Pairing Wine with Salads

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Which wines go best with main-dish summer salads?

Pairing wine with salad is tricky business: Some lettuces intensify bitterness in wines. Crisp, raw vegetables demand a wine with texture. And acidic dressings tone down tartness in wines. But main-dish salads, full of ingredients with a natural affinity to wine, such as cheese, nuts, and meat, taste better with a glass of vino. As a general rule, match rosés, tart whites, and lighter reds like pinot noir with salads. And when in doubt, reach for a sparkling wine, because like salad itself, bubbly is light, refreshing, and infinitely satisfying on a summer evening.

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Salad Topped with Spicy Meat

A low-alcohol wine, such as slightly sweet riesling or fruity red Beaujolais, will complement a complex salad without fanning the heat.

Loosen Bros. Riesling "Dr. L" 2008 (Germany, $11) Apricot, lime, and spice

Georges Duboeuf Fleurie 2008 (France, $16) Light but complex; fragrant with violets and red berries (pictured)

SPLURGE: Smith-Madrone Riesling 2008 (California, $25) Fresh with hints of honey and a lightly spiced finish

View Recipe: Spicy Basil-Beef Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Niçoise Salad with Tuna

Rosé is a natural match for the tangy, salty flavors. Choose either still or sparkling—both are dry, refreshing, and evocative of the South of France, where this dish originated.

La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux Rosé 2008 (France, $8) Juicy, bright strawberries

Ponzi Vineyards Rosato 2008 (Washington, $17) Fresh, dry, and zingy

SPLURGE: Schramsberg Brut Rosé 2006 (California, $41) Ripe, rich strawberry and rhubarb pie (pictured)

View Recipe: Seared Tuna Niçoise

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Salad with Curried Chicken

Enhance sweet-tart curried chicken salad with an aromatic white wine like viognier, a full-bodied white, or torrontés, a dry floral white from Argentina.

Luigi Bosca "Finca la Linda" Torrontés 2009 (Argentina, $11) Orange and peach aromas; lemon and apple taste (pictured)

Maryhill Viognier 2008 (Washington, $15) Flowers, honey, and nectarines, with a zesty finish

SPLURGE: J. Vidal-Fleury Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc 2007 (France, $17) Pear and baked caramel flavors

View Recipe: Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Cobb Salad

With smoky bacon, creamy avocado, tangy blue cheese, and juicy tomatoes, Cobb salad pairs well with a variety of wines. A bottle of fragrant gewürztraminer contrasts with salty, creamy notes, while an earthy pinot noir enhances the meaty bacon.

Natura Gewürztraminer 2009 (Chile, $11) Organic grapes; notes of spicy peach and honeysuckle

King Estate "Acrobat" Pinot Noir 2008 (Oregon, $20) Light and bright with cherries, violets, and red currants (pictured)

SPLURGE: Trimbach "Cuvee Des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre" Gewürztraminer 2001 (France, $45) A drinkable perfume, luscious and rich

View Recipe: Chicken Cobb Salad