Which Cheese To Pair With Your Favourite Wine
Most people like to pair red wine with cheese and thats fine – just bear in mind that there are some cheeses, as Ive suggested above, that taste better with a white wine or dessert wine so don’t be afraid to experiment.
10 popular wines and the cheeses to pair with them
1. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and Bordeaux blends – cheddar, gouda and other hard cheeses
2. Pinot noir – brie and camembert
3. Rhône and other southern French reds – a good all-rounder with a French cheeseboard
4. Rioja – particularly good with sheep cheeses like Manchego
5. Chianti – parmigiano reggiano and pecorino
6. Port – blue cheeses like stilton
7. Sauvignon blanc – goat cheese and feta, cheeses with garlic and herbs
8. Chardonnay – buttery cheddar
9. Pinot Grigio – mozzarella and other mild Italian cheeses
10. Champagne and other sparkling wine – Vacherin Mont dor, Chaource
If you enjoyed this post download my cheese book 101 Great Ways to Enjoy Cheese and Wine for loads of other pairing ideas
Top photo ©George Dolgikh at fotolia.com
If you found this post useful and were happy to get the advice for free perhaps you’d think about donating towards the running costs of the site? You can find out how to do it here or to subscribe to our regular newsletter click here.
You may also enjoy
Gorgonzola + Multigrain Crisps With Berries
OK, blue cheeses can feel scary, but this is one combo even haters will love. Multigrain crisps infused with berries ” rel=”nofollow”> Cranberry Oat Multigrain Crisps from Target) work to elevate the cracker and the cheeses best qualities. Just keep in mind: With a fragile and flavor-packed cracker, its better to go with a blue cheese thats creamy and sweet versus one thats crumbly and tough to spread.
What Are The 2 Basic Rules When Pairing Food And Wine
8 simple rules for matching food and wine
- Keep food and wine at a similar weight.
- Match flavour intensity and character.
- Think about acidity.
- Beware mixing salt and tannin.
- Soften bitter tannins with richer, heavier food.
- Serve a wine at least as sweet as the food being served.
- Spicy foods need spicy wine.
- Pair with the sauce.
Don’t Miss: Getting Wine Out Of Shirt
White Wine Is Close To The Perfect Match For Cheese And Generally Far Better Than Red Wine The Freshness Of The White Wine The Perfumed Notes And The Combination Of Sweetness And Acidity Suit Many Cheeses However It Is Important To Pair The Right Wine With The Right Cheese
You may have heard it before: you should be drinking white wine with your cheese instead of red. And this is indeed true. Its not just a crazy notion developed by snobbish wine-and-cheese types. White wine is simply much more suitable for serving with cheese than red. The milder bouquet, the acidity and any sweetness of white wines complement cheese better than the robustness, tannins and slightly metallic taste of red wines.
However, white wines like cheeses come in countless varieties and not all types are suitable for all cheeses. The wines may be light, heavy, young, old, fresh, sweet and much more. And each wine is best suited to a specific type of cheese. The trick is to experiment and note what you think works best.
In general, however, it is a good idea to serve if you can a couple of different white wines with your cheese especially if there are several different types of cheese. For example, try serving a fresh wine and a more complex wine so you can experience the difference. You might also try serving a young wine and an old wine.
Wine With Hard Cheese
Hard cheeses include cheddar, Comté, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Manchego. Theyre the easiest type of cheese to pair with wine – a medium bodied red like a cabernet sauvignon or a rioja is probably going to be the most enjoyable pairing for most people but try the combination of cheddar and chardonnay
Recommended Reading: How Do You Remove Red Wine From Fabric
Cheeses That Go With Wine:
Salty, hard cheeses pair well with wine, and so do soft cheeses. Again, an improptu wine and cheese party should be easy to prepare, so dont feel like you need to serve all of these.
- Gouda the perfect pairing with Cabernet
- Aged cheddar lovely with Malbec
- Manchego try this one with a sparkly wine. Also, this is a sheep milk based cheese.
- Ricotta goes well with Riesling
- Parmesan delicious with a bubbly Prosecco
- Gruyere a love fest with Chardonnay
- Brie goes well with many wines, but my favorite is Merlot
- Bleu cheese pairs well with a Pinot Noir or a sweet Port
- Feta a bright red or dry Rose, slightly sweet wine is perfect with salty feta
If youre looking for beautiful round block cheeses to fancy it up, I highly recommend Emmi Cheese!
VEGAN or DAIRY FREE OPTIONS Can we Say YAY for real food based vegan cheese?! Yes we can! These are my favorite vegan cheese to serve on cheese boards.
- Daiya Block Cheese
- Or if youre looking for a more cheddar like Vegan/Paleo cheese dip, try my vegan queso. You can definitely fancy it up to make it wine and cheese party worthy. .
