Wine
and Cheese Pairing
When
setting up a tasty wine and cheese pairing, the only thing
you have to know is: If it tastes good, do it!
I’m
sure you’ve heard all the fancy chefs giving their
two cents about what cheese works with which wine; however,
when it comes down to it, it’s all about personal
taste.
When
paired up, wine and cheese do their part to bring out the
best in each other, and even the experts can’t agree
on any absolutes in the wine and cheese pairing match game.
Now
obviously, if you’re reading this, you’re a
snob like the rest of us, and with snobs, there’s
no worry about faux pas wine and cheese pairings —
say like nibbling Velveeta while sipping boxed Franzia.
Instead,
it’s understood that we’re talking about delectable
wine and cheese pairings — a delectable wine and a
delectable cheese, together!
Some
Accepted “Truths” About Wine and Cheese Pairing:
Even
though it comes down to personal taste, certain guidelines
have been proven favorable by a majority of enthusiasts.
Here are some of those basic truths:
•
White wines match best with soft cheeses and stronger flavors.
• Red wines match best with hard cheeses and milder
flavors.
• Fruity and sweet white wines (not dry) and dessert
wines work best with a wider range of cheeses.
• The more pungent the cheese you choose, the sweeter
the wine should be.
When
offering several cheese choices in a wine and cheese pairing
spread, white wines fair better than reds. That’s
because several cheeses, particularly soft and creamy ones,
leave a layer of fat on the palate that interferes with
the flavor in reds, rendering them monotonous and bland.
Quite
the opposite, most of those sweeter whites nicely complement
a full range of cheeses. Additionally, the “sparkle”
in a sparkling wine or champagne can help break through
the fat in heavier cheeses.Therefore,
the spicy zing of a Gewürztraminer or the peachy zip
of a Riesling is ideal if you’re going for wide-reaching
appeal.
If
you’re a cheese adventurist, meaning you go for the
stinkiest of cheeses, pick a big wine to back it up. Try
a French Bordeaux or a buxom California Cab. Ports and dessert
wines are your best choice if you like mold-donned or blue-veined
cheeses.
For
a safer bet when serving several wines, choose Parmigiano
or Romano cheeses. They go with most wines.
A
Few Common Wine and Cheese Pairings
|
White Wines |
Recommended
Cheeses |
| Champagne
or sparkling |
Brie,
Camembert |
| Chardonnay |
Mild
Cheddar, Gruyere, Provolone |
| Gewurztraminer |
Swiss,
most German cheeses |
| Loire
Valley wines |
Goat
Cheese |
| Riesling |
Gouda |
| Sauternes |
Roquefort,
Blue |
| Sauvignon
Blanc |
Goat
Cheese |
|
Red Wines |
Recommended
Cheeses |
| Amarone |
Gorgonzola,
Parmigiano-Reggiano , Asiago |
| Cabernet
Sauvignon |
Camembert,
Sharp Cheddar, Blue |
| Port |
Stilton,
Gorgonzola |
| Shiraz |
Sharp
Cheddar |
A
Wine and Cheese Pairing Party to Remember
Here
are a few tips for setting up a memorable and fun wine and
cheese pairing party for your friends:
• Purchase your cheeses in large wedges for an ideal
presentation.
• Cheeses should be served at room temperature. Pull
them out of the fridge a couple hours before your party.
• Serve most wines fairly cool — whites between
50-55 degrees and reds between 60-65 degrees.
• Let your reds breathe 15-20 minutes after you open
them.
• Make handwritten name cards for all your cheeses
and use a pretty upside-down fork display the card upright
in the cheese.
• Display cheese on a pretty china platter, a wood
cheese board, or even a slab of marble.
Ultimately,
the perfect wine and cheese pairing is not a match made
in heaven. It is a match made on the palates of individuals
of all tastes.
Start with some basics and then rebel into the unfamiliar.
You never know which couple will end up to be your choice
dynamic duo.
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