Wine and Cheese Pairing: 7 Tips for Marrying Both

Wine is still one of the most popular alcoholic beverages and there are plenty of wine connoisseurs out there. By 2022, the volume of wine sold is expected to rise to 281 million cases.  Keep reading to learn more and all about wine and cheese pairing!

Wine is one of the most cherished drinks because it can be enjoyed at every occasion, there are many wine varieties available, and wine tastes delicious with food. One of the most classic wine and food pairings is wine and cheese.

Are you interested in trying the perfect wine and cheese pairing? You can enjoy wine and cheese at home! Here are 7 tips on pairing wine and cheese.

1. What to Pair With Bold Red Wine

Bold red wine varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, pair best with aged cheese. When cheese matures, it loses its water content and is more flavorful. For example, Gouda has a naturally nutty flavor that’s even more intense as it ages.

In addition, the fat content in aged cheese tastes best with high-tannin bold wine flavors.

If you’re drinking your favorite red wine, find a cheese that’s at least a year old.

Are you looking for a good cheese with red wine? Some great examples include Gruyere, Cheddar, Gouda, Manchego, Provolone, and Parmesan varieties such as Grana Padano and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

You can purchase Mountain Valley Winery\’s Cabernet Sauvignon here.

2. What to Pair With Dry White Wine

If you prefer your white wine on the dry side, there are many kinds of cheese that taste great with bitter white wine.

Sauvignon blanc is one of the most famous white wines and can also be paired with a variety of cheeses. Common favorites include Monterey Jack, Havarti, Muenster, and Swiss.

Because of its complex flavor, Chardonnay is a rival of Sauvignon blanc. This also makes it a versatile cheese for wine pairings; enjoy a glass of Chardonnay with either Asiago, Brie, or butterkäse cheese.

If you’re enjoying a dry Riesling, you also have a large variety of cheese pairings. But this wine especially tastes great with Colby cheese and even blue cheese. Sugarland Cellars has excellent wines that are similar to a Riesling.

3. What to Pair With Sweet Wines

Wines that are more on the sweet and fruity side, such as Moscato, Gewürztraminer, and even Muscadine Wine, pair perfectly with funky cheeses.

The sweetness in the wine helps balance the intense flavor of these cheeses. The softness of the cheese also blends perfectly with sweet wine.

Some cheese recommendations are Stilton and Roquefort.

Are you not the biggest fan of intense cheese? You have more options, such as creamy cheese. For example, goat cheese has a soft texture but isn’t as tart as funky cheese. Other great recommendations include Parmesan, blue cheese, and Brie.

4. Soft Cheeses Are Also Perfect With Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine, such as Champagne and prosecco, always calls for a celebration. Don’t celebrate without a snack! Since these wines have lots of carbonation and high acidity, you’ll want to choose a softer cheese.

Great examples include Cremont, Camembert, and  Époisses de Bourgogne. Prosecco and Parmesan are also one of the most famous pairings.

The type of sparkling wine you drink will also affect the cheese you eat. Sweeter sparkling wines taste best with a Gorgonzola-style blue cheese.

For dry sparkling wines, the creamier the better. The acidity cuts down on the creaminess. Look for Brillat-Savarin, Mt. Tam, Pierre-Robert, and Saint Andre.

5. Pair Intense Wine With Intense Cheese

While these cheese and wine pairings are only recommendations, the golden rule to remember is to pair intensely flavored wine with intensely flavored cheese.

This actually has more to do with some of the lighter wine and cheese flavors — a strong wine/cheese mixed with a weak one will overtake the flavor. Intense flavored wine and cheeses balance each other out.

For example, light wines such as Riesling and Moscato shouldn’t be paired with intense cheeses like sharp Cheddar. Stick to delicate alpine-style cheeses like Swiss.

Not sure which wines are intense and which are weak? Look at the ABV content. The higher the ABV content, the more intense the flavor.

6. Pair Wine and Cheese From the Same Place

Wine is made all over the world, so it’s no surprise that wine made in certain locations should be paired with cheese from the same area.

Even in the case of alpine cheeses, you should choose cheese from the specific region the wine comes from.

There are a few reasons for this rule. These wines date back to many generations. Historically, these wines were always paired with native cheeses.

For example, Sauvignon blanc and goat cheese are great pairings. Both are from Loire Valley, France. The same thing goes for Garnacha and Manchego — both are from La Mancha, Spain.

7. When in Doubt, Choose Nutty Cheese

Wine and cheese pairings are more complex than people think! To make things easy, nutty cheese is a cheese that goes with wine — and all types of wine.

Firm and nutty cheeses have the flavor and fat content to balance intense, high-tannin wines. But they’re also delicate and light enough to match with dry or sweet white wines.

Some great cheese examples include Comté Extra, Abbaye de Belloc, and Emmental.

The only exception to this rule is eating firm, nutty cheeses with sparkling wine. That’s because you should always choose a softer variety.

Don’t worry — there are plenty of nutty-flavored cheeses with a soft and spreadable texture. These include Robiola Bosina, Bucheron, and Camembert de Normandie.

Enjoy Your Favorite Wine and Cheese Pairing

Wine and cheese are two of the most versatile delicacies in the world. That’s why there are unlimited wine and cheese pairing options.

If you’re not sure which wine to pair with cheese, pair aged cheese with bold, red wine, soft cheese with sparkling wine, and you have many options with white wine and cheese pairings.

Or, you can just stick with a nutty cheese or a cheese from the same region as the wine.

Are you interested in going on a wine trail? Plan your trip today!