Syrah And Cheese: The Perfect Pairing For Your Palate

Syrah is a full-bodied red wine with a high concentration of tannins. It is known for its fruity and spicy aromas, with notes of blackberry, black pepper, and licorice. When it comes to cheese, Syrah pairs well with a variety of options. For a bold red wine like Syrah, it is recommended to pair it with equally intense cheeses that are firm and salty, such as bleu cheeses like Gorgonzola or Stilton, or hard cheeses like Parmesan or Asiago. Smoked cheeses, such as Gouda or Smokey Blue, also complement the smoky profile of Syrah. Additionally, aged cheddars and Spanish sheep cheeses with strong flavours can add a global perspective to the pairing.

Blue cheese, especially Smokey Blue

Blue cheese is an excellent pairing with Syrah, especially Smokey Blue. This is because Syrah is a bold, fruity wine with a smokey profile, and blue cheese is intense and salty enough to stand up to these flavours. Smokey Blue is a great choice as it has a lightly smokey and nutty flavour, which pairs well with the wine's smokey character. The Rogue Creamery in Southern Oregon produces a blue cheese wrapped in Syrah grape leaves soaked in brandy, which is a novel way to complement the wine's smoky, candied fruit flavours.

Syrah is a full-bodied wine with high tannins, so it needs to be paired with equally heavy dishes. Blue cheese, especially stronger varieties, can stand up to the wine's body and tannins. The smokiness of the blue cheese will also complement the wine's tobacco and black pepper notes.

If you are drinking a lighter Syrah, you could also try pairing it with a creamy, rich bloomy rind cheese. Alternatively, a peppery, goat's milk blue cheese would work well with a more peppery, frisky Syrah.

For a food pairing, a burger with Smokey Blue cheese and a glass of Syrah is a great choice.

Goat's cheese, especially gouda-style

When young and fresh, goat cheese can be tangy and acidic, but when it's aged and made in a gouda style, the milk becomes sweet and pleasantly sharp with a caramelized finish. These flavours are complemented by the ripe berry notes in a glass of Syrah.

Goat's milk gouda is semi-firm with a strong flavour profile, making it a good match for the seasoned, full-bodied wine. The sweetness of the cheese will also complement the spiciness of the Syrah.

Some goat gouda cheeses to try with Syrah include Midnight Moon from California, and Arina, a brand of goat gouda from Holland.

Cheddar, especially Old World and Bandage Wrapped

When it comes to Old World cheddars, the longer a cheddar is aged, the more intense its flavour becomes. The Twisted Oak Syrah/Viognier from Calaveras County, for example, was found to pair well with the Barbers 1833 Vintage Reserve Cheddar, the oldest cheddar in the United Kingdom. This cheddar, with its intense and deep flavours, was able to stand up to the big and earthy wine.

Bandage-wrapped cheddars, such as the Beecher's Flagship Cheddar, are also a good match for Syrah. This type of cheddar is robust, nutty, and pleasantly sharp, making it a perfect complement to the rich, fruit-forward flavours of a Syrah.

Sheep's milk cheese, especially Abbaye de Belloc

Syrah, also known as Shiraz, is a full-bodied red wine with a high concentration of tannins. It is characterised by its dark colour and lush, rich fruit flavours, including blackberry, black pepper, licorice, and mint. The wine is produced in various regions around the world, including France, Australia, California, Washington, New Zealand, Argentina, Italy, and South Africa.

When it comes to cheese pairing, Syrah's bold flavours call for equally intense cheeses. Abbaye de Belloc, a sheep's milk cheese, is an excellent choice to accompany this wine. Here's why:

Abbaye de Belloc is a traditional, farmhouse cheese that originated in the Pays Basque region of France. It is crafted by Benedictine monks at the Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Belloc in the Western Pyrenees, using pasteurised sheep's milk sourced from red-nosed Manech ewes. This cheese has a long history, with its recipe based on another local classic, Ossau Iraty.

The cheese has a distinctive appearance, featuring a flat wheel shape with a diameter of 8-9 inches and a height of 3-4 inches. Its rind is crusty and brownish, adorned with patches of red, orange, and yellow, along with tiny craters. The texture of the cheese is semi-hard, dense, and creamy, with a flavour profile reminiscent of burnt caramel and a hint of nuttiness. The aroma is distinctively lanolin, adding to its unique character.

The ageing process of Abbaye de Belloc ranges from four to ten months, with the younger wheels crafted in December and the older ones in July. This cheese is best enjoyed at room temperature, allowing its complex flavours to shine through. Its rich, creamy texture and sweet, nutty notes create a delightful pairing with Syrah. The mild, agreeable flavour of Abbaye de Belloc complements the wine's bold fruit and spice characteristics, making it a versatile choice for various Syrah styles.

In addition to Abbaye de Belloc, other sheep's milk cheeses that pair well with Syrah include Onetik Pilota, Vermont Shepherd, Trade Lake Cedar, and Serra de Estrela from Portugal. The nutty and sweet flavours in these cheeses create a harmonious match with the wine's profile, making them excellent options to consider when crafting a cheese platter to enjoy with a glass of Syrah.

Camembert

The complex flavours of Syrah, also known as Shiraz, make it a wine that loves cheese. A full-bodied varietal with high tannins, it is lush and rich with fruit like blackberry and the flavours of black pepper, licorice, and mint.

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