Harvest Salad with Pears, Blue Cheese, and Pomegranates

Recommended wine: Riesling
Alternate Wine: Sauvignon/Fume Blanc

Come Autumn, Seasonal Ingredients Like Pears, Pomegranates and walnuts Start Appearing In Farmers Markets and Grocery Stores.  This Salad Is A Great Way To Celebrate The Changing Of The Season With A Combination Of Ingredients That Quite Flattering To Off-Dry, Slightly Sweet Riesling. The Saltiness And Tang Of The Blue Cheese Provides A Counterpoint To The Fruity Wine While The Pears Capture The Pear-Like Quality In Many Rieslings.

Dressing
1 cup Riesling, simmered, reduced by half                1 pound mixed greens
   And cooled                                                               ½ cup crumbled blue cheese
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard                                        ¼ cup toasted walnuts
2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar                               1 cup peeled and diced Anjou or Bosc
¼ teaspoon kosher salt                                                   pears
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoon olive oil
 
In a small nonreactive mixing bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients together thoroughly.
    On small plates, evenly divide greens and top with blue cheese, walnuts, pomegranate seeds, and pears.  Top with whisked dressing.
 

Serves 4 as an appetizer