Merlot And Cheese: Perfect Pairing For Rich Flavors

Merlot is a popular red wine known for its fruity notes of plum, cherry, and berry, as well as hints of chocolate, bay leaf, and vanilla. With its medium to full-bodied profile and balanced tannins and acidity, Merlot is a versatile wine that pairs well with a variety of cheeses. From sharp Cheddar to creamy Brie, the options are diverse, and each pairing brings out unique flavours in both the wine and the cheese. So, which cheeses will best accentuate the characteristics of Merlot, and what makes them so complementary?

Merlot's wine and cheese pairings

Merlot is a medium- to full-bodied wine with notes of cherry, plum, chocolate, bay leaf, and vanilla. It is known for having less dryness and fewer tannins than its cousin, Cabernet Sauvignon, making it more compatible with a wider variety of cheeses.

When it comes to cheese, you can pair Merlot with anything from a sharp Cheddar to a light, creamy Brie. The first suggested pairing is Gorgonzola, a sharp, creamy cheese with a hint of sweetness that helps to offset the pungency of Blue cheeses. The creaminess and sweetness of the cheese complement the Merlot, while the sharp bite at the end prevents the cheese from getting lost in the tannins and acidity of the wine.

The next recommended cheese is Brie, which can be either mild and slightly chalky or decadently gooey and strong in flavour. The subtle tanginess and rich cream flavours of Brie pair well with Merlot, subduing the wine's acidity and leaving a nutty, buttery taste on the palate.

Camembert is another excellent choice for Merlot lovers. This rich and creamy cheese will enhance the wine's fruity, dark berry flavours. The cheese's creamy texture will coat your mouth, minimizing the tannins and acidity of the Merlot.

Finally, a sharp Cheddar is always a crowd-pleaser and pairs well with Merlot's bold, smooth characteristics. The wine will showcase the bold flavours of the cheese, bringing out its sharpness as well as its more subtle nutty notes.

For a unique Merlot-soaked cheese experience, try the award-winning Merlot BellaVitano®. This cheese is inspired by traditional Italian farmstead cheese and features a rich, creamy texture with fruity notes of plum and berry.

Cheese variety that pairs with Merlot

Merlot is a medium- to full-bodied wine with notes of cherry, plum, chocolate, bay leaf, and vanilla. Its relatively low dryness and moderate tannins and acidity make it a versatile wine for pairing with food.

When it comes to cheese, Merlot's low dryness makes it compatible with both heavy and light cheese varieties. A sharp Cheddar is a classic pairing, with the bold flavours of the cheese contrasting nicely with the rich and smooth characteristics of the wine. The wine will also bring out the sharpness and subtle nutty flavours of the Cheddar.

For those who prefer a lighter cheese, Brie is a good option. Its subtle tanginess and rich cream flavours pair well with Merlot, subduing the wine's acidity and leaving a nutty, buttery taste on the palate. Camembert is another soft cheese that pairs well with Merlot, enhancing the wine's fruity, dark berry flavours and minimising the tannins and acidity.

If you're looking for something in between a light and a heavy cheese, Gorgonzola is a good option. This full-bodied, rich and complex cheese has a sharp bite that holds its own against the tannins and acidity of Merlot. The slight sweetness of the cheese also marries well with the wine.

Finally, for those who want a cheese with a unique texture, Bellavitano is a Wisconsin cheese with a flavour profile inspired by traditional Italian farmstead cheese. It has a rich and creamy texture with a crunchy feel from the naturally occurring calcium crystals that form during the ageing process. Soaking the cheese in Merlot wine gives it notes of berry and plum that complement the wine's flavours.

Taste profiles of Merlot and cheese

Merlot is a medium- to full-bodied wine with notes of cherry, plum, chocolate, bay leaf, and vanilla. It has a well-balanced profile with an even presentation of tannins and acidity. The wine's flavour can be oak-forward or more centred on plum, depending on the blend.

When it comes to cheese, Merlot's flexibility is on full display. The wine's low dryness makes it compatible with both heavy and light cheeses. A sharp cheddar is a classic pairing, with the bold flavours of the cheese contrasting nicely with the rich and smooth characteristics of the wine. The wine will bring out the sharpness of the cheddar, as well as its subtle nutty flavours.

For those who prefer a lighter cheese, Brie is an excellent option. Its mild, slightly chalky, or gooey texture and tangy, rich, creamy flavours pair well with Merlot. The creaminess of the cheese subdues the wine's acidity, leaving a nutty, buttery taste on the palate.

Camembert is another cheese that falls into the rich and creamy category. Its strong flavours will enhance the wine, bringing out the fruity, dark berry notes. The cheese's creamy texture will also help to minimise the tannins and acidity in the wine.

