Frederic Melton
Riesling is a versatile wine that can be paired with almost any type of cheese. The best cheese to pair with Riesling depends on the type of Riesling you have. For instance, a dry Riesling goes well with creamy and nutty cheeses, while a sweet Riesling pairs better with saltier cheeses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sweet Riesling | Parmesan, aged gouda, feta, blue cheese, Roquefort, desserts |
| Dry Riesling | Creamy cheeses, goat cheese, brie, muenster, light and salty cheeses, feta, mozzarella, aperitif |
| Medium Riesling | Bolder cheeses like Emmental |
| Semi-dry Riesling | Semi-hard, medium-aged cheese |
What You'll Learn
Dry Riesling and creamy, nutty cheeses
Goat cheese is an excellent choice for a dry Riesling due to its earthy and tangy flavours. However, if goat cheese is not your cup of tea, there are plenty of other options to explore. Brie, for instance, is a popular alternative. It has a similar creamy and nutty profile to goat cheese, but it is more buttery, creating a delightful contrast with the wine.
Muenster, a cheese from the Alsace region in France, is another excellent choice to pair with an off-dry Riesling. The sweetness and acidity in the wine will balance the strong flavours in the cheese, resulting in a harmonious combination.
When creating a charcuterie board, it is essential to offer a variety of cheeses with different aromas, textures, flavours, and tastes to delight your guests' taste buds. Remember, the saltier the cheese, the sweeter the wine should be. So, if you're looking for a sweet Riesling pairing, consider parmesan, aged gouda, or feta to offset the wine's sweetness with their saltiness.
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Sweet Riesling and salty cheeses
When it comes to salty cheeses, there are several options that pair well with a sweet Riesling. One classic choice is Parmesan, a hard and salty cheese with a strong flavour. The saltiness of Parmesan balances the sweetness of the wine, making it a great option to complement your glass of Riesling.
Another popular salty cheese that goes well with sweet Riesling is aged Gouda. The longer Gouda is aged, the more intense its flavour becomes, making it a perfect match for the sweetness of the wine. If you're looking for a tangy and salty cheese to pair with your sweet Riesling, Feta is an excellent choice. Its salty and tangy flavour profile pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the wine.
For those who enjoy blue cheese, a sweet Riesling can be a wonderful pairing. Blue cheeses like Stilton or Roquefort have strong, pungent flavours that are beautifully balanced by the sweetness of the wine. The sweetness of the Riesling offsets the bitterness of these blue cheeses, creating a harmonious combination.
When creating a cheese board to pair with your sweet Riesling, it's important to include a variety of cheeses with different aromas, textures, flavours, and tastes to create an exciting and delightful experience for your guests. Remember, the key to successful pairing is to match the sweetness of the wine with the saltiness of the cheese, enhancing the flavours of both.
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Medium Riesling and medium-strength cheeses
One great option for a medium-strength cheese to pair with Medium Riesling is Emmental, a semi-hard Swiss cheese. It has a tempered saltiness and is not too strong or overpowering in flavour, making it a perfect match for the wine's sweetness. Another excellent choice is Gouda, particularly if you choose a drier Riesling. The dryness of the wine can stand up to the stronger, saltier flavours of aged Gouda.
If you're looking for a German cheese to pair with your Medium Riesling, consider Edam. It has a lower salt content than some other cheeses, but its mild, nutty flavour and smooth texture make it a delightful match for the wine. Feta is another versatile cheese that pairs well with Medium Riesling. Its salty, tangy, and crumbly nature makes it a great choice, especially if you're looking for something more experimental.
For those who enjoy blue cheese, Roquefort is an excellent choice to pair with Medium Riesling. The sweetness of the wine offsets the bitter sub-flavours of the cheese, while also complementing its zesty, crumbly texture. So, when choosing a cheese to pair with Medium Riesling, consider Emmental, Gouda, Edam, Feta, or Roquefort for a delightful sensory experience.
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Sweet Riesling and funky cheeses
When it comes to sweet Riesling, a few cheese options work wonderfully. Firstly, the famous Parmesan is a great choice due to its saltiness, which balances the sweetness of the wine. Aged Gouda is another excellent pairing, as the older the Gouda, the more intense its flavours become, creating a delightful contrast with the wine. For those who enjoy a tangy and salty cheese, Feta is a perfect match for sweet Riesling. Its salty aftertaste works well, as the soft texture of the cheese mitigates the effect, allowing the wine not to be overpowered.
