Frederic Melton
Goat cheese is known for its versatility, with a range of styles and flavours, from tangy to sweet and semi-soft to hard. It is also suitable for lactose-intolerant consumers. When it comes to wine pairings, goat cheese is often paired with Sauvignon Blanc, a classic choice that complements the cheese's acidity and provides a fresh, invigorating combination. For those who prefer red wine, a Loire Valley Cabernet Franc is recommended, especially with aged goat cheese. Another option is a bottle of Malbec, which offers a contrasting black fruit flavour profile to balance the acidity of the cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Classic red wine pairing | Cabernet Franc |
| Classic white wine pairing | Sauvignon Blanc |
| Alternative red wine pairing | Malbec |
| Alternative white wine pairing | Chardonnay |
| Alternative wine pairing | Riesling |
| Beer pairing | Hoegaarden |
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What You'll Learn
Goat cheese and Malbec wine: a harmonious pairing
Goat cheese, or chèvre, is known for its versatility, with hundreds of different forms ranging from tangy to sweet and semi-soft to hard. Its complex and sometimes funky character can make pairing it with wine a challenge. However, when it comes to Malbec wine, goat cheese is a surprisingly harmonious match.
Malbec wine is known for its black fruit flavor profile, which provides a beautiful contrast to the grassy, creamy, and buttery qualities of goat cheese. The high acidity and delicate flavors of Malbec also complement the soft, impressionable nature of goat cheese, without overwhelming it. This combination showcases the regional variety of both the wine and the cheese, resulting in a well-balanced and delightful pairing.
When pairing goat cheese with Malbec wine, consider the different types of goat cheese available. Fresh goat cheeses with a mellow, milky flavor can pair well with a crisp, dry rosé or a bright, acidic wine like Sauvignon Blanc. Aged goat cheeses with a harder texture and earthier, floral flavor can be matched with a full-bodied Chardonnay or a Syrah from Washington state or California. The latter option can help to mellow out the funky, bitter flavors that some may find overwhelming in soft goat cheese.
In addition to considering the type of goat cheese, the region of production can also play a role in the pairing process. Goat cheese is the pride of France's Loire Valley, so choosing a wine from this region, such as a Sancerre or a Pouilly-Fumé, can be an excellent choice. These wines often have a tart, earthy quality that pairs beautifully with the acidity and creaminess of goat cheese. Ultimately, whether you choose a classic pairing from the Loire Valley or experiment with other options, the combination of goat cheese and Malbec wine is sure to be a delightful and harmonious experience.
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Sauvignon Blanc: a classic pairing
While goat cheese can be paired with a variety of wines, Sauvignon Blanc is the most traditional and classic pairing. This is because goat cheese is a blank slate, ready to be impressed upon. Sauvignon Blanc wines are the perfect chisels. They are acidic, mineral-driven, and citrusy, imparting all that goodness into the cream and giving it extra herbal flavours. The zippy acidity in the wine matches the acidity in the cheese, making the combination of Sauvignon Blanc and goat cheese fresh and invigorating.
Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine that is produced in France's Loire Valley, which is also famous for its goat cheese, or chèvre. The Loire Valley produces lighter styles with more herbaceous notes and tart acidity. When pairing wine and cheese, it is often a good idea to choose a combination from the same region, as this provides similar taste profiles and showcases the regional variety of both the cheese and the wine. Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Sauvignon de Touraine from the Loire Valley are considered to work especially well with goat cheese.
Other wines that can be used in place of Sauvignon Blanc include other citrussy whites such as Bacchus, Côtes de Gascogne, and Rueda and other crisp whites such as Albarino, Alvarinho, Chablis, and Pinot Grigio. If you are looking for a red wine, Cabernet Franc is a great choice.
While goat cheese and Malbec wine do not have a classic pairing, they can still be paired together. Malbec is a red wine from cool climates with higher acidity and delicate flavours. It is often a safe bet to pair with goat cheese.
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Other wine varieties: Riesling, Chardonnay, and more
While goat cheese is often paired with Sauvignon Blanc, there are several other wine varieties that go well with it. Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio are some of the other white wines that pair beautifully with goat cheese.
