Why do Cheese and Wine go Together?

We’ve all heard the joke, do you want some cheese with that wine. But, really, why do cheese and wine go together so well? Either we’re slicing up cheese to go with our glass ourselves or we’re ordering a cheese and wine sampler at the restaurant. There are a lot of different ways that we can eat cheese and drink a great glass of wine. What is it about that glass of wine that makes cheese taste so good and why do we always want that slice of cheese to go with that glass? Let’s explore why cheese and wine go together so well.

Pairing Cheese and Wine

Wine and cheese together is basically like a match made in heaven. A lot of the experience really comes from the pleasure that they both bring us. The wine tastes great and warms us from the inside out and the creamy cheese tastes delicious and fills us up. There are literally tons of different kinds of cheese and wine that we can pair together, so your choices are basically unlimited. One of the main reasons they go together is because of tannin, which is a chalky, dry taste that we experience when we drink wine. There is a lot of tannin in red wine, which is where we generally pair our cheese with, so just like putting milk in coffee to cut the acidic flavors, we use cheese in the same way.

What Wines and What Cheeses go Together?

The goal of pairing up wine and cheese is so that they really complement each other. In general, you will find that white wines will pair up best with the soft cheeses that have the stronger flavors, while your red wines will match better with the hard cheeses that have a milder flavor. If you are going to use fruity or sweet wines, like champagne or an ice wine, you will be able to pair them with a lot more cheeses. The more the cheese smells, the sweeter that it should be as a rule of thumb.

Examples of Cheese and Wine to Pair Together

• Champagne with Brie
• Chardonnay with Mild Cheddar or Provolone
• Riesling with Gouda
• Sauvignon Blanc with Goat cheese
• Cabernet Sauvignon with Sharp Cheddar or Blue Cheese
• Port with Gorgonzola
• Shiraz with Sharp Cheddar

These are just a few examples of what people pair their cheese and wine together with. Your possibilities are endless.

-Written by Viktoria Carella