Wine and cheese, can you name a better duo? This guide is for beginners and long-time wine enthusiasts alike to better understand the ins and outs of creating the perfect wine and cheese pairings. We’ve done our best to suggest cheeses that can be readily available at most grocery stores and wines that are, of course, available in our wine clubs and online store.
Helpful Hints:
Pair wines and cheeses with the same levels of intensity; wines with a higher alcohol by volume are more likely to pair well with intensely flavored (read: funky) cheeses, while wines with lower amounts of alcohol pair well with milder cheeses.
Suggested Cheese Pairings for Bold Red Wine
An aging cheese loses its water content over time--because of this, aged cheeses are far richer in flavor and have a higher fat concentration. This high fat content counteracts the high-tannins found in rich red wines. This is why an aged cheddar cheese works exquisitely well with cabernet sauvignon.
After understanding the importance of matching structure, pairings can get much more creative. One popular method of pairing is to find flavors that complement each other. Syrah and smoked gouda is a great example. Syrah tends to impart a unique cured meat flavor, with plenty of black and green pepper aromas; pairing this with a cheese that has a hickory smoked quality is a match made in heaven.
A classic red wine / cheese pairing worth trying is pinot noir and gruyere. Gruyere is delicate and nutty, matching up to the bright red berry notes of pinot noir. Since all of these flavors are usually found together on a cheese board, this is another great example of a complementary pairing.
Try this:
- Duck Shack 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon with an aged Cheddar
- Dragonette Cellars 2017 Seven Syrah with smoked gouda
- Ram's Gate Winery 2018 Pinot Noir with Gruyere
White Wine Cheese Pairings
Now that we've learned about matching intensity and complementary pairings, another pairing method is combining flavors and textures that contrast each other. The smooth and soft texture of a triple-cream brie finds its balance with the sharp acidity and tingling bubbles of a brut Champagne. As an added bonus, a lot of traditional Champagne has a lovely brioche flavor that would harmonize perfectly with brie.
Another great contrasting pairing is sauvignon blanc with goat cheese. Once again, acidity cuts through the heaviness of this cheese, and the citrus notes and minerality from the sauvignon blanc match up surprisingly well to the nutty and herbal qualities of the goat cheese.
Try this:
- Vincent d'Astree 2011 Brut Champagne Millesime with a triple-cream brie
- Sun Goddess 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Friuli D.O.C. with goat cheese
Sometimes pairing these unique flavors and textures can be challenging! When in doubt, a firm, nutty cheese goes with just about everything. Usually they have enough fat for tannin in red wines, but still delicate enough for lighter, acidic-driven wines. Gruyere is a great option, as is gouda and Swiss cheese.
We hope this guide has given you a few ideas for your next pairing, but don't forget to share with friends! Cheers 🥂