Cheese And Port: A Perfect Pairing Guide

Port and cheese is a classic food and wine pairing. While it is often enjoyed at Christmas, it can be savoured all year round. The sweetness and alcohol of port are cut through by the saltiness and rich flavour of cheese, making it the ideal combination to enjoy after dinner. However, not all cheeses go with all ports. When pairing port and cheese, it's important to consider the texture and intensity of the cheese, as well as the wine's tannins, to create a perfect marriage between the two. For example, a vintage port with its luscious fruit and assertive tannins will overpower the delicate aromatics of a brie or Camembert. Instead, it requires a powerful cheese to match, such as a mature blue cheese like Stilton.

Blue cheese and port

The pairing of blue cheese and port brings out elegant aromatics and fascinating flavour notes in both. The savoury character of both is also enhanced. The saltiness of the cheese is key, as it balances the tannins of the port.

When selecting a blue cheese to pair with port, it is best to avoid creamy varieties. Instead, opt for intense, non-creamy blues such as Stilton, Roquefort, Cashel Blue, Bleu d'Auvergne, or Gorgonzola. These cheeses have the perfect matching power in both flavour and texture to stand up to the aromatic and tannic power of vintage ports.

For a truly exceptional experience, consider pairing your blue cheese with a glass of Taylor's 20-Year-Old Tawny Port. This aged tawny port exhibits a lovely amber toffee hue and boasts intense caramel and nutty flavours, as well as a warmer feeling due to its higher alcohol content. The nuttiness of the port will be accentuated by the saltiness of the blue cheese, creating a harmonious flavour profile that will delight your taste buds.

Cheddar and Tawny Port

Port and cheese is a classic combination, and for many, a match made in heaven. Port and cheese is a pairing that has been enjoyed for thousands of years, and it is especially popular at Christmas. Port offers a range of comforting flavours, from sweet and fruity to deep and rich, and cheese is the ideal savoury counterpart, with its saltiness and rich flavour complementing the port's sweetness and power.

When it comes to Cheddar and Tawny Port, a mature farmhouse cheddar is the perfect partner for a glass of aged tawny port. Cheddar is a salty, creamy, rich and strong cheese that can hold its own against the strength of a flavoursome tawny port. The aged tawnies, with their amber colour, smooth silky palate and sublimely complex and opulent flavours, pair beautifully with the rich, nutty and fruity character of a mature farmhouse cheddar. The nuttiness of the cheese blends perfectly with the toffee flavours of the tawny.

For a specific pairing, try Taylor's 10-Year-Old Tawny Port with a mature cheddar. This classic tawny, made by Taylor's, has aromas of toffee, mince pies, oranges, cinnamon and walnuts. It is best enjoyed chilled and can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 months. The mature cheddar, with its nutty, caramely flavour, will complement the toffee notes of the tawny, creating a harmonious flavour combination.

To enhance the experience, consider adding some fresh grapes, quince paste and roasted winter nuts to your cheese and port pairing. These additions will provide a contrast of flavours and textures that will elevate the tasting experience.

Goat's cheese and Port

Goats Cheese and Port: A Match Made in Heaven

Port and cheese is a classic combination, and one that has been enjoyed for thousands of years. But what about goat's cheese? Can it be paired with port? The answer is a resounding yes!

The Characteristics of Goat's Cheese

Goat's cheese is produced using goat's milk and has a myriad of varieties produced around the world. It can be crumbly and white, moist and creamy, or firm and aged. Good fresh goat's cheese should be moist and creamy, with a clean, mouthwateringly tangy and milky flavour. Aged goat's cheeses tend to be more approachable, with buttery and mellow flavours and hints of lemon.

The Perfect Pairing: Goat's Cheese and Port

When it comes to pairing goat's cheese with port, a young Extra Dry White Port is an excellent choice. The acidity and fruity profile of the port will match the delicate profile of the cheese. A young, fruity wine, such as Taylor's First Estate Reserve, pairs beautifully with a salty and creamy goat's cheese like Bosworth Ash Log. The goat's cheese perfectly emphasises the young, fruity flavour of the port, creating a light combination that can be enjoyed as an aperitif.

For a more intense experience, a Ruby Port, such as Fonseca Bin 27 Port, is a perfect match for fresh goat's cheese. The rich fruity nose of the port, with aromas of blackberry, cassis, cherry and plum, is enhanced by the goat's cheese, resulting in a stunning sour cherry pie flavour.

Taking it up a Notch

If you're feeling adventurous, try pairing an aged goat's cheese with an older Tawny Port. The dusky floral component of a Sandeman 30YO Aged Tawny Port, with its flavours of orange peel, black fig, date and rose, would play nicely with a young goat gouda.

So, the next time you're looking for a unique cheese and port pairing, don't be afraid to reach for the goat's cheese!

Stilton and Port

Port and cheese is a classic combination, and one of the most well-known and loved pairings is Stilton and Port.

The salty, creamy, rich and strong flavour of Stilton is the ideal pairing for Port. The cheese's saltiness and creaminess cut through the sweetness and alcohol of the Port, creating a sublime balance of flavours. The savoury character of the Port is also enhanced by the Stilton, and the cheese's strong flavour can stand up to the Port's powerful taste.

The key to a successful pairing is to ensure the cheese can hold its own against the strength of the Port. A Vintage Port, with its luscious fruit and tannins, will easily overpower a softer, more nuanced cheese. Therefore, a mature, intense blue cheese like Stilton is a perfect match. The saltiness of the cheese is key, as it balances the tannins in the Port.

For a truly festive experience, add some dried cranberries, prunes and walnuts to your Stilton and Port. This will take the pairing to the next level and provide a delightful contrast of flavours and textures.

Brie, Camembert and Port

Port and cheese is a pairing that has been enjoyed for thousands of years. Port is often paired with Stilton, but there are many other cheeses that can be enjoyed with this wine.

Brie and Camembert are both soft French cheeses, with similar flavour profiles. They are both described as earthy, nutty, fruity, and grassy, with Brie being milder and creamier, and Camembert having a deeper, more intense flavour and aroma. Both cheeses are made from cow's milk, but cream is added to Brie, giving it a higher milk fat content.

Brie and Camembert are best paired with a young White Port. A young Extra Dry Port with its fruity profile and acidity will match the delicate, creamy profile of these cheeses.

For a more intense version of these cheeses, such as triple-cream Brie or a more mature Camembert, a White Colheita is recommended.

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