Pair Chardonnay like a pro

Chardonnay pairs well with creamy dishes. Find out more about how to match it with food, then open a bottle of Hartenberg Estate's best Chardonnay to drink with an easy pork-and-beans recipe.

Chardonnay is a versatile food wine — just remember not to pour it with very spicy, pungent, bitter or acidic foods; ingredients such as chilli, raw tomato, olives, capers and vinaigrettes will make it taste sour. Here's how to bring out Chardonnay's best side.

PAIR UNOAKED CHARDONNAY WITH FISH AND CHICKEN

Unoaked Chardonnay tends to be crisp and fresh – a great match for light shellfish recipes, roast chicken and vegetables, as well as mild creamy soups, pastas and risottos.

PAIR LIGHTLY OAKED CHARDONNAY WITH BUTTERY RECIPES

These wines are a good match for foods such as steak with Béarnaise sauce and seared scallops in butter, or even eggs Benedict if you're sippinig wine for brunch. (It's even a match with hot buttered popcorn – open a bottle on movie night and see for yourself!)

PAIR FULL-BODIED OAKED CHARDONNAY WITH SAVOURY AND TOASTY FLAVOURS

Game birds, wild mushrooms and truffles, and nut-crusted proteins and pastry crusts, are all good matches. You also can't go wrong with caramelised roasted butternut, sweet potatoes and sweetcorn.

EASY PORK CHOPS WITH BEANS

RECIPE BY HANNAH LEWRY

Serves 4
Preparation: 5 minutes
Cooking: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS
2 T olive oil
500 g Woolworths pork loin chops
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
400 g can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
400 g can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
3 cloves garlic, smashed
15 g fresh sage
1 cup Woolworths organic chicken stock
50 g butter
lemon juice, for serving
crusty bread, for serving

METHOD
1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan. Snip the fat on the chops at 1cm intervals. Season the chops on both sides and fry for 10-15 minutes, or until golden and slightly crispy.

2. Remove from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, sauté the beans, garlic and sage in the pan juices.

3. Add the stock and butter, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Once the beans and stock are slightly thickened, slice the pork chops and arrange in the pan. Squeeze over the lemon juice and season with black pepper. Serve with crusty bread.

THE WINE TO POUR
The Woolworths Hartenberg Chardonnay is available exclusively on our shelves. Vibrant and gently oaked, its citrus flavours and hints of vanilla are the perfect complement for these golden pork chops and creamy beans with sage.

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