Wine and Cheese

Albertina Roca

| January 16, 2015 |

Marrying Wine and Cheese: Making A Good Match

Although there are few things greater in life than a good hunk of smoky Gouda paired with a hearty Black and Tan, wine is the perfect partner for a sophisticated cheese board. Wine and cheese pairings are tricky; no two cheeses are the same, and matching the perfect cheese to its perfect wine calls for much care and thought. Wine and cheese pairings are selected like color in interior design, you can either match or contrast, but the flavor and textures have to complement each other in your palate. It is also a matter of taste…your own. Do you love a good Pinot Grigio, but are having Roquefort? Hey, rules were meant to be broken! Enjoy it!

To wine selection easier for you, we’ve broken it down so you can choose by wine type, cheese category, and most popular cheese. Salut!

Sommelier Tips: When in doubt, follow these simple rules

Cheese and wines from the same region will typically go well together.
Cheese with a high fat content = Smooth, oily wine
Cheese with high acidity = Sweet, alcoholic wine
Salty cheese = Acid wines

Wine and Cheese Pairing Chart: By Type of Wine

Type of Wine	Example	Cheese Type	Example
Dry White Wines, light to med-bodied	Auxerrois, Travigne White and Rose, Chardonnay Riesling Reserve, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio Riesling and Late Autumn Riesling	Cream based Fresh no rind, Most Goat's cheeses Bluish-gray natural rind	Crème fraîche, mozzarella, Fontina, Chèvre, Crottin, Feta, Havarti, St-Marcellin, Tete de Moine, Emmental, Ricotta
Dry White Wines, Full-Bodied	Chardonnay Reserve Chardonnay Single Vineyards Founder's Reserve Chardonna	Semi-softGrey-pink thick rind Soft cheeses w/ bloomy rind	Brie; Camembert; Port-Salut, Chaource, Livarot, Pont l'Eveque, Reblochon, Tomme de Savoie, St-Nectaire, Taleggio
Dry White Wines, Full-Bodied	Chardonnay Reserve Chardonnay Single Vineyards Founder's Reserve Chardonna	Semi-softGrey-pink thick rind Soft cheeses w/ bloomy rind	Brie; Camembert; Port-Salut, Chaource, Livarot, Pont l'Eveque, Reblochon, Tomme de Savoie, St-Nectaire, Taleggio
Dry Red Wines, Light to Med-Bodied, Fruity	Merlot Pinot NoirCabernet Franc	Fresh with no rind Soft cheeses with bloomy rind Some colored thick rinds	Brie, Edam, Emmental, Gouda, Gruyere, Mozzarella, Jarlsberg
Dry Red Wines, Medium-Bodied, Complex		Soft w/ washed rindSticky orange-red, brownish rinds	Vacherin, Munster, Langres, Mature Epoisses, Maroilles, Raw milk Brie, Coulommiers Morbier, Reblochon
Dry Red Wines Full-Bodied	Cabernet Franc Reserve,Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon	Hard Cheeses, waxed or oiled	Parmigiano Reggiano, Ricotta Salata, Romano, Asiago, Pont l'Eveque, Manchego, ComteOld Gouda, Beaufort, Chèvre NoirMahon, Roncal

By Type of Cheese

Type	Example	Wine
Soft Cheeses	Munster, Boursin, Brie	Light Reds, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet, Côtes du Rhône, Bourgeuil, Brouilly, Saint-Émilion Pinot noir d'Alsace
Semi-Soft	Bel Paese, Swiss	Chardonnay
Downy/Bloomy Rind Cheese	Camembert, Brie	Light Reds
Pressed Cheese	Mimollette	Light Reds
Fresh Cheese	Ricotta, Cottage, Fresh chèvre	Light and fruity wines, served cool
Goats Milk cheese / Chevres	ValencayCrottin de Chavignol	Light Reds, dry fruity whites, Herbal acid whites, Sancerre, Mâcon, Côtes du Rhône Chinon
Soft, Washed Rind	Munster, Reblochon AOC	Robust Reds, Côtes de Nuit, Saint-Émilion, Côtes du Rhône, Chateauneuf du Pape
Blue Cheese/Roquefort	Bresse Blue, Stilton Blue	Smooth whites, Ports or Madeiras, Graves, St-Émilion, Côtes du Rhône, Cahors, Corbières
Sheep's milk /Ewe's Milk Cheese	Feta Queso de la Serena Pecorino Sardo,Pecorino Romano	Fuller Whites (Alsace Gewurztraminer), Sweet Whites (Chenin Blanc Demi Sec), Medium Reds (Burgundy)
Processed Cheese	Any cheese that is enriched or encrusted with other ingredients, such as nuts, herbs or spices. E.x.	Light Whites Light Reds (Beaujolais)

Most Popular Cheese and their Wine Pairings

Cheese Name	Wine
Swiss	Anti Spumanti
Blue	Port, Madeira
Boursin	Gewurztraimer
Brie (French)	Sweet sherry
Camamber	Cabernet, Chenin Blanc
Mild Cheddar	Chardonnay
Strong Cheddar	Cabernet, Rioja, Sauvignon Blanc
Chevre	Gewuerztraimer
Danish Blue	Cabernet
Edam	Riesling
Feta	Beaujolais
Gorgonzola	Sauternes, Bourdax
Gouda	Riesling
Gruyere	Chardonnay, Saubignon Blanc
Havarti	Bodeaux, Rioja
Muenster	Beaujolais, Zinfandel
Provolone	Chardonnay
Roquefort	Port
Stilton	Port

Wine and Cheese

Marrying Wine and Cheese: Making A Good Match

Sommelier Tips: When in doubt, follow these simple rules

Wine and Cheese Pairing Chart: By Type of Wine

By Type of Cheese

Most Popular Cheese and their Wine Pairings

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Author

Albertina Roca