Wine and Cheese: Secrets to Finding the Perfect Pair
Some of our favorite foods seem like they were always meant to be paired together. You've got your chocolate and peanut butter, pasta, and tomato sauce-just to name a few. We want to look at another exquisite taste-tingling pair -- wine and cheese. It's a no-brainer to serve these two together, whether for a cocktail hour, dinner party, or even dessert. These days artisan cheese makers spend as much time, effort, and passion creating a superior product as winemakers do, so it's more exciting and enjoyable than ever to explore and indulge in the two.
Cheese, please!
You don't have to go fancy and expensive to enjoy a good wine and cheese pairing, but it does help to know which kinds of wines and cheeses play nice together. So here are a few essential tips to help you navigate the processes.
When in doubt, pairing wine with cheese from the same region is usually a good choice, such as sipping Chianti with an excellent, robust Parmesan. Another thing to remember is if you are eating harder cheese such as Cheddar, choose a wine with higher tannins. In other words, have a wine that gives you that dry feeling in your mouth and makes you want to pucker up like Cabernet Sauvignon. Softer, milder cheese, such as Brie, go well with more acidic wines like Chardonnay. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but this is an excellent place to start.
Here are a few specific suggestions to keep in mind when preparing your cheese plate and wine list.
For soft, spreadable cheeses like Brie, Camembert, and Gruyere, look for a Beaujolais or Pinot Noir for your reds, and in the white category, pair with Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc. Goat cheese goes particularly well with Sauvignon Blanc in that the wine's citrus and mineral notes bring out the subtle herbal flavor in the cheese. And again, choosing an acidic wine cuts through the fat and heaviness of the cheese.
Stinky cheese is still cheese!
Do you love blue-veined cheeses? Many wines go beautifully with Gorgonzola, Stilton, and Port Salut, but nothing beats an excellent Port to accompany these cheeses, especially on a dessert plate. Amp up the flavors and textures by adding hearty crackers, walnuts, dried apricots, and figs.
Another excellent choice for a soft, creamy Brie is something bubbly like Prosecco or Champagne. The acidic nature of the delightful bubbles will cut through the cheese's fat, making this combination one of the best you can try.
And if you're a Rosé fan, look for Havarti cheese. The wine's crisp and delicate fruity flavor stays focused when paired with a mild, soft Havarti.
Want more info on pairing wine with cheese and other dishes? Check out Boston Winery's Events page. At Boston Winery, we present special Wine Pairing Events throughout each month. Join us!
