Wine & Cheese Matching

6 November 2011

Bread, cheese and wine — these three ancient fermented foods are sometimes referred to as the 'holy trinity'!

Cheese and wine marry beautifully and, if you purchase good quality of both, it's hard to go too wrong. Much is also a matter of individual taste. However, following these general guidelines can help steer you right.

Match taste and texture

Try to pair like tastes and strengths. For example, if you have a fresh, mild, slightly acidic cheese, it will match well with a crisp, light, acidic white wine. Conversely, a hard, aged cheese will marry best with a robust, aged red wine. Tangy goat's cheeses are well balanced by crisp sauvignon blanc or chenin blanc, whereas blue cheeses are frequently matched with fortified wines or 'stickies'. Port and stilton is a classic combination.

Match by region

This is a fairly safe way to assure a favourable pairing. For example, if looking for something to accompany an Italian Chianti, choose an Italian cheese such as fontina, mozzarella or parmigiano reggiano. Better still, try and select cheeses from the same region.
   

Be careful with reds

Although most people think of red wine when they think of matching wine and cheese, in fact, white wine is often a better and easier companion. This is because red wine can contain a lot of tannins, which can be damaging to the flavour of creamy, lactic cheeses, and produce metallic or even bitter tastes. Red wine and blue cheese, in particular, can be an unpleasant combination. To avoid this, try older red wines, which have mellowed so much of the tannins have disappeared, or younger, lighter red wines, such as pinot noir or merlot, which have lower levels of tannin than more full-bodied cabernet sauvignon or shiraz.

Quick rules of thumb


  • Avoid very salty, intense cheeses as these generally don't pair well with wine.
  • The stronger and more pungent the cheese — the sweeter the wine should be.
  • Red wines typically work best with hard cheeses or soft, mild cheeses.
  • Wines high in acid, such as sparkling wines, work well with creamy, rich cheeses.
  • If in doubt, ask your cheesemonger for suggestions!

Pairing suggestions

Champagne or sparkling: brie, camembert, Swiss, gouda 
Chardonnay: cheddar, gouda, gruyere or provolone 
Riesling: blue-vein, colby, edam, Swiss 
Sauvignon blanc or chenin blanc: goat's cheese, feta, asiago 
Shiraz: cheddar, edam, gouda, gruyere 
Cabernet sauvignon: camembert or blue-vein cheeses 
Merlot: brie, camembert, Jarlsberg, gorgonzola 
Port: stilton, roquefort or gorgonzola 
Gewurztraminer: Boursin, chevre, Muenster, Swiss

Source: http://food.ninemsn.com.au/itsnotchristmaswithout/articles/8358988/choosing-a-wine-to-match-your-cheese


At Club Wine Direct we carry a large variety of wines, spirits, beers and ciders. We are very proud to be able to offer you a range of products, from high-grade premium and sparkling wines down to the everyday drinking cheap wines. Our selection of wines include White Wines, Red Wines, Fortified and Cleanskin Wine and is supplied by some of the most reputable wineries in Australia. We also boast with a great selection of handpicked imported beer and spirits.