flowers and coats them with subtle umami notes from the Asian-inspired vinaigrette. Toasted almonds, citrus zest and Yuzu form the foundation to pair well with a crisp, balanced wine like Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay.
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Enjoy more ideal pairings in this post that features seven quintessential recipes for chardonnay, America’s favorite white wine.
