Pinot Noir And Cheese: The Perfect Pairing

Pinot Noir is a light-bodied red wine with fruity notes of berries and cherries and earthier notes of herbs and spices. It is a versatile wine that pairs well with a wide range of cheeses. The best pairings complement the wine's delicate flavours without overwhelming them. Strong, stinky cheeses and fresh goat's cheeses should be avoided for this reason. Washed-rind cheeses like Taleggio, nutty medium-firm cheeses like Gruyere, and soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert are classic matches for Pinot Noir.

Semi-soft cheeses with nutty flavours

Gruyère, a Swiss cow's milk cheese, is a great example of a nutty, semi-soft cheese that pairs well with Pinot Noir. It has a delicate, slightly nutty taste and a creamy yet slightly dense texture, creating an ideal balance with the wine.

Comté, also known as Gruyère de Comté, is another excellent choice. This semi-firm French cheese made from raw cow's milk has a strong nutty flavour and a texture that ranges from firm to buttery and creamy. Its boldness stands up to the earthiness of some Pinots, while its nutty sweetness complements the red fruit notes. Look for Comté aged 12 months or more for a stronger flavour profile.

Emmental, a beloved Swiss cheese, is also a great option for pairing with Pinot Noir. This cow's milk cheese has a rich sweetness and nuttiness that make it a perfect match for the wine's fruity body. Its semi-firm texture melts in your mouth when warm, providing a delightful contrast to the wine's silky texture.

Gouda, a popular Dutch cheese, is another semi-soft cheese with nutty flavours that go well with Pinot Noir. Its slightly sweet taste with nutty undertones pairs beautifully with the wine's light body and sour cherry notes. Aged Goudas are especially amazing for pairing as they have a more intense flavour that complements the wine's tartness.

These semi-soft cheeses with nutty flavours will enhance your wine and cheese experience when paired with the delicate and complex Pinot Noir.

Avoiding strong, stinky cheeses

When it comes to cheese, Pinot Noir is a versatile wine. However, its delicate flavour means that strong, stinky cheeses should be avoided.

Pinot Noir is a light-bodied red wine with fruity notes of berries and cherries, as well as hints of herbs and spices. It is produced from thin-skinned grapes with low levels of phenolic compounds, resulting in a lighter-coloured, medium-bodied, low-tannin wine. The subtle flavours are "cooked" inside the grape's thin skin from the heat and sun.

Because of its delicate flavour profile, Pinot Noir can be easily overpowered by strong, stinky cheeses. These strong flavours can overwhelm the subtlety of the wine, making it a less-than-ideal pairing.

Instead, softer, nuttier cheeses are recommended. For example, Gruyere, a smooth cow's milk cheese with a slightly nutty taste, pairs well with the wine. Similarly, Brie and Camembert, with their buttery and creamy characteristics, complement the wine without being too overpowering.

Washed-rind cheeses, such as Taleggio, are also a good match for Pinot Noir. While Taleggio has a strong smell, its fruity and mild flavour, along with its creamy texture, makes it a suitable pairing.

Washed-rind cheeses

Taleggio is a semi-soft, washed-rind Italian cheese that is one of the world's oldest soft cheeses. It has a strong smell but a fruity and mild flavour, with a creamy texture. This makes it a good pairing with the Pinot Noir. It is washed with seawater to prevent mould from growing during the cheese-making process.

Gruyère is another washed-rind cheese that pairs well with Pinot Noir. This smooth cow's milk cheese, originally from Switzerland, melts beautifully. It is a firm, pale yellow cheese with a creamy and slightly nutty taste. Its delicate flavour makes it perfect with the wine.

Pinot Noir's high acidity also means it can cut through the creaminess of some washed-rind cheeses.

Soft cheeses

• Brie: This French-style cheese has a slightly nutty flavour and is often sold in rounds. Its texture can range from firm to very soft, depending on how long it has been aged. Its subtle flavour will complement the fruitiness of the wine.
• Camembert: This soft, creamy cheese from the Normandy region of France has a strong aroma of mushrooms and butter, with a nutty and slightly tangy flavour. The longer it ages, the softer it becomes as its moisture reduces, making it perfect for spreading onto crackers or bread.
• Roucoulons: This French cow's milk cheese is mild, slightly earthy and mushroomy, with beefy components, which can match the earthy flavours in some Pinot Noirs. It is marketed as a "love" cheese with hearts on its packaging and its name derives from the French word "roucouler", which means to talk fondly or amorously.
• Epoisses: This cheese is made from raw cow's milk, giving it a unique flavour that can pair well with Pinot Noir. Its texture is soft, creamy, and slightly rubbery, which makes for an interesting contrast when paired with the berry-like flavours of Pinot Noir. The rind also adds an aromatic character to the pairing.
• Reblochon: This French cheese has a soft, creamy texture and earthy flavour. It's made from raw cow's milk and aged for two to three months, resulting in its characteristic semi-soft consistency. Its slight sweetness pairs perfectly with Pinot Noir, and its rich buttery taste complements the wine's earthy elements.

Blue cheese

When eaten as part of a savoury dish, blue cheese can be paired with a drier white or red wine. A blue cheese and fresh fig salad goes well with a smooth Italian white wine like a Gavi di Gavi. A blue cheese burger or steak calls for a hearty red like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec.

While blue cheese is a poor match for Pinot Noir, a lighter blue cheese like Cambozola can complement the wine without overwhelming it.

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