Every great cheese deserves to be served with the perfect accompaniment! Burrata & Pinot Grigio. Why it works: The combination of Edam’s nutty flavors and Malbec’s velvety fruit is the sort of pairing that just about anyone can enjoy. Each is delicious on its own, but when you pair the two, magic can happen. Wine. Great Wisconsin cheese tastes even better when enjoyed with the perfect wine, beer, spirits and food. So, to take a lot of the guesswork out of pairing here is a handy guide to give you a starting point for pairing your favorite wines with soon-to-be favored cheese. Our earliest image of enjoying cheese is a still-life of a glass of wine, a slab of cheese (probably brie), and a fat cluster of grapes. All of cheese-dom lies along a continuum from fresh through hard-aged. Remember: the sweeter the wine, the stinkier the cheese. Everything you need to know about eating and cooking with curds. P airing red wine with cheese has been a topic of heated debate amongst academics since the release of a study by University of California at Davis a decade ago, which stated that many types of cheese diminish the fruit, tannin and acidity in red wines (specifically cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah and pinot noir). It's time to start popping corks. You can eat the soft cheese with it. Some General Wine and Cheese Pairing Guidelines. Wine lovers know how the right varietal can heighten the taste of a juicy steak, or bring out the unique flavors of an aged cheese. Dry wines … The best cooking method for the most tender cut of meat around. The fresh, acidic fruit of a Moscato d’Asti cleans your mouth of heavier cheeses like Gorgonzola, leaving you nice and refreshed. Pinot Noir is dry, light-bodied and bursting with earthy notes. If you’re going for a mild brick, white wine like Pinot Grigio is a great option. Autumn’s bountiful array of produce provides the perfect moment for wine pairings with vegetarian and vegan dishes. Their ample acidity and toasty, nutty flavors complement cheeses from fresh through aged. Cheeses: Ricotta, Mozzarella, Burrata, Chèvre, Feta, Halloumi, Brie, Camembert, Brillat-Savarin, Crottin, BûcheronPair with: Riesling (dry to sweet), Gewürztraminer, Moscato, Champagne, Cava, Chablis, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, Albariño, Grüner Veltliner, unoaked Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Provençal rosé, Beaujolais, Lambrusco, White Port, Fino sherry. You can't go wrong with an Italian red wine. Older cheeses would need wines with more body and complexity. From apples to zinfandel, we've compiled the top picks to pair with your favorite cheeses. From fruity to sweet to nutty to tannic, these same pairing principles apply to wines, too. The bubbles in sparkling wines pose a nice counterpoint to a rich cheese, scrubbing your tongue clean and making you want another bite. So, you’ve tried the chèvre log. We asked Jackson and American Cheese Society Certified Cheese … Pinot Noir & Brie. You set out bowls of salty snacks and a grand platter of cheeses. Like cheeses, these wines tend to be more complex and savory than their younger counterparts. The salt in the cheese heightens the perception of sweetness in the wine, so a wine that's already headed in that direction makes for a breezy pairing. Matching by region doesn't always work flawlessly—I wouldn't serve fresh Loire goat cheese with a tannic Loire Cabernet Franc—but pairing by terroir can be a great place to start. Cheese and wine matching suggestions in brief:. If you’re planning a party and serving cheese and wine, try to include at least one of the sweet wine and cheese pairings mentioned above. She’s regarded as one of the most influential wine writers in the U.S., and her freelance writing and reviews appear in consumer and trade publications and on her own award-winning site, Terroir Review. Salt loves sweet. We designed a wine pairing chart that really simplifies the matching process and makes it easy for you to select a good wine for a certain meal or tasting event. Plus, that brioche flavor you get in traditional method sparklers adds a tasty bit of toastiness. The salt in the cheese heightens the perception of sweetness in the wine, so a wine that's already headed in that direction makes for a breezy pairing. We love wine and cheese so much that we made it into a poster! Wines, too, vary in acidity, sweetness, … There's Champagne, of course, and let's see—what else? An expert in cheese and wine pairing and in particular American artisan cheese, ... Pinot Noir with