When it comes to smoked cheese, there are a variety of wines and beers that can be paired with it to elevate the dining experience. The right combination of wine and cheese or beer and cheese can create a delightful symphony of flavours that will tantalize the taste buds. The key to a successful pairing is to ensure that neither the wine nor the cheese overpowers the other, creating a harmonious balance of flavours.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Type of cheese | Smoked cheese |
Type of beverage | Sweeter beverages, medium to full-bodied earthy red wine, or beer |
Flavour | Earthy, nutty, slightly fruity |
What You'll Learn
- Medium to full-bodied red wines are a good match for smoked cheese
- Brie and similar soft cheeses go well with white wines
- Blue cheese is best with a bold wine, like a Bordeaux
- Pair smoked cheddar with sweeter drinks to complement its nutty, fruity flavour
- For beer, try pairing a smoky cheese with a smoky beer
Medium to full-bodied red wines are a good match for smoked cheese
When selecting a wine to pair with smoked cheese, look for varieties that are described as medium to full-bodied, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec. These wines have the depth of flavour and structure to balance the smoky, nutty, and sometimes fruity notes of the cheese. The key is to look for wines with earthy or spicy notes that will echo and enhance the flavours of the smoked cheese.
It is worth noting that the specific type of smoked cheese you choose can also influence the wine pairing. For example, a smoked cheddar, with its nutty and slightly fruity flavour, may pair well with a slightly sweeter wine to complement these notes. In contrast, a smoked gouda, with its semi-hard texture and rich, caramelised flavours, might be better suited to a brown ale or a full-bodied red wine that can stand up to its bold taste.
When creating a cheese board with smoked cheese, consider including a variety of wines to experiment with. You could offer a range of medium to full-bodied red wines, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, or even a spicy Shiraz. By providing a selection, your guests can explore and discover their preferred combinations, as personal taste plays a significant role in wine and cheese pairings.
Additionally, remember that the intensity of both the wine and the cheese can influence the pairing. A strongly flavoured smoked cheese, such as a smoked gouda or cheddar, may overpower a lighter or more delicate wine. Therefore, it is generally recommended to pair medium to full-bodied red wines with smoked cheese to ensure a balanced and enjoyable tasting experience.
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Brie and similar soft cheeses go well with white wines
When it comes to wine and cheese pairings, it's widely believed that wine is cheese's best friend. While there are many types of cheese and wine to choose from, let's focus on Brie and similar soft cheeses, and why they go well with white wines.
Brie is a soft-ripened cheese that originated in the Brie district of France. It is usually made from cow's milk but can also be made with sheep's milk. The texture is soft and velvety, with a rich, buttery feel and a mildly nutty flavour. The edible rind adds a touch of earthiness, and the finish is slightly fruity. When choosing a wine to pair with Brie, it's important to consider the other items on the plate as well as the wine's characteristics.
For white wines, the best pairings are light to medium-bodied styles with good acidity. Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent choice, offering crisp acidity to cut through the richness of Brie. A Loire Valley Sancerre, with its vibrant acidity and lively citrus and herbaceous notes, creates a refreshing contrast. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is also a great option, with more green bell pepper and tropical fruit notes.
Another fantastic choice is Riesling, which has lively acidity to balance the creaminess of Brie. The wine's fruity notes, such as green apple, citrus, and stone fruits, complement the mild flavour of Brie. Riesling's floral and mineral undertones add complexity to the pairing. For a dry style, try Alsace Riesling, and for sweeter options, explore Germany's offerings.
Champagne and other sparkling wines are also wonderful companions to Brie. The effervescence and high acidity of these wines act as a palate cleanser, refreshing your taste buds between bites. The toasty and nutty notes in Champagne complement Brie's earthy undertones. Look for traditional method sparklers, where the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle.
In summary, when pairing white wines with Brie and similar soft cheeses, opt for light to medium-bodied varieties with good acidity. Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and sparkling wines like Champagne are excellent choices, offering a refreshing contrast to the creamy cheese while enhancing its subtle flavours.
