Cheese And White Wine: Perfect Pairing Guide

Wine and cheese are two of life's greatest culinary pleasures, and few foods go together better than the two. While red wine is often considered the go-to partner for cheese, white wine is actually a much better match for many types of cheese. White wine's freshness, perfumed notes, and unique combination of sweetness and acidity complement the creamy, nutty, and pungent properties of cheese. The key to a successful pairing is to match the right wine with the right cheese.

Sauvignon Blanc and So Many Cheeses

Sauvignon blanc is a versatile white wine that pairs well with various cheeses. Its crisp, refreshing nature, substantial acidity, and notes of lime and green leafy herbs make it a perfect match for many artisanal cheeses. Here are some classic combinations to elevate your wine and cheese experience:

Goat Cheese (Chèvre)

Goat cheese, also known as chèvre, is an ideal match for Sauvignon Blanc. The acidity in the wine complements the richness of goat cheese, and the grassy notes in both create a harmonious tasting experience. The Loire Valley, home to renowned Sauvignon Blanc wines like Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé, is also known for its delicious goat cheeses, making this pairing a classic combination.

Gruyère

Gruyère is a Swiss cheese with a nutty flavour that beautifully complements the aroma and complexity of Sauvignon Blanc. The rich and creamy texture of Gruyère helps balance the pungent aroma and acidic flavour of the wine, resulting in a well-rounded pairing.

Gouda

Gouda is another excellent choice for pairing with Sauvignon Blanc. Aged Gouda, in particular, takes this combination to the next level. The nutty flavour of aged Gouda balances out the grassy and acidic fruit flavours in the wine, creating a natural harmony between the two.

Asiago

Asiago is a pungent cheese that stands out from the others typically recommended for white wine pairings. The lighter and drier the Sauvignon Blanc, the better it will contrast with the strong odours of Asiago cheese, making for an intriguing and satisfying sensory experience.

Other Cheeses

In addition to the classics mentioned above, Sauvignon Blanc also pairs well with a variety of other cheeses. These include brick, Cheddar, Havarti, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, Muenster, Parmesan, and Swiss and other Alpine-style cheeses. The crisp and refreshing nature of Sauvignon Blanc makes it a versatile partner for a wide range of cheese flavours and textures.

Chardonnay and Creamy Cheese

Creamy, soft cheeses like Camembert and Brie are perfect with a light, crisp Chardonnay. The acidity in the wine cuts through the creamy richness of the cheese. Chardonnay's more subtle flavours allow the flavours of the cheese to shine. A steely, unoaked or lightly oaked Burgundian Chablis is a good choice, or a Chardonnay from a cooler climate with bright acidity, such as New Zealand, Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley or Carneros.

For a cheese like Monterey Jack, a lighter, fruitier Chardonnay is a good match. Fresh, creamy goat cheese also pairs well with a lean, citrusy Chardonnay.

For a bolder, more complex cheese like a sharp cheddar, a more oaky Chardonnay is a good match. The boldness and complexity of the cheese are reflected in the wine.

Blue cheese is pungent and salty, and a bold, buttery Chardonnay is a good complement.

When pairing Chardonnay and cheese, it's best to avoid pungent, high-acid, bitter, or strongly flavoured foods, as these can overwhelm the subtle flavours of the wine.

Sweet Wines and Blue Cheese

When it comes to wine and cheese, white wine is considered a much better match than red. While red wine is the go-to for many, its robust tannins and slightly metallic taste can overpower most cheeses. White wine, on the other hand, has a milder bouquet, and its sweetness and acidity complement cheese very well.

Blue cheese is a salty and complex cheese that is generally served with sweet condiments like orange marmalade, figs, and raisins. Thus, sweet wines are ideal to be paired with blue cheese. The sweetness of the wine embraces the saltiness of the cheese and tones down its slightly rancid, mouldy taste. Late harvest wines with high sugar content in the grapes, such as French Sauternes or German Spätlese, pair very well with blue cheese. You can also try a bold, sweet, and complex Auslese or Trockenbeerenauslese from Germany. These wines are on the pricier side, but they offer a unique tasting experience. If you can get your hands on one, a genuine Eiswein is also worth trying.

