Randy Chandler
Pinot Noir is a light red wine that is considered versatile when it comes to cheese pairings. However, due to its delicate nature, it is important not to overpower its flavour with strong, stinky cheeses and fresh goat cheeses. So, which cheeses pair well with Pinot Noir? Delicate washed-rind cheeses like Taleggio, nutty, medium-firm cheeses like Gruyere, and soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert are all good choices. A lighter, tangy blue cheese like Cambozola can also complement the taste of the wine without overwhelming it. For a more aromatic pairing, old-world Pinot Noirs from Burgundy, France, are a good choice, and these wines go well with aged French Camembert.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Blue cheese pairing with Pinot Noir | Tangy, lighter blue cheese like Cambozola pairs well with Pinot Noir |
| Pinot Noir characteristics | Light, delicate, fruity, smooth, earthy, meaty, mushroomy, silky, old-world Pinot Noir has more acidity |
| Cheese characteristics | Soft, delicate, nutty, medium-firm, washed-rind, creamy, fatty, bloomy rind, aged, semi-soft, semi-hard, hard |
| Cheese types | Brie, Camembert, Comte, Gruyere, Manchego, Cheddar, Gouda, Taleggio, sheep's milk, cow's milk, goat's milk |
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What You'll Learn
Blue cheese and pinot noir: a good pairing?
Blue cheese and pinot noir might not seem like an obvious pairing, but a lighter blue cheese like Cambozola can complement the wine's taste without overpowering it. This semi-soft German cheese is extremely creamy, with some blue veins throughout. The sharp sweetness of this cheese contrasts beautifully with the smoothness of pinot noir.
Pinot noir is a light red wine that is quite versatile when it comes to cheese pairings. However, because it is a delicate grape without the boldness of heavier reds, it can be overwhelmed by strong, stinky cheeses and fresh goat cheeses. To avoid overpowering the pinot noir, it is best to pair it with delicate cheeses.
Washed-rind cheeses like Taleggio and nutty, medium-firm cheeses like Gruyere pair well with pinot noir. Less intense cheeses, like soft cheeses such as Brie or Camembert, also work well. These cheeses will complement the taste of the wine without being too overpowering.
For pinots with a bit more body, a premium cheddar with warm toasted nuts can be a good pairing. Old-world pinot noirs, especially those from Burgundy, tend to have more acidity and earthy flavours. These wines go well with cheeses that have a little more character, such as an aged Camembert from France or a washed-rind Taleggio from Italy. To emphasize the wine's red fruit characteristics, serve it with dried cherries or cherry jam.
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Blue cheese and pinot noir: a bad pairing?
Blue cheese and pinot noir might seem like a bad pairing at first glance. Blue cheese is known for its sharp, tangy taste, while pinot noir is a delicate, light red wine with subtle flavours that can be easily overwhelmed. However, some sources suggest that a lighter blue cheese with tangy and creamy notes, such as Cambozola, can complement the taste of pinot noir without overpowering it.
Pinot noir is a versatile wine that pairs well with a variety of cheeses, especially those that are delicate, nutty, soft, or light. However, it is important to avoid strong, stinky cheeses and fresh goat cheeses, which can be too overpowering for the delicate grape. Instead, washed-rind cheeses like Taleggio, nutty medium-firm cheeses like Gruyere, and softer cheeses like Brie or Camembert are often recommended as pairings for pinot noir.
The key to a successful pairing with pinot noir is to avoid overwhelming its subtle flavours. While blue cheese is known for its strong flavour, a lighter and tangier variety like Cambozola can provide a nice contrast to the smoothness of the wine. The creaminess of the cheese also complements the fruity notes of pinot noir.
When it comes to specific types of pinot noir, different options may influence the cheese pairing. Old-world pinot noirs, especially those from Burgundy, France, tend to have more acidity and earthy flavours. These wines pair well with cheeses that have a little more character, such as an aged French Camembert or the Italian washed-rind cheese Taleggio. New-world pinot noirs, on the other hand, tend to showcase more fruit and can shine when paired with cheeses of a simpler, softer complexion, such as Jasper Hill's Moses Sleeper from Vermont.
In conclusion, while blue cheese and pinot noir may not be the most obvious pairing, a lighter and tangier blue cheese like Cambozola can create a delightful combination. The key is to balance the sharp tang of the blue cheese with the delicate flavours of the pinot noir, ensuring that neither element overpowers the other.
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Best blue cheeses to pair with pinot noir
Blue cheese is a strong-flavoured, pungent cheese that can be difficult to pair with wine. However, Pinot Noir is a versatile wine that pairs well with plenty of cheeses, especially delicate, nutty, soft, or light blue cheese.
When it comes to blue cheese and Pinot Noir, a lighter yet tangy blue cheese like Cambozola is a good option. This semi-soft German cheese is extremely creamy and has blue veins throughout. The sharp sweetness of this cheese contrasts beautifully with the smoothness of the wine.
If you're looking for other cheese options to pair with Pinot Noir, there are several recommendations. Delicate washed-rind cheeses like Taleggio, nutty medium-firm cheeses like Gruyere, and soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert are all good choices.