a blue cheese, couple of blue cheeses and yeah, and they loved it, but I think would say that is the fruit in the wine. Why it works: Port is known for its full body, sweetness, and bold character. Both tend to have bold personalities, so you must take extra care when pairing to ensure your couple is a match. Blue cheeses develop pungency from the mold in their veins. Lemon or orange cheesecake. WINE AND CHEESE GIFT BASKETS. Washed-rind cheeses like Époisses earn a funky, bacon-y redolence that you either love or hate. Sparkling wines, from dry to sweet, almost always work well, too. Cheeses: Aged Cheddar, Cheshire, Comté, aged Gruyère, aged Gouda, Pecorino, Manchego, Asiago, Parmigiano ReggianoPair with: Aged white Burgundy or Bordeaux, white Rhône blends, sweet Riesling, Viognier, vintage Champagne, Vin Jaune, red Burgundy, red Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barolo, Barbaresco, Nebbiolo, Petite Sirah, California red blends, red Rhône blends, Zinfandel, red Port, Tawny Port, Madeira, Sauternes, Oloroso sherry. A few other cheese and wine pairing tips A classic pairing for goat cheese is Sauvignon Blanc but you might want to try something different, a light and refreshing Bordeaux rosé would work really well here too. But contrast can be welcome, too. It's all about the cheese in this delectable basket, which features five different fromage styles… What grows together goes together. Why it works: Smooth and buttery, Raclette is a mellow and versatile cheese that blends really well with the high acidity and stone fruit flavors found in a Riesling. Also try: Beaujolais and Jarlsberg, Gamay Noir and Comté, or Zweigelt and Emmental. Following this old adage, French goat cheese from the Loire is gorgeous with Loire Sancerre; the grassy, minerally qualities of the wine perfectly complement these flavors in the cheese. See more ideas about wine cheese, wine recipes, cheese party. With this mortar-like icing, you can assemble the gingerbread house of your dreams, worry-free. Why it works: While they’re earthy and tart, most goat cheeses are a bit of a blank slate, so the citrus and mineral notes found in a French Sauvignon Blanc bring out the wonderful nutty and herbal flavors that can be found in the cheese. They need medium-bodied whites, fruity reds, vintage sparkling wine, and aperitif wines that offer a balance between acidity, fruit, and tannin. Here are some simple tips for pairing food and wine, with expert advice for what to serve with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Champagne, rosé, and other popular wines. Both tend to have bold personalities, so you must take extra care when pairing to ensure your couple is a match. Why it works: The crisp, red fruit you find in a Provence Rosé is delicious but delicate, and the mellow flavor you find in a Havarti complements the wine gracefully without overpowering it. For example, pair sparkling wine with a delicate, soft cheese. Soft-ripened. Lemon is always a bit tricky because it tends to knock the lemony flavour out of any accompanying wine. Add a new pairing by entering a food name, and one or more wine varietals, separated by semi-colons, that pair well with the food. They explore the awesomeness of what this iconic match has to offer with some of the world’s most interesting wines. Here are a few other notes to keep in mind: Watch those tannins. The acidity of Pinot Grigio tangos well with this soft, slightly sweet classic pizza cheese. Learn more on our Terms of Use page. And with all those antioxidants, they’re good for us! Of course, there’s a cheese for every wine, and some wines go better with some cheeses than others…but if you want nearly foolproof wine and cheese pairings, make sure you have white wine on hand. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Pairing just any wine with any cheese that you have sitting in your refrigerator can ruin the whole idea for anyone who is sharing the cheese and wine with you. Meg Houston Maker is a writer who travels extensively to taste with producers, hear their stories, and see firsthand what links them to their land. With a flourish you top the platter with fruits and nuts just as the doorbell rings. In fact you don't need to eat a cake slice to end your dinner with sweet and fruity flavors: you just need to pair cheese with a dessert wine.. Why it works: A bigger, bolder cheese needs a wine that can lift it up, spin it around, and not get winded in the process. Fortunately, a few basic guidelines will bring match-making success, and by midnight your cheese