photo collage of three Jordan Winery Summer Salads that Pair with Chardonnay with image text "ideal salad wine pairings for chardonnay"

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 with peaches in bowl
French green bean and peach salad brings out the stone fruit flavor in 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 and red pepper salad in bowl

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 recipe
Grilled romaine salad brings out the toasted oak notes in chardonnay.

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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best cucumber salad in bowl
Fresh cucumber salads with an Asian-inspired vinaigrette pairs well with a crisp chardonnay.

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.

Buy your favorite vintage of Jordan Chardonnay and start pairing.

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About the Author

Growing up in Hawaii, Todd Knoll developed a strong connection to the land and the ocean at an early age. As executive chef at Jordan Winery, he grows hundreds of heirloom vegetables, fruits and herbs, cooks hors d’oeuvres and meals for guests, makes olive oil, and tends to the estate’s honeybees and chickens. A visual artist at heart, Chef Knoll spends his free time with his son and wife, Nitsa Knoll, exploring the diverse terrain of Sonoma County with camera and pencil in hand, capturing moments in nature to inspire his next recipe.

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