Tip for BUILDING A CHARCUTERIE or CHEESE BOARD Focus on colors and combos. Ex: Orange and red . Greens and yellows . Throw it all together now and garnish with a herbs and flowers.
Need to gave this all organized for you?! I gotcha covered. Printable FESTIVE CHEESE BOARD RECIPE and INGREDIENTS BELOW! Yeaaas!
Keywords: cheese boards, appetizers, cheese and wine, healthy, holiday entertaining
Moscato Dasti And Gorgonzola
Why it works: As weve said, funkier cheeses call for a sweeter wine, but the lightness of Moscato and other sweet whites can be a terrific change if youve only ever matched pungent cheese with heavy, fortified wines. The fresh, acidic fruit of a Moscato dAsti cleans your mouth of heavier cheeses like Gorgonzola, leaving you nice and refreshed.
Also try:Gewürztraminer and Munster or Prosecco and Asiago.
You May Like: What Is The Most Keto Friendly Wine
Ensure Both The Cheese And Wine Are At The A Suitable Temperature
To best bring out the flavor of the cheese and wine, you need to make sure that their temperature is ideal. If not, you wont get the most out of the taste that the manufacturer had intended.
Observing the correct room temperature is especially important when dealing with cheese, which becomes soft when left at room temperature. When left at a colder temperature, the cheese becomes harder, preventing it from doing an excellent job bringing out its flavors and smells. The same applies to both red and white wine, so you need to ensure that you dont store them in an extremely cold or hot environment.
Add A Homemade Surprise
A charcuterie board can be a place to showcase your creativity and culinary prowess. Even when purchasing most of your charcuterie from respected purveyors, we always incorporate rillettes or pate made at home. They are surprisingly simple to prepare, and will keep, if properly stored under refrigeration, for two weeks. Use our pork rillettes recipe , or if youre in a pinch for time, try Olympia Provisions.
Recommended Reading: How Many Carbs In Wine
Which Wine Goes With Which Cheese
Beginners may not know where to start but once youve had enough wine and cheese pairings, the choices will come more naturally to you. For now, it is okay if you are wondering whether to start with the cheese or the wine. In this piece, we have broken it down in a way that makes it easier for you to buy the cheese that goes with the bottle of wine you have at home. Each cheese gets a section where we talk about the wines that go with it.
Chianti Classico And Pecorino Toscano
Why it works: Another great grows together, goes together pairing, the hard, aged texture of a Pecorino pairs wonderfully with the booming tannins of a Chianti Classico. The savory secondary notes in a Chianti bring out a hidden herbal flavor in the cheese, with the wines black fruit holding up perfectly against the boldness of the Pecorino.
Also try:Sangiovese and Parmigiano-Reggiano or Brunello di Montalcino and Grana Padano.
You May Like: Is Pinot Noir Gluten Free
Pair Wine And Cheese That You Would Enjoy
While its good to get insights on which are the best pairings to consider, you should only pick what you know you can enjoy. This is a better strategy when dealing with hesitation, trying to decide if other pairings are a better pick as recommended by others. Pairing the type of wine and cheese that you wont enjoy will not be worth it. So, know your preferences well!
Relax and dont mind breaking the rules in choosing a flavor that youd enjoy. So long as the pairing provides you with the cheeses creamy richness alongside the subtle flavor of wine, go for it. Dont let other people convince you otherwise because everybody has different tastes and preferences.
What White Wine Goes Well With Cheese
Very light cheeses, such as cream cheese, go best with a young, crisp white wine, while more flavourful aged cheeses require a more robust wine companion. If you have an old, creamy, amber, aged white wine, whether it is a Riesling, Chardonnay or Gewurztraminer, serve it with flavourful aged cheeses.
You May Like: How To Remove Wine Stains From Teeth
Wine And Cheese Pairings
Cheese is one of the most misunderstood foods when it comes to matching with wine. Cheese connoisseur Terry Kirby gives advice on how to do it properly.
Terry Kirby
Cheese and wine are alike in so many ways it’s no wonder we often consume them together. Both have vast ranges of styles, where national and regional traditions interweave with climate, soil and other changing natural influences, meaning one year’s batch can be very different from the last. Pests and moulds play their own parts, as does the temperature at which they are consumed.
Production methods, how they are kept and aged or not and the love and care, as well as the whims, of the people that make them all shape individual character.
Slice Meats Cold And Not Too Far In Advance
Charcuterie oxidizes quickly and loses its appealing vibrant color and freshness. For prosciutto and salami, slice meats 1-2 hours in advance. Cover with saran wrap and place in refrigerator remove the charcuterie platter 15 minutes before serving to let the cheeses get closer to room temperature, accentuating their flavors.
