This salad earns its place as a first course or a light main. Ripe pear, bold Gorgonzola, toasted walnuts, and dried cranberries over fresh greens with a tangy-sweet balsamic vinaigrette — it hits every part of the palate. Paired with Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, the combination is more interesting than it first appears.
At a Glance
- Dish: Pear and Gorgonzola salad with toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, and balsamic vinaigrette
- Wine Pairing: 2022 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- Serves: 4 to 6
- Prep Time: 10 to 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (toasting walnuts)
- Why It Works: The Cab's red fruit and floral notes mirror the pear's sweetness; Gorgonzola's sharpness contrasts the wine's soft tannins; balsamic acidity echoes the wine's structure
Why This Pairing Works
Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a lighter-structured Cab than its Napa Valley counterparts, with red currant, lavender, fresh thyme, and raspberry notes and a medium body with plush tannins. That profile makes it an unexpectedly good match for a salad with complexity.
The ripe pear mirrors the wine's fruit register directly. The Gorgonzola adds a sharp, tangy contrast that pulls the wine's tannins into focus without overpowering them. Toasted walnuts bring nuttiness and texture that resonates with the Cab's earthy, herbal edge. The balsamic vinaigrette's acidity echoes the wine's structure and keeps the pairing moving.
| Salad Element | What It Does for the Wine |
|---|---|
| Ripe pear | Sweetness mirrors the Cab's red fruit and floral notes |
| Gorgonzola | Sharp, tangy contrast that activates the wine's tannins |
| Toasted walnuts | Earthy nuttiness that echoes the wine's herbal character |
| Dried cranberries | Tart sweetness that resonates with the wine's red fruit |
| Balsamic vinaigrette | Acidity that mirrors the wine's structure |
Pear and Gorgonzola Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Serves: 4 to 6
Prep: 10 to 15 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 6 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, and leaf lettuce work well)
- 2 ripe pears, thinly sliced
- ½ cup crumbled Gorgonzola
- ¼ cup walnuts, roughly chopped and toasted
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
-
Toast the Walnuts
In a small dry skillet over medium heat, toast the chopped walnuts for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly browned. Remove from heat and allow to cool. -
Build the Salad
In a large bowl, combine the mixed greens, sliced pears, crumbled Gorgonzola, toasted walnuts, and dried cranberries. -
Make the Vinaigrette
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and honey until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. -
Dress and Serve
Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately.
Tip: Slice the pears just before serving to prevent browning. If you want to prep the salad ahead, keep the pears separate and add them at the last minute along with the dressing.
About the Wine
2022 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 93 Points
JamesSuckling.com (January 2025) described the 2022 vintage as having "perfumed aromas of red currants, lavender, fresh thyme and graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with plush tannins and balanced acidity, giving flavors of raspberry coulis, red licorice and baking spices. Very soft and delicate, with a nicely constructed backbone. Drink or hold."
Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is grown on volcanic mountain terrain in Sonoma County's Knights Valley AVA, 17 miles north of Beringer's Napa winery. The region's cobbled alluvial soils and varied microclimates produce wines with a distinctive character that sets them apart from valley-floor Cabernets.
SHOP 2022 KNIGHTS VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Serving Tips
- Serve the Cabernet slightly below room temperature, around 60 to 63°F, to keep the wine's red fruit and floral notes at their most expressive
- Arugula adds a peppery bite that works particularly well with the Gorgonzola and the wine — consider using it as half the greens base
- For a more substantial dish, add sliced prosciutto or grilled chicken alongside
Frequently Asked Questions
What wine pairs with pear and Gorgonzola salad?
Lighter red wines with red fruit, floral notes, and soft tannins pair well with pear and Gorgonzola salad. The pear's sweetness and the Gorgonzola's sharpness need a wine with enough fruit to mirror the pear but enough structure to hold its own against the cheese. Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with its red currant, lavender, and raspberry character and plush tannins, is a particularly well-suited match.
Can I substitute another blue cheese for Gorgonzola?
Yes. Roquefort is more pungent and works well if you want a bolder cheese presence. Bleu d'Auvergne is milder and creamier. Stilton lands somewhere between the two. All three pair well with ripe pear and a fruity red wine — the principle holds regardless of which blue you choose.
How do I toast walnuts without burning them?
Use a dry skillet over medium heat with no oil. Add the walnuts in a single layer and stir or shake the pan frequently. They will go from raw to fragrant to burnt quickly — about 3 to 4 minutes total. Pull them from the heat the moment you smell the nutty aroma and transfer immediately to a plate or cutting board to stop the cooking.
What is Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon?
Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from grapes grown in Knights Valley, an AVA in Sonoma County, California. Beringer has farmed the appellation since the mid-1960s and was instrumental in securing its AVA designation in 1983. The volcanic soils, mountain terrain, and coastal influence of Knights Valley produce Cabernet with a distinct character: lighter body, red fruit, and floral aromatics compared to many Napa Valley expressions. Explore the full Knights Valley collection.
SHOP KNIGHTS VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Love bold salad pairings? Try our Mango Avocado Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette, paired with Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay.