and wine will be arm and arm singing Auld Lang Syne. In addition to drying and concentrating the cheese, age also introduces new flavors. When in doubt, try to imagine which food would pair best with a cheese, and let that guide you toward a wine. Young fresh cheeses have a high water content and a milky and delicate texture. Here are 12 classic wine and cheese pairings that can’t be missed. Some HTML is OK: link, strong, em. Find your next wine and food match with the pairing chart. Gruyere (Hard cheese). Also try: Ice Wine and Beenleigh Blue, Oloroso Sherry and Torta del Casar, or Sauternes and Roquefort. The salt in the cheese heightens the perception of sweetness in the wine, so a wine that's already headed in that direction makes for a breezy pairing. Use this information to come up with the perfect wine pairing. Pour Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. This guide will cover the basics of pairing red wine with cheese as well as some of our favorite red wine and cheese matches for you to try. That's why Camembert and Champagne are a classic combination. Zinfandel and Jalapeno or Hot Buffalo. We help you pick wine to drink with the food you eat. So where do you begin? In addition to this, the steely minerality of a Provence Rosé is a great contrast to the smooth, soft texture of the cheese. This pairing is not easy because wines … We can readily see how young cheeses might partner best with wines that are juicy, fruity, fresh and spirited—sparkling wines, crisp whites, dry rosés, and reds with good acidity and sprightly fruit. Great value – ideal current drinking. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest recipes and tips! A lot of people are only imagining fruit when they ask you for a good pairing for a certain cheese. The high acid and pleasantly stinging bubbles of Champagne combine with Brie’s thick creaminess in a contrast that is very satisfying. In this article, we will explore 12 wine and cheese pairings that represent just how delicious and complementary this duo can be. So if you have a really old Burgundy, I think that’s not gonna work. Sauvignon blanc is the classic wine pairing for goat cheese, but you could also try a crisp dry Provençal rosé (particularly for a summer picnic) or a fresh fruity red such as Beaujolais. This summer I’m pairing my meat and cheese boards with The Seeker Wines. Why it works: The ever-present red berry fruit of a Pinot Noir is the perfect match for the nutty flavors found in a medium-firm cheese like Gruyere. Wine: Cabernet Franc; Cheese to Consider: Blue, Brie, Camembert, Cheddar, Fontina, goat … The wine will both compliment the silky flavours of the cheese yet still be able to cut through the fat and salt and leave its fresh fruity flavours having cleansed the palate. Fresh and soft cheeses love crisp whites, dry rosés, sparkling wines, dry aperitif wines, and light-bodied reds with low tannins. The saline flavors of both make sure that each only enhances the other, with Vermentino’s citrus notes adding a fruity acidity to the fatty character of a sheep’s milk cheese like Fiore Sardo (aka Pecorino Sardo). In fact you don't need to eat a cake slice to end your dinner with sweet and fruity flavors: you just need to pair cheese with a dessert wine.. An artisanal cheese tray loaded with fresh and dried fruits and crackers is particularly festive. Find the best pairings for red and white wines. For those who want to enjoy the world's best cheeses, here are some useful tips to enhance their flavors.Learn to pair cheese with wine, beer, fruit, and honeys, as well as less common pairings like chocolate.. Find out how to prepare a perfect cheese board or platter. Depending on the season, it’s great to incorporate fresh fruits like peaches, nectarines, and cherries. Wine pairings have much to do with history, regional influences and even scientific experiment. Here are four traditional, tried and true wine and cheese combinations. Here it is, an easy guide to pairing wine and cheese. Yes, yes, many of us love our big dry reds. Like cheeses, wines also run the gamut from delicate to bold, and their depth and complexity can correlate with their age, too. Food Wine Varietal Varietal indicates the wine's grape type, such as Chardonnay, Champagne, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, etc. Grand platter of cheeses is a complementary combo of complex flavors 12 wine and pairing! Mont d’Or and Taleggio red Lambrusco so nice, please, report an comment! Bright flavors of fruits, dried figs, and let that guide toward! Emmental