A more unusual pairing is Gorgonzola, a sharp, creamy cheese with a hint of sweetness that offsets the pungency of Blue cheeses. This full-bodied cheese stands up well to Merlot, with its creaminess and slight sweetness marrying nicely with the wine. The sharp bite at the end prevents the cheese from being overpowered by the tannins or acidity.

Finally, a unique cheese to try with Merlot is the award-winning Bellavitano, a Wisconsin original inspired by traditional Italian farmstead cheese. This cheese is soaked in Merlot wine, giving it notes of berry and plum that pair beautifully with the wine. It has a rich and creamy texture with a crunchy feel from the naturally occurring calcium crystals that form during the ageing process.

How to taste Merlot and cheese together

Merlot is a robust red wine with fruity notes of plum and berry. When tasting Merlot and cheese together, it is important to remember that the pairing should be symbiotic and transformative, enhancing the experience of both the wine and the cheese. Here is a guide on how to taste Merlot and cheese together:

Choose the Right Cheese:

The right cheese to pair with Merlot should complement its fruity notes. Cheeses like Merlot BellaVitano®, a cheese soaked in Merlot wine, can be an excellent choice as it has fruity notes of plum and berry that marry well with the wine. Other cheeses that go well with Merlot include those with earthy, nutty, or creamy flavours.

Prepare the Setting:

Create a comfortable and calm setting for your wine and cheese tasting. Ensure you have the appropriate glassware, a spittoon, and a palate cleanser like water or bread. It is also helpful to have a tasting notebook to record your impressions.

Swirl, Sniff, and Sip the Wine:

Start by pouring a small amount of Merlot into your glass. Gently swirl the wine to release its aromas. Then, take a moment to sniff the wine and try to identify some of its dominant notes. Finally, take a sip of the wine and allow it to coat your palate. Consider its body, acidity, tannins, and flavour.

Taste the Cheese:

Now, it's time to taste the cheese. Take a small piece, work it thoroughly in your mouth by chewing it for 5-10 seconds. This allows the cheese to release its full range of flavours. Consider the texture, saltiness, and any unique characteristics of the cheese.

Combine and Evaluate:

After experiencing the Merlot and cheese individually, it's time to combine them. Take another sip of wine, swirl it around your mouth, and then take a bite of cheese. Pay attention to how the flavours of the wine and cheese interact and change your perception of each. Consider the balance between the acidity of the wine and the fattiness of the cheese. Does one enhance the other?

Repeat and Compare:

To fully appreciate the impact of the cheese on the wine, repeat the tasting process with the same Merlot after tasting a different cheese. Compare how the different cheeses influenced the wine's flavour profile. You can also try tasting the same cheese with different types of wine to observe how the wine affects your perception of the cheese.

Remember, the ultimate goal is to find a pairing that elevates both the Merlot and the cheese, creating a harmonious and enjoyable sensory experience.

Best cheeses to pair with Merlot

Merlot is a medium- to full-bodied wine with notes of cherry, plum, chocolate, bay leaf, and vanilla. It has fewer tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon, making it more food-friendly. Its low dryness also makes it compatible with both heavy and light cheeses.

When it comes to choosing a cheese to pair with Merlot, you have a wide variety of options, from a sharp Cheddar to a light, creamy Brie. The key is to look for cheeses that will complement the wine's rich and smooth characteristics. Here are some of the best cheeses to pair with Merlot:

Gorgonzola

Gorgonzola is a sharp, creamy cheese with a hint of sweetness that helps to offset the pungency of Blue cheeses. Its full-bodied nature, richness, and complexity in taste make it an excellent match for Merlot. The slight sweetness of the cheese pairs well with the wine, while the sharp bite it can have at the end prevents the cheese from getting lost in the tannins or acidity of the Merlot.

Brie

Although pairing Brie with Merlot might seem unusual, the subtle tanginess and rich cream flavours of the cheese complement the full-bodied wine surprisingly well. The creaminess of the Brie subdues the acidity in the Merlot, leaving a nutty, buttery taste on the palate.

Camembert

Camembert is a rich and creamy cheese that enhances the fruity, dark berry flavours of Merlot. Its creamy texture coats the mouth, minimizing the tannins and acidity in the wine.

Cheddar

A sharp Cheddar is a classic pairing with Merlot. The bold, sharp flavours of Cheddar contrast nicely with the rich and smooth characteristics of the wine, showcasing the sharpness and subtle nutty flavours of the cheese.

Merlot BellaVitano

A unique pairing, Merlot BellaVitano is a cheese inspired by traditional Italian farmstead cheese. It is soaked in Merlot wine, giving it notes of berry and plum. The cheese has a rich and creamy texture with a crunchy feel from naturally occurring calcium crystals. This pairing offers a truly one-of-a-kind tasting experience, marrying the flavours of Merlot wine and cheese in perfect harmony.

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