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Blue cheese is best with a bold wine, like a Bordeaux
Smoked cheese is a broad category, and different types of smoked cheese will go well with different wines and beers. For example, a blue cheese is best served with a bold wine, like a Bordeaux.
Blue cheese is a strong-flavoured, salty cheese with a distinctive look and taste. Its flavour is both mellowed and enhanced by a sweet wine. A glass of Sauternes, the sweet wine of Bordeaux, is a perfect pairing. Sauternes is characterised by notes of stone fruits and honey, with a nutty finish. The high salt content of blue cheese tempers the sweetness of Sauternes, creating a delightful combination.
Bordeaux is a particularly well-suited wine region for cheese pairings because of the breadth of excellent wines from the area. The region's reds, with their robust tannins, pair well with blue cheeses, as the tannins harmonise with the creaminess of the cheese. Bordeaux also produces sweet and white wines that complement blue cheese. Young red Bordeaux wines have a lot of character, brightness, and tannins, and pair well with hard cows' milk cheeses with distinct flavours.
When it comes to wine and cheese pairings, the basic principle is to either match or contrast the characteristics of the cheese. For instance, creamy cheeses like Brie typically pair better with wines that have more acidity, such as a refreshing, dry white Bordeaux. Similarly, sharp or aged cheeses are best served with full-bodied red Bordeaux wines to complement their bold flavours.
While wine is considered cheese's best friend, beer is also a great option for those who want to explore different pairings. For example, a refreshing lager or a crisp pilsner can cut through the richness of a creamy cheese. On the other hand, a bold, roasted malt flavour of a stout or porter can stand up to the strong flavours of a blue cheese.
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Pair smoked cheddar with sweeter drinks to complement its nutty, fruity flavour
Pairing wine and cheese is a well-known tradition, but beer is also a good match for cheese. In fact, beer may even be the superior choice, as it is made with cereal grasses—the very food that cows use to create milk. Beer's carbonation also cuts through the creamy fattiness of cheese, making it a refreshing palate cleanser.
When it comes to smoked cheddar, a sweeter beverage is the way to go to complement its nutty, slightly fruity flavour. A fruit beer, for example, would make a good match. If you're looking for a wine pairing, a medium-bodied red like Cabernet Sauvignon is a good option for hard cheeses like cheddar.
If you're feeling adventurous, you could also try pairing your smoked cheddar with a non-alcoholic drink. A cup of hot chocolate or a refreshing glass of lavender lemonade could be an interesting contrast to the cheese's smoky flavour. For a fun twist, you might even experiment with different types of tea. An aged Oolong or a fermented tea like Pu'er can stand up to the strong flavour of smoked cheddar, providing a refreshing alternative to alcohol.
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For beer, try pairing a smoky cheese with a smoky beer
When pairing a smoky cheese with a smoky beer, you could try a smoked or aged Gouda with a Heineken (Euro Pale Lager) or a Newcastle Brown Ale (English Brown Ale). Alternatively, a smoked Gouda pairs well with a Paulaner Hefe-Weizen (German Wheat Beer).
If you're looking for a non-beer pairing, a smoked cheese goes well with a medium to full-bodied earthy red wine.
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Frequently asked questions
Smoked beers are one of the most polarising styles of beer, but they can go well with a cheese plate. Try a German rauchbier, which is a smoke-infused brew with intense flavours and aromas. Alternatively, opt for a refreshing wheat ale or a dark lager.
When pairing wine with smoked cheese, it's best to start by choosing the wine and then selecting the cheese to go with it. A strong wine should not be paired with a weak cheese, and vice versa. Try a full-bodied wine with a sharp or aged cheese, or a lighter wine such as a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc with a milder cheese.
A German lager like Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen is a good option, as it has a bonfire aroma and porky notes. If you want something a little different, try a beer flavoured with chipotle chiles, vanilla beans, or chocolate and orange peel.
A Chardonnay or a white wine with little oak flavour goes nicely with soft cheese like gouda.
It's important to remember that everyone has different taste preferences, so it's a good idea to pick at least one white and one red wine or a variety of beers to sample with your smoked cheese.