Dessert wines, especially those with notes of dried fruit, also pair excellently with blue cheese. Some examples of dessert wines to try are Vin Santo, Jurançon, and Recioto de Soave.

Other Wine and Cheese Pairings

While this article focuses on sweet wines and blue cheese, it is worth mentioning some other classic wine and cheese combinations.

• Soft and rich cheeses like Brie and Camembert pair well with Chardonnay, especially crisp versions like Chablis from Burgundy.
• Goat's milk cheese is delicious when paired with Sauvignon Blanc, especially those from the Loire Valley, where some of the finest goat cheeses are produced.
• For very light cheeses like cream cheese, a young, crisp white wine is the best match.
• Aged, flavourful cheeses call for a more robust wine, such as an old, creamy, amber-hued white wine like an aged Riesling or Chardonnay.
• Full-bodied, aged cheeses go well with full-bodied wines, and old cheeses pair nicely with old wines.

Remember, there are endless possibilities when it comes to wine and cheese pairings, so don't be afraid to experiment and find your own favourite combinations!

Riesling and Swiss Cheese

When it comes to wine and cheese pairings, white wine is a far better match than red. The freshness, perfumed notes, and combination of acidity and sweetness in white wine suit many cheeses. One such cheese is Swiss cheese, which pairs excellently with Riesling.

Riesling is a semi-sweet German wine that is known as an all-rounder when it comes to food pairings. It is naturally sweet, palate-cleansing, and light-bodied. The key to pairing Riesling with cheese is to match the relative strengths of the wine and cheese. As Riesling is not overly heavy, it is best to avoid hard, salty cheeses that might overpower the wine. Instead, opt for medium-strength cheeses.

One excellent pairing is raclette, a semi-hard Swiss cheese used in the dish of the same name, which involves melted cheese served with potatoes and pickles. Each sip of Riesling cleanses the palate of the melted, nutty flavour of raclette, while each bite of cheese imparts a sweetness that blends perfectly with the sweet tones of the wine.

Emmental, another semi-hard Swiss cheese, also pairs well with Riesling. It is an all-rounder – not too strong, with no overpowering flavours, but with enough fat and tempered saltiness to act as the perfect cheese course. The medium strength of Riesling makes it an obvious choice for Emmental, pleasing many palates.

Gouda, a Dutch cheese that has also been made in Germany, pairs well with Riesling, especially drier varieties. A dry Riesling, known as Grosses Gewächs, can stand up to the stronger, saltier flavours of mature Gouda, aged for 16 weeks or more.

In summary, when pairing Riesling with Swiss cheese, opt for medium-strength, semi-hard varieties such as raclette, Emmental, or Gouda. These cheeses complement the sweetness and light body of the Riesling, creating delightful flavour combinations.

Moscato and Blue Cheese

Moscato is a sweet and fruity wine with a slight fizz, made from the Muscat grape, which is grown in various regions around the world, including Italy, Spain, Australia, and California. Its sweetness is balanced by its acidity, which helps to prevent it from becoming cloying.

Blue cheese is a pungent cheese with a strong flavor and distinctive blue veins. It can be challenging to pair with wine due to its intense flavor profile. However, Moscato's sweetness and acidity make it an excellent pairing option for blue cheese. The sweetness of the wine harmonizes with the salty, tangy, and moldy flavors of the cheese.

When selecting a blue cheese to pair with Moscato, it is important to choose a cheese with a creamy texture and a mild flavor profile. Some of the best blue cheeses to pair with Moscato include:

• Stilton: This English blue cheese has a crumbly texture and a creamy, tangy flavor. Its mild flavor profile makes it an excellent pairing for Moscato.
• Cabrales: This Spanish blue cheese is made from a blend of cow's, goat's, and sheep's milk, giving it a complex flavor profile. Its creamy texture and tangy taste make it a great match for Moscato.
• Gorgonzola: This Italian blue cheese is also mentioned as a good pairing with Moscato due to its tangy and slightly spicy flavor profile.

When serving Moscato and blue cheese, it is recommended to chill the wine and serve the cheese at room temperature. This pairing is ideal as a dessert, although some people may have strong aversions to blue cheese, so it is advisable to check with your guests first.

Frequently asked questions