If you're feeling adventurous, a strong blue cheese like Stilton or Roquefort can be a delightful pairing with a sweet Riesling. The sweetness of the wine will cut through the bitter sub-flavours of the blue cheese, resulting in a unique taste experience.
While Riesling is known for its versatility in cheese pairings, it's important to note that certain combinations should be avoided. For instance, dry Riesling does not pair well with Parmesan, as the saltiness of the cheese will overpower the wine. Similarly, sweet Riesling should be avoided with creamy and nutty cheeses like Brie, as they can take away from the wine's sweetness.
So, the next time you're planning a cheese and wine night, consider the magic combination of sweet Riesling and funky cheeses. Experiment with different options, find your favourite pairings, and enjoy the delightful contrast of sweet and salty flavours!
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High-acidity Riesling and melted cheese
When cheese is melted, its flavour molecules concentrate and umami comes to the fore. Wines with high acidity, such as Riesling, are great pairings for melted cheese, as they act as a natural palate cleanser.
Riesling is a semi-sweet German wine that is known to be an all-rounder when it comes to food pairing. It is naturally sweet, palate-cleansing, and light-bodied. Its versatility makes it a good match for cheese. The key is to pair the right cheese with the type of Riesling you have.
Riesling ranges from sweet to dry and light to medium-bodied, which means it pairs well with a variety of different cheeses. A dry Riesling, for example, pairs well with creamy and nutty cheeses, while a sweet Riesling pairs better with saltier cheeses.
Riesling's high acidity, floral aromas, and intense citrus flavours make it a perfect match for a wide range of foods. It is produced all over the world, but mostly in Germany.
When it comes to melted cheese, a high-acidity Riesling will be a perfect pairing. The wine will help to balance the concentrated flavours of the melted cheese and provide a refreshing contrast.
Some specific examples of melted cheese and Riesling pairings include:
- Raclette: a semi-hard Swiss cheese that is smooth, buttery, and versatile. When paired with a high-acidity Riesling, it creates some delightful combinations. Each sip of the wine cleans the palate of the melted, nutty flavour of raclette, and each bite of the cheese imparts a sweetness that blends perfectly with the sweet tones of the wine.
- Emmental: another semi-hard Swiss cheese that is not too strong and has no overpowering flavours. Its tempered saltiness and fat content make it a perfect match for a medium-strength white like Riesling.
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Frequently asked questions
The type of cheese that goes well with Riesling depends on the type of Riesling. A sweet Riesling goes well with salty cheeses like parmesan, feta, and blue cheese. A dry Riesling goes well with creamy and nutty cheeses like goat cheese, brie, and muenster.
Some specific cheese and Riesling pairings include:
- Sweet Riesling with parmesan, aged gouda, or feta
- Dry Riesling with goat cheese, brie, or muenster
- Off-dry Riesling with pungent washed-rind cheeses like Munster, Morbier, Raclette, Taleggio, and Livarot
- Dry Riesling with light and salty cheeses like feta and mozzarella
- Sweet Riesling with blue cheese like Stilton or Roquefort
The principles of pairing Riesling with cheese include:
- Medium with medium: Match wine and cheeses based on their relative strength. Avoid hard, salty cheeses with Riesling as they may overpower the wine.
- Sweet wines with funky cheeses: Very sweet wines like port, cava, or sauternes go well with blue cheeses like roquefort and gorgonzola.
- High acidity with melted cheese: Wines high in acidity like Riesling pair well with melted cheese as they act as a natural palate cleanser.
- Location, location, location: Riesling is a classic German wine, so it can be paired with German cheeses as long as they follow the other rules.
Some other factors to consider when pairing Riesling with cheese include:
- The saltier the cheese, the sweeter the wine should be.
- Hard cheeses tend to be more robust and packed with flavors. A medium-strength or bold Riesling is recommended for hard cheeses.
- Semi-hard medium-aged cheeses go well with a medium or dry Riesling.
