There are meals you make because you have to, and meals you make because someone deserves them. This is the second kind.
Etude's grilled peach and burrata salad with lemon thyme vinaigrette is the sort of dish that feels like a gesture, unhurried, thoughtful, and seasonal in the best way. Stone fruit and creaminess mirror the texture of our 2022 Heirloom Chardonnay, while lemon and fresh herbs keep the pairing vibrant and alive. It is elegant without being fussy, which, if you are cooking for someone who raised you, feels exactly right.
Set the table. Open the wine. Let the afternoon take its time.
The Wine: 2022 Etude Heirloom Chardonnay
The Heirloom Chardonnay is one of Etude's most expressive wines, sourced from a select parcel at Grace Benoist Ranch in the Carneros AVA. Carneros sits at the intersection of Napa and Sonoma Counties, where cooling fog and Pacific-influenced breezes off San Pablo Bay extend the growing season and allow acidity to develop alongside richness.
The 2022 vintage brings ripe stone fruit and citrus on the nose, with a creamy, textured palate and a finish that stays bright. It is a Chardonnay with presence, the kind of wine that holds its own in a pairing without ever overpowering the plate. Elegant, grounded, and worth savoring slowly.
The Pairing: Why It Works
Stone fruit and creaminess mirror Chardonnay texture, while lemon and herbs keep the pairing vibrant. The caramelized edges of the grilled peaches echo the wine's subtle richness, and the torn burrata creates a soft, creamy counterpoint that invites another sip. Lemon zest and fresh thyme in the vinaigrette do exactly what good acidity does in a Chardonnay: they lift the whole experience and keep it from ever feeling heavy.
Toasted Marcona almonds add a final layer of savory crunch that ties plate and glass together in a way that feels effortless but is anything but accidental.
Grilled Peach and Burrata Salad with Lemon Thyme Vinaigrette
Serves 4 | Pairs with 2022 Etude Heirloom Chardonnay
Ingredients
Salad
- 4 ripe peaches, halved and pitted
- 8 oz burrata, torn
- 3 cups baby arugula or mixed greens
- 1/3 cup toasted Marcona almonds, roughly chopped
Vinaigrette
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- Fresh thyme leaves
- Salt and cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat grill or grill pan to medium heat. Lightly oil peaches and grill cut side down until caramelized, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Cool slightly, then slice.
- Whisk lemon zest, juice, Dijon, honey, thyme, salt, and pepper. Slowly whisk in olive oil until emulsified.
- Arrange greens on a platter. Add grilled peaches and burrata.
- Drizzle with vinaigrette and finish with almonds and extra black pepper.
- Pour the 2022 Etude Heirloom Chardonnay and serve immediately.
Shop the 2022 Etude Heirloom Chardonnay at etudewines.com.
Enjoy responsibly. Pour & Protect.
