Wine And Cheese's Perfect Dessert Partners

Wine, cheese, and dessert are a delightful combination, but finding the right pairings can be tricky. The sweetness of a dessert can sometimes compete with a sweet wine, making for an overly saccharine ending to a meal. One solution is to pair a dessert wine with cheese—the sweet and salty combination is a satisfying way to finish a dinner. A classic pairing is port and the blue cheese Stilton, but port also goes well with other blue cheeses, especially when garnished with walnuts or pecans. Another option is to pair a wine with a dessert. For example, a chocolate cake pairs well with the deep notes of a Cabernet Sauvignon, while a vanilla cake goes perfectly with a Chardonnay.

Chocolate and wine: chocolate cake with Cabernet Sauvignon, milk chocolate with Port, dark chocolate with Zinfandel

Chocolate and wine is a pairing that divides opinion. Chocolate's flavour profile can vary from sweet to thick, bitter and earthy, and wine also has a wide range of flavour notes, so it can be difficult to find the right combination. However, there are some popular combinations of chocolate and wine that are worth exploring.

Chocolate Cake with Cabernet Sauvignon

A rich chocolate cake with Cabernet Sauvignon is a match made in heaven. The wine adds a depth of flavour to the cake, making it a perfect dessert for special occasions. The addition of a silky chocolate ganache with Cabernet takes this dessert to the next level. The cake is easy to make, requiring no mixer, and is sure to impress your guests. The recipe includes a generous amount of Cabernet in the batter and the ganache, creating a moist and elegant cake. The cake is best served at room temperature, and can be made up to 24 hours in advance.

Milk Chocolate with Port

Milk chocolate and Port wine is a pairing that some people enjoy, but it can be overly sweet. The combination may compete with the complex flavours of the Port, which can range from sweet ripe dark berries to dried fruits and hints of caramelised nuts. The sweetness of milk chocolate may fight for attention with the Port, creating a thick and distracting pairing. However, some people may still enjoy this combination, especially if they have a sweet tooth.

Dark Chocolate with Zinfandel

Dark chocolate and Zinfandel wine is a match made in heaven for wine and chocolate lovers. The wine, made from a California grape genetically linked to Italy's Primitivo grape, can be spicy, chocolatey, smoky, and fruity, or soft and subtle like a Pinot Noir. The high alcohol content, which can be upwards of 16%, pairs well with dark chocolate, especially a 72% cocoa variety. The chocolate brings out the espresso and bright cherry notes in the wine, creating a delicious and well-rounded pairing. This combination is a perfect way to indulge in the luxurious flavours of wine and chocolate.

Cakes and wine: vanilla cake with Chardonnay, red velvet cake with Red Velvet Wine

Cakes and wine are a match made in heaven, and when it comes to choosing the perfect wine to pair with your cake, there are a few classic combinations that are sure to delight your taste buds. Here are some insights into why vanilla cake with Chardonnay and red velvet cake with Red Velvet Wine are exceptional pairings:

Vanilla Cake with Chardonnay:

Vanilla cake, often regarded as basic and boring, is a modest dessert that exudes quiet charm. When paired with Chardonnay, a dry white wine, the wine's heaviness and notes of butterscotch enhance the cake's subtle attributes without overwhelming it. The wine's dryness also prevents the vanilla cake from tasting too sugary. Chardonnay's buttery and oaky notes beautifully complement the vanilla cake's delicate flavour, creating a harmonious combination that is both elegant and indulgent.

Red Velvet Cake with Red Velvet Wine:

Red velvet cake is a subtly decadent dessert with notes of cocoa and a slight tartness, rounded out by a cream cheese frosting. The wine, made by hydrating the batter with red wine instead of buttermilk, enhances the cocoa flavour and gives the cake a rich burgundy hue. The wine's acidity also contributes to the cake's velvety soft crumb. When paired with a light and tangy cream cheese frosting, this combination is the epitome of red velvet perfection. The wine's bold flavour and colour intensify the cake's overall allure, making it a unique and memorable dessert option.

In conclusion, both vanilla cake with Chardonnay and red velvet cake with Red Velvet Wine offer exceptional taste experiences. The former showcases the understated elegance of vanilla, while the latter embraces the subtle decadence of red velvet. These pairings demonstrate that simplicity can be sweet, and indulging in cake and wine is a delightful way to celebrate life's special moments.

