Cheese and Wine Pairing Guidelines

When it comes to pairing cheese and wine, there are rules to follow and a lot of suggestions as to what is going to work the best. It is important that you pair together the right cheese and wine because it will make a huge difference as to what the taste of the cheese and the wine is. You want to be sure that you have something complimentary so that you can bring out both the taste of the cheese and enhance the wine. Knowing what to pair with what will make a big difference when you are trying to have a great party or show off your wine knowledge.

Red Wine Pairings

With red wine, you want to pair it up with a cheese that is bold. These cheeses can be stinky, they can be richly scented, and they can handle things that white wine can’t. It is important with a red wine that you pair it with a rich cheese that can handle the rich red wine, otherwise, the cheese is just going to be something that you put in your mouth and you chew. With a red wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon, you want to pair it with sharp cheddar, a Danish blue cheese, or aged Gouda. All of these cheeses have enough taste that they can be paired with a bold red wine.

White Wine Pairings

When you are trying to pair cheese with a white wine, you want to be sure that you are catering to all of the undertones of the cheese. With a white wine, there may be a lot of fruity or floral undertones that you want to have the cheese compliment. With Chardonnay for example, you want to pair that with mild and medium cheddars, gruyere, and provolone. Or, you can pair your favorite champagne with a nice Colby cheese, Brie, or an Edam. These are all great suggestions for pairing white wines with a cheese that will compliment it.

The important thing to consider when you are pairing cheese and wine is that you are matching it correctly. You want to be sure that you are pairing the wine with a cheese that compliments it and something that will stand out. You don’t want to have cheese out as just a snack with wine, you actually want it to give some flavor and body to the wine that you are drinking.

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-Written by Viktoira Carella