What To Consider When Pairing Wine With Greek Salad
Greek salad is a beloved dish that's all about balance. With crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, tangy feta cheese, sharp red onion, and briny olives, it's a salad full of different flavors and textures. But what wine should you pair with such a medley of ingredients? Crisp, light, and refreshing wines make a perfect match for Greek salad.
Lighter whites like a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio often have fruity flavors like citrus, apple, and pear that enhance the freshness and vibrancy of the salad's ingredients. They're also refreshing, serving to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes and the saltiness of the feta cheese. However, there's a specific Greek wine that many experts agree stands out above the rest: Assyrtiko.
When speaking with Wine Enthusiast, enologist Sofia Perpera mentioned that feta, the base of most Greek salads, has such a strong flavor profile with its rich, tangy flavors that "It needs a wine with an equally strong personality, high acidity, and good structure. My first suggestions would be a high-acid Assyrtiko from Santorini or elsewhere in Greece, or Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé."
Whether you go for a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a mineral Assyrtiko, you've got more than a few options to explore. Here's how to choose the perfect wine to enhance your Greek salad experience.
Why crisp, light wines pair so well with Greek salads
Pairing the right wine with a dish is an art form that involves a keen understanding of flavors, textures, and aromas. The goal? To enhance the flavors of both the wine and the dish. That's why Greek salads, with their combination of fresh vegetables, tangy Greek feta cheese, and flavorful olives, work harmoniously with smooth, crisp white wines.
These wines often have fruity notes that enhance the flavors of the salad without overpowering it. The natural acidity in white wines cuts through the oil and saltiness in the salad, making it a refreshing experience. A Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, for example, can easily match and even elevate the flavors of the Mediterranean salad.
This isn't the case with red wine, though. The tannins in the red wine clash with the salad's fresh, delicate flavors and mix with the acidic tomatoes to produce a tangy, bitter taste. As a result, it's best to avoid heavier reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Syrah, which may oppose the subtleties of the dish.
Ultimately, as mentioned, two wines stand out as exceptional matches for the bold and zesty flavors of Greek salad: Sauvignon Blanc and Assyrtiko. While you can pair a crisp rosé or even a dry Italian Prosecco with any Greek salad — even this Spiced Chickpea Greek Salad — here's what makes these two types of wines the perfect pairing.
Exploring different flavor pairings
The grassy notes of Sauvignon Blanc complement the sharp and herbaceous blend of cucumbers, olives, garlic, and oregano in a Greek salad, while the wine's citrusy notes are the perfect match for the acidity of the tomatoes. As far as a specific Sauvignon Blanc, some sommeliers recommend Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, a white wine with a distinctive flavor profile.
The taste is dominated by juicy, ripe citrus fruits blended with subtle hints of oak and a pleasant mineral undertone. The acidity is refreshing and bright, beautifully complementing the tanginess of the feta cheese and olives and the acidity of the salad's fresh veggies and citrus dressing. Looking for something slightly sweeter? Opt for a fruity Pinot Grigio.
Santorini Assyrtiko, on the other hand, is a Greek wine known for its bright citrus flavors, such as passion fruit and lemon, and, as such, is pretty acidic. It's those dry, crisp flavors that balance out the robust flavors of the Mediterranean dish. Plus, the Santorini wine's almost saline-like notes blend well with the salt found in feta cheese.
The bottom line? When it comes to selecting the right wine for your Greek salad, consider the acidity and flavor notes of both the salad and the wine. As you explore different flavor pairings, experiment with different combinations to find the perfect one for you.