Cheese And Port Wine: A Perfect Pairing Guide

Port and cheese is a classic food and wine pairing. Port is often enjoyed with Stilton, but there are many other cheeses that can be enjoyed with this wine. The right pairing will bring out the complex flavours of both the cheese and the port. When choosing a cheese to go with port, it's important to consider the style of port you're drinking. For example, a vintage port needs a powerful cheese that can stand up to its strong flavours. A weak cheese paired with any port will result in a loss of flavour.

Blue cheese and port

Port and cheese is a classic combination, and blue cheese is a popular pairing for port wine. Blue cheese is salty, savoury, and spicy, and its strong flavour is balanced by the fruit and nut notes in port. The saltiness of the cheese is key to matching the tannins of the port.

Port and blue cheese is a pairing that can bring out the complexity of both elements. The savoury character of both the cheese and the wine can become more pronounced when they are paired together. Even those who do not consider themselves fans of sweet wine may find a port they enjoy through pairing it with blue cheese.

Blue cheese is a good match for vintage port, which is often chosen for festive occasions. The deep, juicy fruit and balsamic nuances of vintage port complement the intensity of a non-creamy blue cheese.

A ruby port, with its intense red fruit flavours, is another good match for blue cheese. A ruby port can bring a sour cherry pie flavour to a fresh goat's cheese, and the lemon notes of Portuguese thistle rennet cheese will bring out the florality of the wine.

For a tawny port, blue cheese will complement the wine's nutty notes. A mature farmhouse cheddar, with its rich, nutty, and fruity character, is a good choice to pair with an aged tawny port.

Cheddar and Tawny Port

Port wine and cheese is a classic combination, often enjoyed during Christmas. Port wine offers a range of comforting flavours, from sweet and fruity to deep and rich. The saltiness and rich flavour of cheese complement the sweet and powerful flavours of port, making it an ideal pairing.

When it comes to Cheddar and Tawny Port, a strong, salty, creamy and rich vintage cheddar is the ideal pairing. Cheddar, a hard and spicy cheese, can stand up to the strength of this flavoursome wine. The saltiness of the cheese will help balance the tannins present in the port, creating a harmonious match.

To elevate this pairing, consider adding some dried cranberries, prunes, and walnuts. These accompaniments will enhance the flavours of both the cheese and the port, taking the tasting experience to the next level.

For those who enjoy a more mature cheddar, an aged cheddar can also be a wonderful match for a Tawny Port. The intensity of flavours in an aged cheddar can complement the complex notes found in older tawnies.

When creating a cheese platter with Cheddar and Tawny Port, consider including fresh olives, particularly green olives. Their hearty saltiness pairs nicely with the nuttiness of the Tawny Port, adding another layer of flavour to the tasting experience.

Goat's cheese and Port

Port wine and goat cheese is a classic combination. A young Extra Dry white port is a good match for goat's cheese, as its acidity and fruity profile complement the cheese's delicate flavour. A young, fruity port bursting with flavours of cassis, redcurrant, and plum, pairs well with a salty and creamy goat's cheese, emphasising the young fruity flavour of the port. A ruby port, with its intense rich fruity nose, is also a good match for fresh goat cheese, as it takes on a sour cherry pie flavour when paired with it.

Goat's cheese is made from goat milk. Good fresh goat cheese should be moist and creamy, with a clean and fresh flavour. It should be mouthwateringly tangy, but not astringent, lemony, and also milky and balanced. Aged goat cheeses tend to be more approachable, with some being buttery and mellow, with hints of lemon. Firm, aged, and rinded varieties offer flavours of nut skins and cooked milk.

John and Jeanne van Kuyk, organic goat farmers in New Zealand, enjoy their own goat cheese with a glass of port to relax at the end of the day.

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 flavours of the cheese cut through the sweetness and alcohol of the Port wine, creating a sublime match.

The Vintage Port and Stilton combination is a festive favourite, with the bold, rich, fruity and spicy flavours of the Port complementing the savoury, salty, strong flavours of the cheese. The saltiness of the cheese is key to balancing the tannins of the Port, and the creaminess of the Stilton prevents the fat from binding unpleasantly with the tannins, which can happen with other creamy cheeses.

The pairing of Port and Stilton is so iconic, it has become the default pairing for blue cheese and Port more generally. However, this means that Port is often overlooked as a pairing for other cheeses, which is a mistake. Port wines can vary in style, from sweet to savoury, and can be paired with a range of cheeses. For example, a young Extra Dry White Port goes well with goat's cheese, and a 10- or 20-Year-Old Tawny Port is best enjoyed with a dessert or a cigar, rather than cheese.

Port and Stilton is a classic for a reason, but there are many other Port and cheese combinations to explore and enjoy.

Vintage Port and mature blue cheese

Port wine and cheese is a classic combination, and one of the most popular pairings is mature blue cheese with vintage port. This combination is a favourite for festive moments and special occasions.

Vintage ports are powerful, with luscious fruit and assertive tannins, so they need a strong, salty cheese to match. A mature blue cheese, such as Stilton, Roquefort, or Gorgonzola, provides the perfect counterpoint with its intense, salty, savoury, spicy, and nutty flavours. The saltiness of the cheese balances the tannins of the port, creating a sublime pairing.

When creating this pairing, it is important to consider the age of the vintage port and the maturity of the blue cheese. A young vintage port, with strong tannins, will pair well with a salty, mature blue cheese. The saltiness of the cheese will help to balance the tannins in the port. Conversely, an older vintage port, with more subtle tannins, may be overpowered by an overly mature blue cheese. Aim for a balance between the strength of the port and the intensity of the cheese.

To elevate this pairing, consider adding some dried cranberries, prunes, and walnuts. These complementary flavours and textures will enhance your sensory experience.

Whether it's for a festive gathering, a special celebration, or simply an indulgent evening, vintage port and mature blue cheese is a classic combination that is sure to impress and delight.

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