Riesling, a white wine from the Alsace region of France, is a perfect match for goat cheese. It can be dry, off-dry, or sweet, and its high acidity complements the acidity in the cheese. The creamy texture and nutty taste of a Brie de Chevre pair well with the acidity of Riesling. The fruit flavours in the wine also complement the earthier, floral flavours of aged goat cheeses.
Chardonnay, with its refreshing flavours of apples and pears, is another great choice for pairing with goat cheese. A French Macon-Villages, Pouilly-Fuisse, or Chablis would be excellent options to serve with aged goat cheeses such as Spanish Garrotxa or Sunlight goat cheese.
For those who prefer Italian whites, Pinot Grigio is a versatile option that also pairs well with goat cheese.
In addition to these white wines, goat cheese can also be enjoyed with a variety of red wines, such as Cabernet Franc, Gamay, and Merlot.
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Beer and cider: alternative drink pairings
While goat's cheese is often paired with Sauvignon Blanc, it is also known to pair well with some beers. A HeffeWeise beer, such as Hoegaarden, is considered a good match for goat's cheese, as the beer's citrus notes complement the tanginess of the cheese. Belgian ales, especially those with a brettanomyces character, are also considered a great pairing with goat's cheese.
Now, let's explore some alternative drink pairings for beer and cider enthusiasts:
Beer and Cider Pairings
Beer and cider pairings are all about experimenting and discovering what suits your palate. Acidity pairs well with fat, which is why a wedge of lemon often accompanies fried fish. Similarly, the acidity in ale can cut through fattier meats and pastries. When it comes to pork, a lighter or medium-bodied beer with gentle citrus notes is recommended. An English IPA, with its assertive bitterness and hoppy flavours, is a good match for savoury, umami-rich snacks like Twiglets.
For those who enjoy cider, the classic pairing of pork and apple is a safe bet. The acidity from the apple refreshes the palate after each bite of pork. Ciders with spicy and barnyard notes are said to complement this combination well. If you're looking beyond meat, consider pairing cider with creamy sauces, quiche Lorraine, cold cuts, mushroom soup, savoury crepes, or Camembert-style cheese.
When in doubt, explore ciders from Normandy, the heartland of cider production, to discover interesting styles and flavours that can stand alone or complement a variety of dishes.
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Goat cheese is the pride of the Loire Valley in France, so it is only natural that wines from the same region are a perfect match. The Loire Valley is known for its Sauvignon Blanc, a white wine that is often recommended as a pairing for goat cheese. The wine's acidity and citrusy notes complement the creamy, buttery, and tangy qualities of the cheese. Sancerre, a Sauvignon Blanc-based wine from the Loire Valley, is specifically noted as a great pairing for goat cheese.
If you prefer red wine, the Loire Valley also offers Cabernet Franc, which is suggested as a pairing for more complex and aged goat cheeses with ash rinds. The lighter style of Cabernet Franc produced in the Loire Valley has herbaceous notes and tart acidity that won't overwhelm the softer nature of goat cheese.
While goat cheese and Sauvignon Blanc are a classic combination, other wines can also be considered. For those who enjoy red wine, Malbec is a good choice, especially if you have a punchy, acidic goat cheese. The high acidity and delicate flavours of cool-climate red wines like Malbec provide a nice contrast to the cheese.
Goat cheese's versatility extends beyond wine pairings. It is also suitable for those who are lactose intolerant and can be paired with other beverages like cider, beer, or spirits. For example, a HeffeWeise beer with its citrus notes can work well with the tang of the cheese.
When in doubt, choosing a wine from the same region as the cheese is a safe bet, as it showcases the regional complexity that emerges from the land's influence on both the goat's milk and the grapes.
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Frequently asked questions
Sauvignon Blanc is the most popular wine to pair with goat cheese. It is acidic and mineral-driven, which complements the acidity in the cheese.
Cabernet Franc is a good choice if you prefer red wine. It is lighter with more herbaceous notes and tart acidity.
A crisp, dry white wine like Pinot Grigio or Albarino would also pair well with goat cheese.
Malbec is a good option for those who want a contrasting black fruit flavor profile to go with their goat cheese.
A HeffeWeise beer like Hoegaarden is a good match for goat cheese. The citrus notes in the beer complement the tanginess of the cheese.
