The App: Arugula salad with parmesan cheese, chopped bacon and balsamic vinaigrette.

Jameson’s Pick: 2010 Hofer Gruner Veltliner (1L)

The start to nearly every healthy meal is a hearty salad and the perfect glass of wine.

Salad and wine may not be as classic a pairing as a tenderloin steak and Cabernet Sauvignon, but when summer’s heat rolls in this light combination is a cool choice. With peppery arugula, I look to Austria’s signature white wine grape, Gruner Veltliner. Gruner, as wine geeks affectionately refer to the grape, produces many lively wines that are vegetable-friendly. It might seem obvious that a name like “Gruner” (meaning “green” in German) would partner naturally with leafy fare and it does, but the green is also a reference to the freshness of the wine. (Though, with everything in the world of wine, there are exceptions to the rule and you’ll find some rare and costly Gruners fine enough to be aged alongside other, more famous white wines.)

When selecting bottles of well-priced Gruner you’ll come across many packaged in one-litre bottles, rather than the standard 750 ml size. Who wouldn’t want an extra third of a bottle of wine? This size makes a Gruner a great choice for parties, for sharing, or for cooking and keeping a few glasses for the cook. My choice, the 2010 Hofer Gruner Veltliner comes sealed with a bottle-cap top, so there’s no fussing with a corkscrew. Not only will a one-litre bottle of wine sealed with a bottle cap get attention at your next dinner party, it will also be enthusiastically consumed.