For a French option, try Abbaye de Belloc, a sheep's milk cheese from the Basque region. It has a mild, nutty, and complex flavour that doesn't overwhelm the subtle qualities of a Pinot Noir. It has a firm, dense, rich, and creamy texture, with a taste that resembles burnt caramel and a distinctive lanolin aroma.
If you're looking for a cow's milk cheese, try Roucoulons, a French cheese with a mild, earthy, and mushroomy flavour with beefy components that can match the earthy flavours in some Pinot Noirs.
For a Spanish option, try Zamarano, a sheep's milk cheese with a salty, buttery, nutty flavour that is enhanced by a fruit-driven Pinot Noir. If you can't find Zamarano, Manchego is a good alternative.
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Best pinot noirs to pair with blue cheese
Blue cheese is known for its sharp tang, which might not seem like the obvious answer to the question of what cheese pairs with pinot noir. However, a lighter yet tangy blue cheese like Cambozola is a great pairing with pinot noir. This semi-soft German cheese is extremely creamy, with some blue veins throughout. The sharp sweetness of this cheese contrasts beautifully with the smoothness of pinot noir.
- For a classic pairing, choose a pinot noir from the Burgundy region of France, where the wine was born and where the best Pinot Noirs are still produced. The wines from Burgundy have flavours of ripe red berries, sweet black cherries, mushrooms and what sommeliers call "forest floor", that smell you get from freshly fallen damp leaves.
- For a more full-bodied pinot noir, pair it with a premium cheddar, where the body is full of warm toasted nuts.
- If you're looking for a softer French cheese with a mild, creamy taste that goes well with the fruity notes of pinot noir, choose a Camembert.
- For a more unusual pairing, try an Italian cheese from the northern region of Veneto, Sottocenere. This delicate, aromatic cheese is infused with the flavour of truffles and is a good match for an earthy Pinot Noir from Burgundy.
- For a Dutch delight, choose a medium-aged Gouda with a nutty and somewhat sweet flavour to pair with your pinot noir.
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Other cheese and wine pairings
While blue cheese and pinot noir can be a good pairing, there are many other delightful cheese and wine combinations to explore. Here are some classic and unconventional pairings to try:
Chardonnay and Camembert
The crisp, unoaked Chardonnay is a perfect match for the creamy texture and distinct earthy aromas of Camembert. If you're looking for a more indulgent pairing, go for an oaked Chardonnay with its toasted or vanilla notes. The buttery, creamy, and alpine-style Camembert will complement the fuller-bodied, oaked Chardonnay beautifully.
Champagne and Truffle Brie
Champagne's bright acidity and lively bubbles perfectly cut through the rich creaminess of Brie, creating a delightful contrast. The earthy, creamy richness of Truffle Brie is enhanced when paired with the toasty, brioche notes of Champagne.
Port and Blue Stilton
Port is known for its full body, sweetness, and bold character, and it needs a cheese that can stand up to it. Blue Stilton, with its pungent and salty character, brings a complex flavour profile to match the sweetness of Port. This pairing is a classic for a reason.
Sauvignon Blanc and Goat Cheese
Sauvignon Blanc is a versatile wine that pairs well with goat cheese. Whether it's a crisp, lean unoaked Chardonnay or a warmer-climate, oaked Chardonnay with buttery notes, the richness of goat cheese will enhance the wine's flavours.
Tempranillo and Idiazabal
This pairing follows the old saying, "if it grows together, it goes together." Tempranillo, a full-bodied Spanish wine, works beautifully with the harder, grainy texture of Idiazabal cheese. The high tannins of the wine contrast with the buttery flavour of the cheese, and both share savoury flavours and a hint of smoke.
Malbec and Aged Gouda
The nutty, caramelized flavours of aged Gouda are a perfect match for Malbec's bold character and velvety fruit notes. Gouda's rich, smooth texture and intense flavour profile create a harmonious and indulgent pairing.
Provence Rosé and Havarti
The delicate, crisp red fruit flavours of Provence Rosé are gracefully complemented by the mellow flavour of Havarti. The smooth, soft texture of the cheese contrasts beautifully with the steely minerality of the wine.
Pinot Noir and Gruyère
Pinot Noir, with its fruity notes, pairs well with the nutty flavours of medium-firm cheeses like Gruyère. Both the wine and the cheese have a subtle complexity that enhances each other without overpowering the other.
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Frequently asked questions
Blue cheese can pair well with Pinot Noir, but it depends on the type of blue cheese. A lighter blue cheese like Cambozola is a good match, but stronger blue cheeses may overwhelm the delicate Pinot Noir.
Strong, stinky cheeses and fresh goat cheeses tend not to pair well with Pinot Noir as they can overwhelm the wine's delicate flavours.
Delicate, nutty, soft or light blue cheeses pair well with Pinot Noir. Washed-rind cheeses like Taleggio, nutty, medium-firm cheeses like Gruyere, and soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert are good options.
If you're looking for a food pairing, dried cherries or cherry jam can emphasise the wine's red fruit characteristics. Caramelised onions are also a good pairing with Pinot Noir.
