A few tips in choosing which cheeses to pair with which wines:
We all tend to be intimidated by the thought of pairing wine and cheese. It’s not as daunting a task as one might think. The most important tip is to choose cheeses and wines that you like; usually your own taste buds will guide you.
That being said, here are two easy guidelines to assist you:
- Your cheeses and wines should complement each other; mild cheeses pair well with lighter wines and more pungent cheeses pair well with more robust wines. The secret here is to avoid having either overpowered by the other. For example, if you pair a semi-soft cheese with a Cabernet Sauvignon, the cheese taste will be lost to the robust flavor of the Cab.
- Choosing cheeses and wines from the same region is also an excellent way to find sublime pairings. For example pairing Seattle-based Beecher’s Flagship with a Washington Syrah would be a nice pairing or pairing a French Brie with a French Champagne would also make an enjoyable taste sensation.
I have prepared this chart to assist you in successfully pairing cheeses and wines for your next event or quiet evening at home relaxing:
| Cheese | White Wine | Red Wine | Champagne/Sparkling Wine | Dessert Wine |
| Asiago | Soave | Merlot | Champagne | Port, Madeira |
| Baby Swiss | Pinot Blanc | Asti Spumante | ||
| Blue Brie | Cotes-du-Rhone | Port | ||
| Blue Cheddar | Merlot | Tawny Port, Sherry | ||
| Blue Cheese | Sancerre | Zinfandel, Bordeaux | Madeira, Tawny Port | |
| Blue Triple Cream | Chardonnay | Tawny Port | ||
| Brie | Pinot Gris | Gamay Beaujolais | Champagne | Sweet Sherry |
| Camembert | Sauvignon Blanc | Cabernet Sauvignon | ||
| Cheddar (Mild) | Gruner Veltliner | Gamay Beaujolais, Syrah | ||
| Cheddar (Medium) | Chardonnay | Merlot | Champagne | Port |
| Cheddar (Sharp) | Pouilly Fuisse | Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon | Tawny Port | |
| Chevre (Aged Goat Cheese) | Merlot | |||
| Chevre (Fresh Goat Cheese) | Vouvray, Chenin Blanc, Sancerre | Pinot Noir | ||
| Chevre (Ripening Goat Cheese) | Riesling, Chardonnay, Riesling | |||
| Colby | Riesling | Pinot Noir | Champagne | |
| Comte | Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon | |||
| Cotija | Chardonnay, Riesling | |||
| Cream Cheese | Riesling, White Zinfandel | Cabernet Sauvignon | ||
| Crème Fraiche | Muscat, Port | |||
| Feta | Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc | Gamay Beaujolais | Champagne | |
| Gorgonzola | Gewurztraminer | Merlot | Moscato d’Asti | Tawny Port |
| Gouda (Aged) | Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir | |||
| Gouda (Smoked) | Merlot, Pinot Noir | |||
| Gouda (Young) | Riesling | Gamay Beaujolais | ||
| Gruyere | Sancerre | Merlot | Champagne | Tokaji, Port |
| Havarti | Chenin Blanc | Tempranillo, Bordeaux | ||
| Limburger | Blaufrankisch | |||
| Manchego | Rioja, Tempranillo, Syrah | |||
| Morbier | Pinot Gris | Dry Rose | ||
| Mozzarella | Pinot Gris | Dry Rose, Chianti | ||
| Muenster | Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris | Zinfandel | ||
| Myzithra | Merlot, Meritage | |||
| Parmesan | Chardonnay, Riesling, Sancerre | Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah | Lambrusco | Port, Madeira, Sauternes |
| Pecorino Romano | Gewurztraminer | Merlot, Zinfandel | ||
| Provolone | Chardonnay | Sangiovese, Barolo, Syrah | ||
| Raclette | Riesling | Gamay Beaujolais | ||
| Romano | Merlot, Bordeaux | |||
| Roquefort | Sancerre | Bordeaux | Tawny Port, Sherry | |
| Swiss (Mild) | Riesling | Gamay Beaujolais | ||
| Swiss (Robust) | Pinot Gris | Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Zinfandel | Port, Madeira | |
| Triple Cream | Vouvray | Bordeaux | Champagne, Blanc de Blanc |
For more pairings and other information regarding cheese, please visit my blog at cheesemonger .
©Copyright 2009 Marcella Wright and Echoes from the CheeseMines – Used by Permission
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