PERFECTLY PAIRING WINE AND CHEESE
Cheese and Wine Pairings for Every Occasion
One of the best tips for entertaining a small group of friends or family is to keep the refreshments simple. A spread that can be put together quickly and easily is a cheese plate with wine. But even this can feel intimidating when you consider how serious some can be about wine tasting and just the right food pairings. You don’t have to be an expert to present a crowd-pleasing cheese and wine pairing, though. Use the ideas below and you will impress any guest.
The Best Pairing Secret: Choose to Match Texture
I believe the most crucial factor in creating a successful pairing is choosing cheese and wines in the same weight class. Because we're striving for balance, pairing a light and creamy goat cheese with a massive, dense red wine just doesn’t work as well as other options do.
Instead, try these harmony pairings that I have matched for their compatible textures:
When pairing Malbec with cheeses, look for strong tasting and rich cheeses. Go for a soft to semi-firm cow’s milk cheese or opt for a stronger tasting goat’s cheese if possible. Malbec pairs beautifully with hard matured cheddars and will tend to pair well with any cheeses which are often associated with strong ruby ports for a pairing like a bleu cheese.
Semi-Soft cow’s milk cheese like Ricotta, Burrata, Mozzarella with a medium-bodied white like Chardonnay pair famously together. Also, consider adding a Gruyere that is whole or creamy.
The most floral of whites, Viognier is your pour for a warm spring day. With floral aromas, sweet-seeming fruit flavors, and rich textures pair this wine with funky washed-rind cheese (like Taleggio), Fresh chèvre, gruyere, aged gouda, and double and triple creams like Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt. Tam or French brie.
In order to stand up to the nutty flavors in a Gouda, you need a tannic, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that gets the job done beautifully.
Feeling more in the mood for a Sauvignon Blanc, pair it with the earthy and zippy taste of most goat cheeses as the citrus and mineral notes found in the Sauvignon Blanc will bring out the herbal and nutty flavors that are found in the cheese. You can also pair Chenin Blanc and Chèvre, Grüner Veltliner and Florette, or Chablis and a baked Camembert for cheese sides too.
WInes made from a blend of red grapes such as a Bordeaux Blend (think our Spinner blend) are usually medium-bodied and well-balanced. With their fruit, herb, and spice flavors, red blends work well with smoked or sharp cheese because all the flavors become enhanced significantly. Go for Smoked Gouda, Parmesan, Pecorino, Manchego, Comte, and a Sharp Cheddar.
Rose’ and Havarti are a delicious and delicate balance when paired. The mellow flavors of a Havarti complement the wine gracefully without overpowering it. Also try adding a Fontina, Mozzarella, or Ricotta.
Alpine-style cheeses like Gruyere, Emmenthaler, or Comte with a fresh and fruity red like Pinot Noir, Barbera, or Gamay.
With a full-bodied Syrah look to harder cheeses or stinky cheeses. Bleu cheeses like Gorgonzola, or Stilton, and hard cheeses like Parmesan or asiago.
With these tips, you will make beautiful cheese and wine pairings that are less complicated for you and all the more delicious. You can enjoy so many combinations and experiment with this guide as a starting reference point. We love putting together a great cheese platter and hope that these tips and secrets help make you just a little more confident when serving cheese and wine together..