Sweet Wine And Cheese: Perfect Pairing Ideas

Sweet wines and cheese are a delicious combination that can redefine dessert. The perfect pairing of wine and cheese is like a couple, with one balancing out the other. While some pairings are more well-known, such as Sauvignon Blanc with goat cheese, there are many other delightful combinations to explore. For instance, sweet and fruity wines like Moscato go well with sweet and fruity cheeses, such as Blueberry Stilton. Soft, delicate wines pair best with mild, soft cheeses, while bold cheeses need a wine that can match their intensity without being overpowered.

Sweet wines and salty cheeses are a classic combination

Moscato, for example, is a light-bodied, off-dry wine with a hint of sweetness. It pairs well with spicy or salty cheeses, as well as buttery options like Brie and Camembert. The bubbles in sparkling wines, such as Moscato d'Asti, also help to balance the fattiness of creamy cheeses. For a fun twist, try a Blueberry Moscato with Blueberry Stilton, a sweet and fruity combination that will delight your taste buds.

Riesling is another excellent choice for sweet white wines. This light-bodied, off-dry wine has a fruity flavour that pairs perfectly with salty and strong-flavoured cheeses. Blue cheese, aged Gouda, and Feta are all wonderful options to complement the sweetness of the wine.

When it comes to sweet red wines, Port is a classic option. Known for its full body, sweetness, and bold character, Port is an ideal match for pungent, salty cheeses like Blue Stilton. The sweeter the wine, the stinkier the cheese can be! Vintage Port, with its deep, full-bodied fruit taste and hints of spice and chocolate, goes well with flavourful cheeses such as Blue Cheese, Gorgonzola, or Sharp Cheddar. If you prefer a more mellow yet rich and nutty Port, try a Tawny Port with salty, hard cheeses like Parmesan Reggiano or smoked cheeses.

Merlot is another popular sweet red wine with fruit flavours and hints of cedar and chocolate. It pairs well with a variety of cheeses, both hard and soft. Gouda, with its smoky taste, is an excellent complement to Merlot. Gruyere, Gorgonzola, and Jarlsberg are also delicious options.

When creating your own sweet wine and cheese pairings, remember that the key is to balance the sweetness of the wine with the saltiness or strength of the cheese. So, the next time you pop open a bottle of sweet wine, don't forget to add some cheese to your snack for a classic and indulgent experience!

The sweetness of wine and cheese can be amplified by pairing them with similarly flavoured fruits

When it comes to white wines, Moscato is a popular choice for its light, off-dry, and buttery qualities. It pairs well with spicy, salty, or buttery cheeses like Pepper Jack, Brie, and Muenster. Another white wine, Riesling, is light-bodied and fruity, and it goes well with salty and strong-flavoured cheeses like Blue Cheese, Aged Gouda, and Feta. These sweet wines can be beautifully complemented by similarly flavoured fruits, enhancing their sweetness.

For those who prefer red wines, Merlot is a great choice with its fruity notes of cedar and chocolate. It pairs wonderfully with a range of cheeses, from hard cheeses like Gouda and Parmesan to softer options such as Gruyere and Gorgonzola. Syrah/Shiraz, with their intense flavours, is another red wine that complements aged cheeses. Try pairing it with aged cheddar, Edam, Gouda, or Parmesan for a delightful combination.

When serving cheese as a dessert course, look for sweet wines with labels such as Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, or Late Harvest. These wines are excellent companions to a variety of cheeses, including soft goat cheeses, Camembert, and Brie. By adding similarly flavoured fruits to these wine and cheese pairings, you can create a harmonious symphony of flavours that accentuates the sweetness of both the wine and the cheese.

Soft, mild cheeses are best paired with soft wines

A good example of a soft wine and soft cheese pairing is a sweet red wine with double-cream gouda. The soft, juicy nature of this American grape is a classic, and it is best served alongside a creamy, traditional cheese like gouda. Gouda's flavour is slightly sweet with a mild nuttiness. Double cream gouda is two times as creamy, and its silky, butter-like texture yearns for the rich, soft sweetness of a Concord wine.

Another great pairing is Camelot Mead with goat cheese. The rich sweetness of the honey in the mead pairs delightfully with the tangy flavours of goat cheese. For a double pairing, try a soft goat cheese with honey. The soft texture and slightly tart bite, rounded off with just a hint of honey, make this a perfect match.

A grilled cheese made with BelGioioso Fontina and a glass of Creekbend Catawba would also be a match made in snacking heaven. The Catawba wine highlights the soft strawberry, peach, and melon notes that are bursting from these slightly pink grapes. The Fontina is luxuriously smooth and mild in flavour, creating a great match for the true-to-character wine.

A bold, salty or powerful cheese might overpower a soft wine

When it comes to wine and cheese, it's all about balance. A bold, salty or powerful cheese might overpower a soft wine. Soft wines are typically sweet and fruity, with a delicate body. Their flavour profile includes the actual juiciness of the grape, which shouldn't be outshined by the cheese.

A bold, salty or powerful cheese could overwhelm the subtle flavours of a soft wine. Instead, opt for a mild, soft cheese to complement the wine's sweetness. Cheeses described as "soft" are often creamy and spreadable, with a mild to medium intensity flavour. They have a similar texture to the wine, creating a harmonious pairing.

For example, a sweet red wine pairs well with a Double Cream Gouda. The creamy, traditional flavour of Gouda, with its slight sweetness and mild nuttiness, is a perfect match for the lush, juicy notes of an American sweet red. Another classic pairing is Fontina with a sweet Catawba wine. The smooth, mild flavour of Fontina complements the soft strawberry, peach and melon notes of the Catawba, creating a snacking match made in heaven.

However, it's important to note that there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to wine and cheese pairings. While certain combinations may be traditional or recommended, personal preference is key. Don't be afraid to experiment and discover your own unique pairings that delight your palate.

Local wines and local cheeses are a good match

When it comes to wine and cheese, it is important to consider the texture and flavour of both. For instance, a soft wine with a delicate body should be paired with a mild, soft cheese. A bold or salty cheese could overpower the wine. On the other hand, a bolder, fattier cheese needs a wine that can complement its strong flavour and spin it around without being overpowered.

Sweet wines, such as port, sherry, and sweet white wines, are often paired with salty, sharp, or strong-flavoured cheeses. A good tip to remember is that the sweeter the wine, the stinkier the cheese can be. For example, port is a fortified wine with a full body, sweetness, and bold character, and it is traditionally paired with pungent and salty Blue Stilton. Another classic pairing is Sauternes with Roquefort.

When it comes to specific types of cheese, a medium-firm cheese like Gruyère, with its nutty flavours, is a good match for the red berry fruit of Pinot Noir. For a soft, creamy cheese like Camembert or Brie, the bright acidity and lively bubbles of Champagne can cut through the rich creaminess. If you're looking for a pairing for a hard cheese, a white Burgundy or Chardonnay is a good choice, or a red wine like Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon.

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