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Pairing Cheese with Wine

Pairing cheese with wine

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The combination of cheese and wine is mouthwatering, and it is one thing many people cannot say no to. Both wine and cheese taste great on their own. However, when you pair these two, the outcome is something extraordinary. There is always a wine for every cheese, be it light, tannic, dry, or sweet.

Nevertheless, for you to make the most of this combination, you need to know the right cheese and wine to pair. There is a wide range of cheese out there, and it is important that you know the best wine to pair them with. In this guide, we will be highlighting some cheese and wine pairs that are worth trying.

Best Cheese and Wine

Just any cheese is not perfect for any wine. In this section, we will be listing some cheese and wine pairings that show how complementary and delicious this combination can be.

1.    Pinot Noir and GruyerePinot Noir and Gruyere

Pinot Noir and Gruyere combination are one of the best cheese and wine pairing. The nutty flavors in medium-firm cheese such as Gruyere are the perfect match for the red berry fruit of a Pinot Noir. Both of them have the perfect amount of complexity and aroma, without the chances of one overpowering the other.

2.    Champagne and Brie

Champagne is acidic and sharp enough to cut through the fat of the softer texture of triple-cream cheese such as Brie. The combination of the thick creaminess of Brie with the pleasantly stinging bubbles and high acid of Champagne is something you want to try, as it is highly satisfying. This combination is perfect and ideal for a wide range of occasions.

3.    Blue Stilton and Vintage Port

Vintage Port and Blue Stilton

This is another great pairing that is worth trying. Vintage Port is the favorite of many wine lovers, and it is known for its bold character, full body, and sweetness. When you are dealing with all those things, you need the perfect cheese to pair with it – something stinky. If you have a sweeter, older Port, you should pair it with the complex character of salty and pungent Blue Stilton. This combination is beautiful and super tasty.

4.    Idiazabal and Tempranillo

If you are looking for the best example to describe the adage “if it grows together, it goes together,” then look no further than the combination of Idiazabal and Tempranillo. They are both Spanish, and they have smoky, savory flavors, which make a perfect blend.

The average Tempranillo contains full-body, and this makes it great to pair with the harder texture of Idiazabal. The buttery flavor of the cheese also contrasts with the tannins of the wine, which is something you would want to have over and over again.

5.    Aged Cheddar and Cabernet Sauvignon

Next up, we have the aged Cheddar and Cabernet Sauvignon combination. An aged Cheddar is a bolder, bigger cheese, and it needs to pair with a wine that can grab it and swirl it around giving you a rich, punchy taste in the process. This cheese has a fattiness that blends perfectly with the mouth-drying tannins that many Cabernet Sauvignons contain. They both have great bold flavors that complement each other. The flavor of the wine will not outweigh that of the cheese, which makes them a great pair to combine.

6.    Goat Cheese and Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc and Goat CheeseSome goat cheeses are tart and earthy. However, many of them have a light blank slate. Hence, the mineral notes and citrus that a French Sauvignon Blanc contains will bring out the amazing herbal and nutty flavors that goat cheese contains. The level of acid in this wine is just perfect for cutting through the heaviness of the goat cheese. You should try this great combination.

7.    Gorgonzola and Moscato d’Asti

If you want to make the most out of your sweeter wine, you should pair it with funkier cheeses. The funkier the cheese, the sweeter the wine should be. The acidic, fresh fruits of a Moscato d’Asti do a great job of cleaning your mouth of heavier cheeses such as Gorgonzola. Not only does this pairing taste great, but it will also leave you refreshed and nice.

8.    Raclette and Riesling

Raclette is one of the classic buttery and smooth cheeses out there. It is also versatile and mellow, and it blends with the stone fruit flavors and high acidity found in a Riesling. The German classic has an aromatic scent that brings out the surprising and subtle nuttiness in the best quality Havarti cheese. For the sweetness of the wine not to outshine that of the cheese, you should pair the cheese with an off-dry or Kabinett Riesling.

9.    Havarti and Rose

Rose and HavartiThe Rose is a fine wine, and it contains red, crisp fruit, which is not only delicious but also delicate. Havarti cheeses also contain a mellow flavor that gracefully complements the wine without overpowering it. Another reason why these two are a great pair is that the Havarti cheese has a soft, smooth texture, and it is a great contrast to the steely minerality of a Rose.

10. Malbec and Edam

The pairing of the velvety fruit of Malbec and the nutty flavors of Edam is a combination that almost everyone would enjoy. The cheese and wine are both aromatic and flavorful. They are a perfect match, as one would not overpower the other. When you pair these two, the outcome is a complementary combination of complex flavors.

Final Thoughts

Knowing the right cheese to pair with your favorite wine is the best way to make the most out of your wine. The right pairing will bring out the most in both the cheese and the wine. It would enhance the taste and make you want to have more.

In addition to the list above, there are other great combinations you can try. You can also try out some combinations on your own. You can pair your favorite wine with different cheese, including lean, fresh, semi-aged cheese. However, when doing that, you want to make sure the wine complements the cheese without one overpowering the other.

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