Pinot Grigio Pairings: The Best Cheeses To Compliment The Wine

Pinot Grigio is a light-bodied, crisp, and dry white wine with a refreshing zesty flavour. It is cultivated mainly in Italy, France, and the United States. When it comes to cheese pairings, it is best to opt for sweet, soft, and mild cheeses made from cow's or sheep's milk, as they complement the wine's delicate, neutral flavour and bring out its sweet, mellow notes. Full-bodied, rich, and salty cheeses are best avoided, as they can overpower the wine.

Soft cheeses with delicate flavours and aromas

Pinot Grigio is a light and zesty wine, so it is best to opt for a light, creamy-textured cheese. Mild goat's cheeses, fresh mozzarella, mild cheddars, brie, and gouda are all excellent choices to bring out the sweet and mellow notes in your Pinot Grigio. These cheeses will also complement the wine's crisp, refreshing, and dry qualities.

A slightly sweet Pinot Grigio can also be paired with gorgonzola and feta. The sweetness of the wine will balance the salty, pungent flavours of these cheeses. When it comes to soft cheeses, look for those made from cow's or sheep's milk, as they tend to have milder flavours that won't overpower the wine.

In addition to soft cheeses, triple cream cheeses like Brillat Savarin, a classic French cheese with a fat content of over 80%, also pair well with Pinot Grigio. The saltiness and full flavour of Brillat Savarin can stand up to the fruityness and sweetness of the wine.

Avoid pungent, sharp and salty cheeses

When pairing cheese with Pinot Grigio, it's best to avoid pungent, sharp, and salty cheeses. This is because Pinot Grigio is a light-bodied, crisp, and delicate wine with a zesty, fruity, and tangy flavour profile. Pungent, sharp, and salty cheeses would overpower the subtle characteristics of the wine.

Full-bodied, rich, and salty cheeses, such as blue cheese and Asiago, are not recommended pairings with Pinot Grigio. These types of cheeses require a full-bodied wine to stand up to their intense flavours. Instead, mild, soft, and creamy cheeses are better suited to complement the light and refreshing nature of Pinot Grigio.

Pinot Grigio is a white wine made from the same grape variety as Pinot Gris, but the grapes are harvested earlier, resulting in a lighter, crisper, and less sweet wine. The wine has a pleasant, delicate flavour and is perfect for enjoying with friends and family. It pairs well with light, fresh meals such as salads, seafood, and chicken.

When choosing a cheese to pair with Pinot Grigio, look for sweet, soft, and mild varieties made from cow's or sheep's milk. These cheeses will enhance the sweet and mellow notes in the wine. Examples include Brillat Savarin, a classic French triple cream cheese with a high fat content, and Le Marquis Chevre du Pelussin, a semi-hard goat's cheese with a sweet and nutty flavour.

In summary, when enjoying a glass of Pinot Grigio, it's best to avoid pungent, sharp, and salty cheeses. Instead, opt for mild, soft, and creamy cheeses to complement the light and delicate nature of this popular white wine.

Goat's milk and cow's milk cheeses

When it comes to goat's and cow's milk cheeses to pair with Pinot Grigio, it's important to remember that the wine's crisp, light, and zesty characteristics need to be balanced with a mild, creamy, and light-textured cheese.

Goat's milk cheeses that pair well with Pinot Grigio include mild, fresh, and creamy cheeses. A semi-hard goat cheese with a sweet and nutty flavour, such as le marquis chevre du pelussin, can also be a good option. These types of goat cheeses have a rich, buttery texture and a subtle flavour, making them a popular choice even for those who don't usually enjoy goat's milk cheese.

For cow's milk cheeses, look for mild, soft, and creamy varieties made from cow's milk. A traditional Swiss cheese, Comte, is a great option as it has a semi-hard texture, a rich yellow colour, and a sweet, nutty flavour. It's known for having over 80 different flavours in a single wheel, making it a versatile choice for wine pairings. Another classic choice is Brie, which is mild, soft, and creamy, perfectly complementing the light and zesty notes of the wine.

It's important to note that full-bodied, rich, and salty cheeses should be avoided when pairing with Pinot Grigio, as they can overpower the delicate flavours of the wine.

Sweet, soft and mild cheeses

When it comes to cheese, Pinot Grigio is a versatile wine that pairs well with a variety of options. For those with a sweet tooth, soft and mild cheeses are the way to go. These cheeses bring out the sweet and mellow notes in the wine.

One option is Brillat Savarin, a classic triple cream cheese made in France. With a fat content of over 80%, it is salty, bitey, and full of flavour. The richness of this cheese makes it a perfect match for a fresh and clean Pinot Grigio. Another French cheese that pairs well with Pinot Grigio is Le Marquis Chevre du Pelussin, a semi-hard goat's cheese with a sweet and nutty flavour. It has a buttery, creamy, and rich texture that complements the crispness of the wine.

If you're looking for a Swiss cheese to pair with Pinot Grigio, consider Comte. This crowd-pleaser is semi-hard in texture and has a rich yellow colour. Sweet and nutty, Comte is known to have over 80 different flavours in a single wheel, making it a versatile choice for wine pairings.

For an Italian option, Parmigiano Reggiano is a classic choice. It is known for its crumbly texture, salty bite, and strong flavour. The salty flavours of this cheese can break through the oily texture of a Pinot Grigio or complement its clean acidity.

When pairing cheese with Pinot Grigio, it's important to remember that the wine is light-bodied, fruity, and zesty. Therefore, full-bodied, rich, and salty cheeses should be avoided as they can overpower the wine. Instead, opt for sweet, soft, and mild cheeses to enhance the wine's delicate flavours.

Salty, crumbly cheeses

Parmigiano Reggiano:

A traditional Italian cheese with a crumbly texture, salty bite, and strong flavour. Parmigiano Reggiano is the perfect pairing for Pinot Grigio as its salty notes balance the wine's crispness, and its strong flavour complements the wine's zesty notes. This combination follows the classic rule of 'what grows together, goes together', as both the cheese and the wine have Italian origins.

Le Marquis Chevre du Pelussin:

This French cheese is a double cream or semi-hard goat's milk cheese with a sweet and nutty flavour. Its rich, creamy, and buttery texture, along with its light acidity, makes it an excellent pairing for Pinot Grigio. The mild and subtle flavour of this cheese also makes it a popular choice for those who claim to not like goat cheese!

When pairing salty, crumbly cheeses with Pinot Grigio, look for those made from cow's or sheep's milk, as they tend to bring out the sweet and mellow notes in the wine. These cheeses will add a savoury and flavourful dimension to your Pinot Grigio experience.

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