You may already know that there are specific foods that pair well with specific wines. When you want to pair wine and salad, it’s important to remember the various flavours and textures that you are including. The perfect pairing includes flavours that complement one another rather than having one specific flavour overpower the rest.

Cutting back on the vinegar

Vinegar-based salad dressings are very popular. However, if you want to enjoy some wine with your salad, you should keep any vinegar to a minimum. Use a mellow vinegar like a rice wine or balsamic vinegar. You can even opt for zesty fruit juice like lemon. You can also cut back on the oil if you substitute it with unsalted chicken stock. If you use oil, make sure that you choose the right wine. To ensure the perfect wine and salad pairing, you need a toasty nut oil or fruity olive oil.

Taking salad to the next level

Salad is not just about lettuce and tomato. Consider the other ingredients that you can include to add flavour and texture. Include a variety of greens so that you enjoy various flavours. Just make sure that you don’t add too many different flavours or it could overpower the wine. When you pair the right wine with your salad, it will echo the flavours and enhance the flavour.

One great example is pairing Beaujolais with a salad that has a hint of berry flavour. An off-dry Chenin Blanc or Riesling pairs well with a sweet pear flavour. If you enjoy spicy flavours, you could add some chilli-flavoured dressing to your salad and pair it with Gewurztraminer. The spicy taste highlights the taste of alcohol in the wine.

Add ‘bridge’ ingredients

When you add other flavours to your salad, it will make it easier to pair with wine. Add herbs and pair your salad with a Merlot, Sauvignon Blanch or Cabernet Sauvignon. If you add strong peppery greens, you can pair with something like Zinfandel.

Roasted vegetables can also be added to various salads and their natural sweetness is incredible. These salads pair well with Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc. Alternatively, you could try a Pinot Noir or even a barrel-fermented Chardonnay.

There are many types of fruit that can be added to salads. Dried and fresh fruits like apple, melon, pear and even tropical fruits can transform the flavour of your salad completely. Pair this salad with Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer or Sauvignon Blanc. If you add berries or cherries to your salad, you can enjoy it with a Pinot Noir or Beaujolais. Dried fruit pairs with Gamay or Grenache.

Add croutons or nuts and pair your salad with a slightly oaky wine.
If you want to add cheese to your salad, salty cheeses pair with sweeter wines like an off-dry Riesling. Dry aged cheeses like Parmesan are best paired with wines like aged Chardonnays.

You can also add meat or seafood to your salad. If you add grilled meats to your salad, you should pair it with wine with oak flavours.

With all of these delicious ideas, you will always find the perfect wine and salad pairing. No matter your preferences, there is always a scrumptious combination just a bite away!