Pairing wine and cheese

Cheese and wine can be a match made in heaven but it is easy to get it wrong, particularly when you have are serving a range of cheeses. While a mature cheese is bold enough to stand up to say a full bodied new world shiraz, spicy and jammy, a mild goat’s cheese would require something much smoother, like a Cote du Rhone or Central Otago pinot noir.

If you are serving a selection of cheeses your best bet is to choose something light with low tannins so it does not overwhelm the more delicate cheeses. People often think that cheese only goes with red wine but, as highlighted by Bronwen Percival, Buying and QA manager at Neal’s Yard Dairy, “a white wine with a bit of residual is often the best all-round choice.”

Dessert or fortified wines can also be great, again because the sweetness compliments the cheese, where tannins and acidity can clash. Sauternes with blue cheese is a particular favourite of my Dad’s only surpassed by his love of the same with foie gras.

Here are some useful links to help you choose the best wines for the cheeses you have selected:

• Gourmet Sleuth - the most extensive of the guides matching specific cheeses to grape varietals and appellations
• Winemonger – another extensive list offering a ‘grape by grape guide to pairing cheeses with wines from around the world’
• Hello Vino – allows you first to select a category of cheese (hard, semi-hard, soft, semi-soft) and then a type of cheese (e.g. mozzarella, gorgonzola, feta) and then provides a couple of wine suggestions. You can also download the app.
• 2BASnob  – some general rules about cheese and wine pairing with a few suggestions for general pairings
• Artisanal Premium Cheese – a helpful guide to pairing white wines with cheese. Its usefulness is somewhat tainted by the fact that it is a store and, therefore, all cheeses are ones that they sell, but one could easily use it as a basis from which to make generalisations and find substitutes
• About – their article on general cheese and wine pairings is quite basic, but the one on matching dessert wine to cheese is quite helpful

Depending on what is more important to you – the wine or the cheese – you may like to select the wine first and then find a cheese to match it.

Comments

[Spencer]

When wine and cheese are paired up, they bring out the best taste in each other. White wines match best with soft cheeses, i.e., Chardonnay for mild cheddar. Red wines match best with hard cheeses, i.e., Shiraz for sharp cheddar.

[Leah Parvin]

Wine and cheese pairing, an interesting subject. I don't think you can beat an ashy goats cheese with an intense New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, perhaps a zesty Brancott Estate, for example. And a personal favourite; Pineau des Charentes (a sweet, raisin-y fortified wine) with a salty Stilton.

[Vix]

Hi Leah, so sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I haven't looked on this page for a long time. Thanks so much for your comment. I'll have to try your recommendation!