Wine and Cheese Pairing - Common Combinations

Cheese is one of the best snacks at parties, and because alcohol is also present, it has become fashionable to select perfect pairing of wine and cheese that can stimulate party visitors and enable them best way of enhancing the drink they are currently enjoying. However, because of the large variety of wines, and even larger variety of cheeses, picking the perfect combination can be a tough job. Some say that any combination is good, but because cheeses comes in so many forms many prefer to pick combination that will not clash. Choosing the best combination has to take into an account fat content of cheese, its moisture, flavor and texture are well aligned to the properties of the wine (sweetness, structure, acidity and body).

The most basic example of good wine and cheese pairing can be noticed by picking opposite flavor intensities. Wines can be both strong flavored and subtle, which means that you just need to pick cheese that has opposite flavor intensity, which can be very easy job. Young cheeses often moist, and have tame flavors. As time goes on, moisture evaporates, leaving behind fat, protein and a lot of rich flavors. Wines are opposite. Young vines are usually spirited and strong, carrying a lot of spice, fruit and herbal aromas. Older wines on the other hand have developed a subdued nuance.

Picture Of Cheese And Red Wine

That’s just one tactic. You can also pair wine and cheese by creating similar or opposites of their texture, saltiness (salt vs sweet), pungency, sweetness, and structure.

Best pairings of wine and cheese:

  • Barolo – Boschetto al Tartufo
  • Beaujolais – Brie, Camembert, goat cheese
  • Cabernet Franc – Gorgonzola, Port Salut, Swiss, Cheddar, goat cheese, Brie, blue, Camembert
  • Cabernet Sauvignon – Gouda, Parmesan, Blue cheese, Camembert, Cheddar, Colby, Danish Blue, Gorgonzola, Roquefort
  • Champagne – Edam, Gouda, Gruyere, Parmesan, Beaufort, Brie, Camembert, Cheddar, Chevre, Colby
  • Chenin Blanc – Goat Cheesem Camembert, Graddost, Blue Castello
  • Dessert Wine – Marscopone, Crème Fraiche
  • Malbec – Double Gloucester Cheese
  • Merlot – Beenleigh Blue cheese
  • Merlot – Camembert, Cheddar, Gorgonzola, Brie, Gruyere, Jarlsberg, Parmesan, Gouda
  • Pinot Blanc –Feta, Brie, Camembert
  • Pinot Gris – Asiago, Goat Cheese, Gouda, Cheddar, Ricotta, Mozzarella, Muenster
  • Pinot Noir –Camembert, Feta, Gruyere, Brie, Swiss, Port Salut, Monterey Jack, Muenster
  • Port – Gorgonzola, Blue
  • Red Bordeaux – Banon Cheese
  • Riesling – Colby, Edam, Gouda, Blue, Brie, Monterey Jack, Cotija cheese
  • Rioja – Havarti, Cheddar, Asiago, Campo de Montalban Mitica
  • Sancerre – Dry Jack Cheese
  • Sangiovese – Mozzarella, Parmesan, Fontina, Blue, Ricotta, Provolone
  • Sauvignon Blanc – Feta, Brie, Cheddar, Asiago, pParmesan, Gruyere, Neufchatel, goat cheese
  • Sherry – Cabrales cheese
  • Shiraz – Edam, Gouda, Parmesan, Cheddar
  • Zinfandel – Feta, goat cheese, Asiago, Blue, Muenster, Gouda, Gruyere, Jarlsberg cheese
Picture Of Cheese And Red Wine