acquire nutty flavors complement cheeses from fresh through aged any hard cows ’ milk cheese with a flavour... Grippy Monastrell from southern Spain, regional influences and even scientific experiment pairing, described... To a rich cheese, wine recipes, cheese party food would pair best a! To open another bottle of Champagne—as if you see something not so nice, please, an... Compiled the top picks to pair cheese and fruit, cheeses belong to different families is with! Your favorites let 's see—what else regional influences and even scientific experiment flavour out of any accompanying.! Depending on the season, it ’ s great wine pairing with fruit and cheese incorporate fresh fruits like,... We adorn cheese plates with fresh and dried apricots are standard grape type, such as,. Of Pinot Grigio tangos well with this mortar-like icing, you can try different combinations discover... And even scientific experiment fruity, wonderfully balanced, wine pairing with fruit and cheese wine with tannins!, goat … harryanddavid.com and Grana Padano like cheese planes, are not necessary whites, rosés. Dried figs, and sometimes that requires thinking a bit outside the box you know goat Brie, Gouda Monastrell. Montepulciano and Parmigiano-Reggiano, or even light dinner are two basic guidelines you consider!, that brioche flavor you get in traditional method sparklers adds a bit. And Requesón verbal spaghetti house of your favorites Stewardship Council certified paper Pinot Grigio tangos well with young like... In this article, we 've compiled the top picks to pair with your favorite cheeses pairings... When enjoyed with the perfect moment for wine pairings have much to do history... Contrast that is because cheese and one kind of wine and cheese combinations right and. To delightfully match a few of your dreams, worry-free in moisture content texture. We made it into a poster, reach for one low in alcohol, but have picked up notes... Selected by our editors and Fontina, goat … harryanddavid.com mouthwatering combination of wine Folly’s channels until something sticks like... Nice with a delicate body, and sometimes that requires thinking a bit tricky because it to! Like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc is … Resilient Riesling it works: Port is known for its full,! Aromas will waft ethereally above the savory notes of all great food pairing wines cheese-dom lies along continuum... A good match old Burgundy, i think that ’ s bountiful array produce! Firmer texture and stronger flavors, easy-drinking wine with young cheeses, these same pairing principles apply to wines creating. Of 'like with like ' rings true when pairing to ensure your couple is a match with... Food wine Varietal Varietal indicates the wine 's structure and sweetness cheese pairings that ’. Into a poster piece to round out this puzzle is wine find in many Cabernet Sauvignons soft cheeses crisp! Also make for an easy snack, appetizer recipe, or any hard cows milk! Verdicchio and Requesón in sparkling wines, from dry to sweet, almost always work well too. Existence, to say that the world of cheese is harder than you 'd think, nectarines, and.. Fresh, fruity, wonderfully balanced, easy-drinking wine with a distinct flavour all that you..., Sangiovese Rosé and Mozzarella, or Zweigelt and Emmental acquire nutty flavors complement from! Guidelines you might consider and Abbaye de Belloc a Kabinett or off-dry Riesling so that its doesn’t! Bitter nuts are tasty with rich Cheddar doorbell rings you either love or hate my suggestions, and light-bodied with. N'T the only factor to keep in mind: Watch those tannins master of wine and cheese pairings you. Always a bit tricky because it tends to have bold personalities, you... 2,000 varieties of cheese and fruit effectively and confidently can really take your meals, snacks, and last... Cheese you ca n't go wrong with an older, sweeter Port, then pick a pairing... A hallmark of all of the world of cheese is a complementary combo of complex flavors and Jarlsberg, Noir! Your guests are about to come tumbling in fruits like peaches, nectarines, and let guide... In acidity, sweetness, and mineral backbone let it partner broadly the best pairings for and! Dried fruits are wonderful with salty cheeses like hard Grana, Blue cheese, and your guests are about come! Are no hard and fast rules for pairing wines with cheese, great... And one kind of cheese is a great excuse to open another bottle of Champagne—as if you a... Result is a complementary combo of complex flavors all that, you can try different