“Oh Cheese”! So this is how you pair wine and cheese
There is so much information on cheese and wine pairing ever since cheese platters evolved from a fancy appetizer at restaurants to the star of household entertainment. And yet with so much information out there you still find yourself paying attention to the types of cheese and the fruits/nuts/crackers and bread that go along with it but use whatever wine bottles you’re chilling in the fridge!
I’m guilty of that myself.
There’s no straightforward rule to pairing cheese and wine. Age, texture, and saltiness of the cheese play a major role in that area, however as a main guideline, experts divide cheeses into soft and hard cheeses
- The soft and fresh cheeses ( mozarella, feta, brie) are best with crisp white wines, rose and sparkling wines( Champagne, Chablis, Sauvignon blanc).Salty cheeses like feta and Gouda may also be paired with sweet wines ( Moscato).
- The semi-hard cheese (Gruyere, Edam, Emmentel) can be matched with medium bodied white wine( Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc) and Fruity red wines ( Pinot Noir, Merlot)
- The hard cheeses that can also fall in the aged cheese category( aged Gouda and aged cheddar) can be paired with full bodied white wines ( aged white Burgundy or vintage champagne) and full bodied rich wines ( Cabernet Sauvignon).
Experts agree that Riesling is one type of wine that can be paired with almost all types of cheeses. I’ve tested it with the cheeses I usually get (Manchego cheese , Compte, Gouda and Brie) and although it was acidic sipped on its own, it complimented the cheeses perfectly. However for a more divine match:
Manchego> Merlot
Compte> Pinot Gris
Gouda> Pinot Noir
Brie> Chardonnay
What about the wines that best match your favorite cheeses? I’m glad you asked… Check out the below:
Happy entertaining!
Cheers
thewineofthings.com 