Simple Tips on Wine and Cheese Pairing

For centuries, wine and cheese is always the perfect pair. However, with several numbers of wines and cheeses available in the market it's hard to pair the right ones together.

Happy hour or cocktail time is the most awaited time of the day for wine lovers. Everyone loves to sip wine and nibble some cheese, but it's very tricky to choose what wine and cheese complement each other perfectly. Cheeses vary in color, flavor, texture and fat, while wines differ in acidity, sweetness, structure and body. So match-making is a bit complicated. Here are a few tips to help you mix and match the two life's greatest culinary pleasures.

When choosing the right cheeses, always remember that soft cheeses tend to be either mild or tart, while hard ones are often salty and more assertive in flavor. When selecting wines, fresh, young and creamy cheeses are best paired with acidic and light white wines. And the most aged and full-bloodied cheeses are best paired with red wines.  

For presentation, a simple two or three cheese section with a couple of wines that matches each cheese will do. You can either have a formal or casual party, just make sure that you stick with the pairing tips and you’ll have an amazing wine-and-cheese pairing.

Red Wine

Cabernet Sauvignon

Best Paired with:

Aged dry Jack

Asiago

Sharp Cheddar

Swiss

Merlot

Best paired with:

Gouda

Monterey Jack

Sharp Cheddar

Montepulciano

Best paired with:

Asiago

Parmigiano-Reggiano

Provolone

Sangiovese

Best paired with:

Asiago

Grana Padano

Pecorino

White Wine

Chardonnay

Best paired with:

Mild Cheddar

Smoked

Riesling

Best paired with:

Brie

Camembert

Gruyère

Sauvignon Blanc

Best paired with:

Blue (Gorgonzola and Roquefort)

Comte

Goat

Gruyère

Sparkling wines are incredible with soft and creamy cheeses

Champagne or Sparkling Wine

Best paired with:

Brie

Camembert

Cremont

Époisses de Bourgogne

Fontina

Muenster

A perfect wine and cheese pairing is best served with simple accompaniments.

1. Assorted olives, cured meats like sliced ham and sausage and pickled vegetables.
2. Crackers and crusty bread: French baguette, Italian bread, and plain crackers.
3. Fresh fruits: Sliced apples, berries, grapes, sliced melons, pears and figs.
4. Nuts: Almonds, macadamias, pecans and walnuts.

Be creative when arranging your cheeses and simple accompaniments in a nifty slate cheese tray and make sure to serve the wines and cheese at their proper temperatures so that their right flavors will emerge. Serve the red wines at 60°F and white wines at 45°F. For the cheeses, remove them from the refrigerator 30 to 60 minutes before serving them.