Cheese And Sparkling Wine: Perfect Pairing Guide

Whether it's a Friday night or a New Year's Eve celebration, a good wine-and-cheese pairing is always a great idea. Sparkling wine, in particular, is versatile and pairs well with a variety of cheeses, from soft and creamy to dense and crystalline varieties. The key to a successful pairing lies in the bubbly wine's refreshing bubbles and palate-cleansing properties, which cut through the richness of the cheese. So, whether you're indulging in a luxurious triple crème or a simple soft goat cheese, popping a bottle of sparkling wine is sure to elevate your cheese experience.

Soft creamy white/goat's cheese with quality Prosecco

Soft creamy white or goats cheese is a perfect match for a quality Prosecco. The high butterfat content in soft creamy cheeses coats your mouth in a pleasant, creamy texture. This is balanced out by the refreshing bubbles in sparkling wines like Prosecco. The acidity in dry wines also helps to cut through the creaminess of the cheese.

When choosing a Prosecco to pair with soft creamy white or goats cheese, opt for a quality Prosecco, such as a DOCG or Asolo. These Proseccos offer a more complex flavour profile, with a fine, full taste and a wonderful smooth, creamy mouthfeel. The combination of the cheese and the Prosecco creates a delightful, creamy taste sensation. The cheese initially delights the palate, and when paired with the Prosecco, the wine slowly fades the fatty elements, leaving a creamy, ripe, golden fruit aftertaste.

When it comes to serving cheese and sparkling wine, it is recommended to start with the mild cheeses and work your way through to the sharper and stronger cheeses. Similarly, if you are serving several sparkling wines, it is best to start with the driest and end with the sweetest.

In addition to soft creamy white or goats cheese, other cheeses that pair well with Prosecco include Brie, Camembert, and Baby Swiss.

Hard dry cheese with Champagne

Hard, dry cheeses with Champagne? Yes, please!

When it comes to hard, dry cheese and Champagne, a few excellent options spring to mind, each with its unique characteristics and nuances. Firstly, we have the classic Swiss cheese, Gruyere. Gruyere is a hard, nutty cheese that beautifully complements dry Champagne. The cheese accentuates the fruity notes in the Champagne, while the Champagne refreshes the palate between bites, creating a delightful pairing.

Moving on, we have hard, salty English cheddar, a true heavyweight in the cheese world. When paired with dry and acidic Champagne, the sharpness of the cheddar is elegantly balanced by the tartness of the bubbly, resulting in a flavour profile that delights the palate. This pairing showcases the versatility of cheddar, proving that simplicity can be extraordinary.

Another stellar option is Parmesan, a hard Italian cheese with a rich, nutty, and slightly salty flavour. Parmesan is incredibly versatile, pairing well with both sweet and dry Champagnes, making it ideal for any occasion. Its dense, waxy texture and high acidity create a delightful contrast with the bubbles and crispness of the Champagne.

Lastly, we introduce you to the American Gruyere, a milder and less nutty version of its Swiss cousin. This versatile cheese pairs splendidly with all types of Champagnes, making it a go-to choice for any celebration. Its subtle sweetness and creamy texture create a harmonious dance of flavours with the dryness and acidity of the Champagne.

So, there you have it—a delightful exploration of hard, dry cheeses that marry perfectly with Champagne. Whether it's the classic Swiss Gruyere, the robust English cheddar, the versatile Italian Parmesan, or the subtle American Gruyere, each pairing promises a unique and captivating sensory experience.

Soft creamy blue cheese with Cava extra Brut

When it comes to selecting a blue cheese for this pairing, look for a creamy variety with a soft texture. This can include French Fourme d'Ambert, English Stilton, or Bayley Hazen Blue from Jasper Hill Farm. These cheeses have a melt-in-your-mouth quality, balancing buttery and creamy notes with the inherent minerality of blue cheese.

As for the Cava, opt for a Brut or extra Brut style, which will provide a dry, crisp, and refreshing contrast to the creamy cheese. Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine known for its bright, fruity flavours and elegant bubbles. The extra Brut style will be drier than a traditional Brut, making it an excellent choice for cutting through the richness of the blue cheese.

To elevate this pairing, consider serving the blue cheese at room temperature to enhance its creamy texture and flavour. Additionally, choose a Cava that has been aged for several years, as the added complexity will further complement the cheese.

Whether you're hosting a celebration or simply indulging on a Friday night, soft creamy blue cheese with Cava extra Brut is a delightful pairing that combines the best of both worlds.

Strong blue/Stilton with red sparkling wine

Strong blue cheeses, like Stilton, are a match made in heaven when paired with a red sparkling wine. The saltiness and sharpness of blue cheese are cut by the wine's effervescence, scrubbing your palate clean for more cheese.

A good-quality sparkling red wine, like Stoka Sparkling Teran Prima 2011, is dry and fruity, leaving a dry red berry fruit flavour in the mouth with a silky blue cheese hint in the background. The dryness of the sparkling wine is key to balancing the saltiness of the blue cheese.

When pairing blue cheese with sparkling wine, it is important to consider the different types of blue cheese and their respective strengths. For example, French Fourme d'Ambert, English Stilton, or Jasper Hill Farm's Bayley Hazen Blue are all strong blue cheeses that would pair well with a red sparkling wine. A mellower, foil-wrapped choice like Point Reyes Bay Blue or a Gorgonzola-style blue cheese would be better suited to a sweeter sparkling wine, like an Italian Asti spumante, to offset the sweetness.

Additionally, the texture of the blue cheese can impact the pairing. A creamy blue cheese, like the French Fourme d'Ambert or Italian Gorgonzola Dolce, would be well-suited to a sparkling wine like a Cremant de Bourgogne, which will balance the creaminess of the cheese with its crispness. On the other hand, a denser blue cheese, like the Bayley Hazen Blue from Jasper Hill Farm, would benefit from a sparkling wine that can cut through the density and highlight its flavours.

Brie with Champagne

Brie and Champagne is a classic French pairing. The high butterfat content in Brie coats your mouth in creamy goodness, and this is balanced out by the refreshing bubbles in sparkling wine. The bubbles cut through the cheese's richness, creating a luxurious and indulgent pairing. The acidity in dry wines also cuts through the creaminess of the cheese.

Aged brie has a more pronounced earthy flavour that pairs well with brut sparkling wine, such as cava, prosecco, or brut champagne. The crisp bubbles make the cheese feel even more decadent, and the citrus notes of the champagne enhance the subtle tanginess in the brie.

For a simple appetizer, you can make a champagne brie spread by combining brie, cream cheese, grated parmesan cheese, brut champagne, white pepper, butter, Marcona almonds, chives, Morello cherries, and sun-dried tomatoes. Serve with crackers.

For a more complex dish, you can make an oyster and brie champagne soup. This soup includes shallots, red pepper flakes, flour, clam juice or fish stock, brie, chives, black pepper, and, of course, champagne and oysters.

Frequently asked questions