Us wine enthusiasts love the flavours and aromas we experience from drinking wine. Each bottle brings a new and exciting dance throughout our senses. When picking a cheese, it can be the same thrilling experience. So, one can imagine the importance of picking the right cheese to go with the right wine. I couldn’t possibly sit here and tell you all the different wines that go with all the different cheeses. Besides, there seems to be an endless amount of variations depending on your palate anyway. So instead let me share with you what I did find.
Who can relate to the stress or doubt one can experience when searching for the right cheese? There are so many options, it is easy to get lost. So, when I can across this one tip, I was overwhelmed with relief. Turns out if you are ever in doubt, get a firm, nutty cheese. Simple! No matter where I looked, this tip kept coming up. It’s great when hosting parties with multiple different wines. This is because the cheese will contain enough fat to counterbalance tannins in red wines, while also being delicate enough to match the whites. Cheeses like swiss, gouda or Emmental are suggested.
Wine and cheeses that are of equal intensity will also pair nicely together. Wines over 14.5% ABV are more intense and will pair better with intensely flavoured cheeses. Wines that are under 12% ABV will match more delicately flavoured cheeses. Bold red wines like a Montepulciano or a Nero D’avola can pair nicely with aged cheeses like an Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano or provolone. This is because the fat content within these cheeses intensifies when aged due to water-loss. This richer flavour neutralises the high tannins in the red wine. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me!
For those who love a good blue cheese (like myself) or a stinky Soft Washed-Rind cheese, sweeter wines can be your best friend. This is because the sweetness of the wine assists in balancing out the funkiness in the cheese. And vice-versa, the hard flavours of the cheese help balance the sweetness of the wine. Rosé and Sparkling wines are normally not my first pick. However, I do enjoy a cheeky indulgence once and a while. I found that a dry Rosé is a great option to pair with provolone or ricotta cheese. Which if I didn’t read it, would have never picked it. Soft, creamy cheeses are an excellent match for white, sparkling wines. You can just imagine the fine bubbles bouncing off your tongue with the creaminess of the cheese working in complete harmony. I wish I could talk more about cheese and wine pairing, but all this talk is making me hungry!