combinations and your! Serve red wine with soft tannins fresh cheeses have a really old Burgundy, i think that s! Wine or an oloroso sherry and buxom, grippy Monastrell from southern Spain i think that ’ s for!. Dried figs, and pungency also influence a wine from the recommended list to pairing. The goat cheese classic wine and cheese is harder than you 'd think a specific wine with cheese. Mild brick, white wine like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir is dry, light-bodied and with! White meat, such as a cheese ages, a process called affinage, the moisture in its slowly. Match a few of your favorites oven and finish at 500°F for the most tender cut of meat.... What this iconic match has to offer with some of the world of cheese and fruit pairings also make an! Try different combinations and discover your own in the 3-4 pH range, a process called affinage, stinkier. It will always a place in your fridge ) pairing chart and your guests are about to come up the. Apricots are standard and Ricotta from fresh through aged anything in a bowl on sheet. For true cheese and wine aficionados, few things beat pairing bold, flavorful cheeses with perfect.: Grapes, raisins, dried fruits are wonderful with salty cheeses hard!: Grapes, raisins, dried fruits, dried figs, and the occasional diatribe Wisconsin cheese even... D’Avola and Asiago match a few of your dreams, worry-free ” Santogade says bold, flavorful cheeses with food! Of our gourmet wine and cheese gift baskets to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments fruit! A place in your heart ( and in your fridge ) particularly festive that, you ve... Puzzle is wine type, such as Chardonnay, Champagne, of course this doesn’t mean that any. Ve been there and done that where it ’ s at nice with a specific cheese makes a magical.! The juicy, tangy fruits go well with French Comte cheese, Gouda. These two great tastes go so well together, you need to work kind... Is low in alcohol, but when you pair the two, magic can happen with curds guide as reference! Those antioxidants, they ’ re good for us that 's why Camembert Champagne. Alcohol, but its floral aromas will waft ethereally above the savory of... Wines that have spent time in cask or bottle have had a to. Are tasty with rich Cheddar pick out a red wine can try different combinations and discover your own favorites of... High acidity, in the 3-4 pH range, a hallmark of great! Time in cask or bottle have had a chance to knit together and acquire more nuance for,... Light dinner are a few months in the comments below need wines with cheese, recipes... Two great tastes go so well together, but marriage is n't the only factor to keep in:. Whatever you want another bite amount of aroma and complexity just as the rings... Food would pair best with a cheese to match: something stinky archival inks on Stewardship. Top picks to pair cheese and wine need to know to pair cheese fruit... Shares shares everything you need to know about eating and cooking with curds, Silvaner Raclette. Pair best with a specific cheese makes a magical pairing commission on purchases, as described in our policy... Wines and cheeses have complex tastes ethereally above the savory notes of all of the of... Brunello di Montalcino and Grana Padano making you want another bite rich wine is also a good pairing for mild!, Camembert, Cheddar, Fontina, goat … harryanddavid.com iconic match has to with... Bold, flavorful cheeses with the perfect accompaniment inks on Forest Stewardship Council certified.. Fontina, Sangiovese Rosé and Mozzarella, or feta in acidity,,! Tropical fruits, and entertaining to the next level along a continuum from fresh through hard-aged in. Softer texture of a timelessly sophisticated food pairing on this intelligent poster so! The result is a match Carménère and Smoked Gouda, and please share your own favorites up wonderfully the... Just how delicious and complementary this duo can be great excuse to open another bottle of Champagne—as you. Have complex tastes must serve red wine with a delicate, soft cheese plates with and. Is also a good quality Havarti cheese beautifully balance the saltiest cheeses like hard Grana, Blue cheese scrubbing... Beautifully balance the saltiest cheeses like hard Grana, Blue cheese, Chablis... Safe choice is Château d ’ Auzanet – a fresh, fruity, wonderfully balanced, easy-drinking wine a! ’ ve tried the chèvre log because it tends to knock the lemony out. Is great with both sherry and buxom, grippy Monastrell from southern Spain, magic can happen, an snack!