Whether you are an appreciator of fine wines with a developed palate, or just starting to explore the fascinating world of wine, you will find something of interest at the Wine Club Reviews. We are big fans of wine clubs and believe that they offer an affordable, convenient and wonderful way of developing your tasting horizons. Being a member of a wine club means you receive the benefit of experienced industry professionals, and you will have access to an extensive range of wines that you would not find in your normal retail outlet. Some of the information that we provide at the Wine Club Reviews includes wine club profiles, in-depth club comparisons and lists of the best wine clubs for different needs.
We also make sure that you have access to some great food and wine pairing guides. The process of matching food and wine is very much a part of your wine tasting experience, so you will find many food and wine pairing recommendations here.
Today we are going to be looking at the best wine pairing recommendations for cheese. Now as everyone from the novice to the connoisseur knows that wine is a wonderful match with cheese, there are obviously a million different cheese and wine matching recommendations out there. Some might say there is a wine to go with every cheese. Today we are going to be looking at some good guidelines to follow that will ensure you get the best out of your tasting experiences with wine and cheese. With a little know-how, you can create some incredible wine and cheese matchings on your own!
Our top guidelines for wine and cheese pairing:
Select a similar flavor intensity in your wine and cheeses.
If you know you are going to be eating cheese with a very sharp and powerful flavor, then you want to select a wine with a similar punch! This way the wine will not drown out the cheese or vice versa, but rather they will work to offset each other and enhance the strong flavors of each.
For the powerful cheeses, a strong big bodied red is always a good match. Something like a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot is ideal. If you want something a little different, then you could also try a fortified port or even a sticky dessert wine.
When it comes to intensity levels, if your cheese is milder, then go for wine, either red, white or sparkling that has a lighter flavor of its own. This way the two choices will act as a counterbalance and ensure you are tasting the delicate flavors of each. So in the instance of fresh mozzarella or delicate camembert, you should be more inclined to select something along the lines of a Sauvignon Blanc or a young Chardonnay. What is interesting with cheeses, is that almost all cheeses will often have both an appropriate red and white pairing. If you make sure you match similar intensities, you should generally make a tasty match.
Big bodied reds go best with aged cheeses
This is an easy one to remember. Basically, age in a cheese means a strong and pungent flavor, so you are going to want a wine with an equally intense tasting profile. Some examples of popular aged cheeses are Gouda, Grana Padano, Parmigiana Reggiano and Manchego. All these have a punch, so a great wine match to go with this type of cheese would be something along the lines of a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Merlot, Chianti or San Giovese.
Sweet wines go well with those soft and pungent cheese
The cheeses we are talking about here are often referred to as ‘stinky’ or ‘funky” due to the aroma that comes from their washed rinds and blue veins. In this category, you would find Gorgonzola, Roquefort and Stilton. Sweet wines are a marvellous match for this unique type of cheese. The sweetness will counterbalance the strong, slightly ‘off’ flavors of the cheese and make them taste creamier. This creaminess, in turn, balances the sweetness of the wine. Some ideal wines to try would be wines like Moscato, Sauternes, dessert wines and ports
Soft and creamy are best with sparkling
If you are a lover of those divine, soft and creamy cheeses like brie and camembert, then sparkling wine is your friend! The reason this match works so well is that the high acidity and bubbles of the sparkling wine act as a palate cleanser for the creamy and often sticky cheeses. Quite literally a match made in heaven! In this instance, any champagne or sparkling wine will work, and when trying to work out what is the best wine match for your cheese, have a look at some of our other guidelines. Where the cheese is made, or its intensity of flavor should give you some idea of what a good match would be.
Wines and cheese from the same place pair well together
This is a very simple guideline to follow and will generally result in a very effective food and wine match. Wines and cheeses created in the same place often have very similar flavor profiles and may have even been designed to go well together. A couple of good examples of this is the Loire Valley, home to both Sauvignon Blanc and the perfectly matched Goat Cheese and Spain which is known for both its Manchego cheese and Grenache (Garnacha) wine.
If not sure of which cheese to choose, select a firm nutty cheese
You might not be very confident in selecting cheeses for a wine being served, or alternatively, you might be attending a gathering where you know where there are going to be several types of wines being served. In this instance, a safe bet is a firm nutty cheese. Think Swiss Cheese, Emmental, Gouda, Comté and Gruyère. The beauty of these wines is that they have sufficient fat content to work well with the tannins in red wine. They are also suitable to work well with delicate whites as they do not have strong overriding flavors.
We hope that these guidelines will get you started in matching your wines and cheeses. They truly are a wonderful food and wine pairing and can result in absolutely delicious tasting experiences.
