August's wine list: 5 perfect food and wine pairings

From a smoky-sweet chardonnay to crisp German riesling, these are the wines to pair with this month's dinner recipes.

Beringer Chardonnay, California, $20.

Pair it with: Honey-lime grilled pork chops with peaches.

Exotic peach aromas echo the fruit in this meal. Meanwhile, citrus, a smoky-sweet oak spice and rich summer fruit flavours balance the pairing.

Bollini Pinot Grigio, Italy, $19.

Pair it with: Summer cherry panzanella.

Hailing from the higher altitudes of Trentino, Italy, this fresh white marries ripe pear, honey, nuts and spice with a good snap of acidity. It's a perfect match with this fruity salad.

13th Street Detour Riesling/Chardonnay, Ontario, $17.

Pair it with: Garlic shrimp and feta linguine.

Ontario is currently producing some excellent and unusual blended wines, like this riesling and chardonnay combo. Its subtle lemon, lime and apricot flavours highlight any salty-spicy dish.

Carl Reh Riesling Kabinett, Germany, $12.

Pair it with: Serrano chili ceviche.

Due to this dish's acidity and heat, matching a wine to it can be a bit tricky. But this crisp German riesling, with just a touch of sweetness and aromatics of Granny Smith apples and limes, complements it perfectly.

Flat Rock Cellars Unplugged Chardonnay, Ontario, $17.

Pair it with: Chicken salad with almond dressing.

This unadorned chardonnay (made without the use of oak barrels) is extremely food-friendly. Reminiscent of pears, apples and white flowers, it pairs well with the nuts and citrus in this salad.