Cookies and wine: chocolate chip cookies with Cabernet Sauvignon, oatmeal raisin cookies with Pinot Noir

Cookies and wine are a sophisticated art that can elevate your dessert experience. Here are some tips for pairing chocolate chip cookies with Cabernet Sauvignon and oatmeal raisin cookies with Pinot Noir:

Chocolate Chip Cookies and Cabernet Sauvignon

Chocolate chip cookies are a classic, and when paired with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, they become even more indulgent. The full-bodied, moderately dry, and tangy notes of a Cabernet Sauvignon beautifully cut through the sweetness of the chocolate chips. Look for a rich and juicy Cabernet with notes of baked fruit, such as blackberries and blueberries, to complement the chocolate. For an extra special touch, serve your chocolate chip cookies warm with a scoop of ice cream on the side.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and Pinot Noir

Oatmeal raisin cookies call for a different type of wine. A full-bodied, spicy Syrah or Shiraz is an unexpected but delightful pairing. The peppery notes of a Shiraz complement the dense chewy texture of oatmeal raisin cookies. If you're feeling adventurous, try a glass of Moscatel Sherry with your oatmeal raisin cookie. The dried fruit characteristics of this wine make it an excellent match for the raisins in the cookie.

When it comes to dessert, don't be afraid to experiment with different cookie and wine combinations. Port wine, for example, is a classic pairing for blue cheese, but it also goes well with other cheeses, enhancing the sweet and salty flavours.

Cheese and wine: goat cheese with Champagne, soft goat cheese with Sauvignon Blanc, hard goat cheese with Chardonnay

Cheese and Wine: Dessert Ideas

Goat Cheese with Champagne

Champagne is a versatile wine that can be paired with a variety of desserts. For a classic combination, opt for soft goat cheese, also known as chèvre, which brings a terrific flavour and luxurious texture to your plate. Chèvre is a popular choice for its creamy, tangy taste. You could try a goat cheese cheesecake, perhaps with a pistachio crust and a sweet-tart cherry sauce, or some goat cheese brownies. Alternatively, for a more elaborate dessert, try a toasted goat cheese marshmallow with fresh fruit.

Soft Goat Cheese with Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is often chosen to accompany goat cheese due to its zippy acidity, which matches the acidity in the cheese. This combination is fresh and invigorating. Soft goat cheese has a creamy, tangy flavour and can be paired with a variety of desserts. Try a red velvet cake with goat cheese frosting, or honey and goat cheese tartlets. For a healthier option, opt for pumpkin and goat cheese swirl brownies, or blueberry and goat cheese monkey bread.

Hard Goat Cheese with Chardonnay

When it comes to hard goat cheese, Chardonnay is a great choice. Look for a Chardonnay with a creamy texture and refreshing flavours of apples and pears. This combination will complement each other well. As for dessert ideas, consider a goat cheese mousse mille-feuille, a classic French dessert with a twist, filled with caramelized apples and goat cheese mousse. Or, for something simpler, try lemon goat cheese tea cookies, or apple cupcakes with a goat cheese-thyme glaze.

Other Ideas

If you're looking for something a little different, why not try a carrot cake with citrus goat cheese frosting, or chocolate cupcakes with lavender-goat cheese frosting? These unique combinations are sure to impress. Additionally, if you're serving a cheese course instead of a dessert, pair your cheeses with a sweet wine like port, sherry, or a sweet white wine.

Fruits and wine: apple pie with Moscato, melon with Muscat, berries with Sparkling Wine

When it comes to dessert, a sweet wine is a classic choice to round off a meal. However, the wine must be at least as sweet as the dessert, otherwise it will taste astringent.

Apple Pie with Moscato

Apple pie is not overly sugary, so it pairs well with a range of dessert wines, from light and fizzy to rich and caramelly. Moscato d'Asti is a low-alcohol, sweet, sparkling wine from Italy, filled with notes of fruit blossoms. It is an excellent choice to accompany apple pie and buttery pastry.

Melon with Muscat

A refreshing, light dessert of melon balls in a Muscat wine is a perfect summer treat. The recipe calls for small cantaloupe and honeydew melons, scooped into balls and gently tossed with the wine. Chill the dish for a few hours before serving in the cantaloupe shells.

Berries with Sparkling Wine

Sweet sparkling wines, such as Moscato d'Asti or Asti Spumante, are a fun choice to end a meal. They pair well with a variety of cheeses, especially soft goat cheeses and triple-crème cheese. Sparkling wines also go well with berries, so a berry dessert would be a delightful match.

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