Don’t Miss: What Kind Of Wine Is Stella Rosa
Best Wine To Drink With Cheese
No wine conneseuir is deemed that title until youve had yourself a wine and cheese party! Red wine is almost always the first option that comes to mind when you think of this dynamic duo. While a properly aged Pinot Noir with the right cheese can be a treat, there is so much more when it comes to wine and cheese pairings. In fact, many wine experts actually prefer white wine with most cheeses. Find the best wine to drink with cheese.
Dont know much about wines yet to pair with your cheeses? Check out Beginner Wines that You Need to Try for some tips on varieties of wine.
What Alcohol Goes Well With Cheese Fondue
Don’t drink anything but these 3 beverages: Sip only white wine, kirsch, or a tisane of herbal tea with your fondue meal. According to Swiss lore, any other drinkbe it water, juice, or beerwill cause the melted cheese to coagulate and form a giant ball in your stomach, leaving you with debilitating indigestion.
Don’t Miss: Making Drinking Glasses Out Of Bottles
Ten Popular Wines And Types Of Cheese To Pair Them With
- Rioja pairs well with Manchego and other types of sheep cheese
- Port goes with blue cheeses, such as stilton
- Rhône and other reds from southern France these are proper all-rounders when you have a cheeseboard of French cheeses
- Chardonnay pair this with buttery cheddar
- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and blends of Bordeaux these pair well with varieties of hard cheeses, such as Gouda or cheddar
- Pinot Grigio this pairs well with any type of mild cheese from Italy. You will enjoy this combination most with a platter of antipasti
- Chianti pecorino and parmigiano are some of the cheeses you can have with this wine
- Champagne and other types of sparkling wine these can be had with Chaource or Vacherin Mont dOr
- Sauvignon Blanc pair this with feta or goat cheese. You could also use cheese with herbs and garlic
- Pinot Noir this can be paired with Camembert and Brie.
Get to know Best Grapes for Making Wine to get more knowledge on the kinds of flavors youre going to be tasting with these cheese pairings
How To Pick The Right Cheeses To Suit Your Wine
Preparing the perfect cheese board for your wine can be a challenge when there are so many incredible varieties from fresh cheeses like feta and hard cheese like Monterey Jack to washed-rind stinkers like Epoisses and blue cheese like Roquefort.
If youre thinking about serving a variety of cheeses with a single wine, focus on the acidity. Light, citrusy wines like Riesling are flexible and pair well with most cheeses, whether its delicate ricotta or sharp blue. Sparkling wines also fit the bill. The effervescent bubbles of Champagne, Cava or Brut wines cut through the buttery fat of cheese to minimize the clash of mismatching flavors while cleansing your palate.
Its not easy to find a single wine that will match all cheeses, so consider serving a specific cheese with each wine. Heres a brief rundown of the main cheese types and which types of wine pair best with them.
Don’t Miss: Shipping Wine To Louisiana
Wine And Cheese Pairing Made Simple
McKenzie Hagan | March 17, 2020
When it comes to wine pairing, the best way to discover what works is to experiment and let your taste buds take the lead. That said, it helps to have a little direction. To help you on your way, here are some basic guidelines for creating the perfect cheese and wine pairings.
Wine Pairings: Charcuterie And Cheese Board
Believe it or not, the holiday season is fast approaching. While it may not involve the same parties with extended friends and family we may be used to, the season is still the perfect excuse to treat yourself to some Oregon wine. Build yourself a charcuterie and cheese board that pairs well with wines from Oregons Tualatin Valley.
Don’t Miss: What Wine Has The Lowest Calories
Syrah/shiraz And Aged Cheese
Aged cheese has intense savory flavors. Wines that are paired with them need to be equally intense and should also be rather dry. Syrah holds up well in this pairing because it is dry, medium to full-bodied, and has dark fruit and herb flavors. A Shiraz with tobacco notes works particularly well with smoked cheeses.
Meat And Cheese Board Components
Tips for Cheese:
Recommended Reading: What Snacks Go Good With Wine
What Wine Goes With Salami And Cheese
4.7/5salamigo
Simply so, what wine goes with meat and cheese?
Wine, Beer, Cheese & Italian Meats Pairings
| Wine | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sauvignon Blanc Pinot Noir Barbera Pinot Grigio | Lager Pilsner Wheat | Fresh Asiago Havarti or Mild Yellow Cheddar |
| Medium Body | ||
| Parmigiano Regiano Brie | ||
| Full Body |
One may also ask, why is wine and cheese good together? Plus, the fat in the cheese coats your mouth, which increases lubrication and decreases the perception of both astringency and sourness, says Galmarini. That means chewing any kind of fatty food can likely help improve your perception of your wine.
Secondly, what cheese is good with salami?
Cheeses to Go With Salami
- Whether you prefer the thinly sliced Soppressata type or the classic Genoa kind, salami is a popular sausage with intense flavor.
- Pecorino Cheese.
