Bushra Griffith
Wine and cheese are a classic combination, and finding the perfect wine to complement your cheese can enhance the flavours of both. The best wine to pair with cheddar depends on its maturity—a mild cheddar will be easier to match than a sharp, well-matured cheddar. A dry red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon, with its dark fruit and herb notes, is a good match for extra sharp cheddars, as the wine's body helps bring out the bold flavour of the cheese. Chardonnays, particularly those aged in oak, also pair well with sharp cheddars, bringing out the fruitiness of the wine and the mellowness of the cheese. If you're looking for a red wine with earthy notes to go with your sharp cheddar, a Pinot Noir is a good choice. For those who enjoy a glass of white, a dry or off-dry Riesling or a South African old vine Chenin Blanc are also good options.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wine Type | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Riesling, Cape White, Chenin Blanc, Malbsey Madeira |
| Cheese Type | Sharp Cheddar, Extra Sharp Cheddar, Aged Cheddar, Semi-Hard Cheddar, Vermont Sharp Cheddar, Seriously Sharp Cheddar, Garlic Herb Cheddar |
| Flavour | Dry, Dark Fruits, Herbs, Understated, Bold, Earthy, Sweet, Tart, Fruity, Oaky, Rich, Full-Bodied, Light-Bodied, Dry Fruitiness, Complex, Smooth |
| Other | Tannins, Fat Content, Citrus Notes, Tobacco Notes, Oak Content, Garlic, Herb |
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Cabernet Sauvignon
When selecting a cheddar to pair with Cabernet Sauvignon, opt for a semi-hard, sharp, and aged cow's milk cheese. The slight crunch and rich, nutty flavours of an aged cheddar will highlight the berry notes in the wine, while the cheese's fat content will bind with the wine's tannins, cleansing the palate. A good example of this type of cheddar is Vermont's Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, which has been a past favourite pairing with Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon.
Aged cheddars tend to be the best pairing for various styles of Cabernet Sauvignon, as they have just the right amount of flavour and fat content to balance the wine's tannins while bringing out its citrus notes. The sharp, salty, and nutty characteristics of an aged cheddar will add complexity to the wine's boldness.
If you're looking for a more neutral pairing, where the cheese and wine hold their own without enhancing each other, try an English cow's milk cheese like Keen's Cheddar. The nutty flavour, earthiness, and slight crunch of this cheese will elevate the dark fruit flavours in older vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon.
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Merlot
When it comes to wine and cheese, a classic combination that never goes out of style, the goal is to find a pairing that complements each other without overpowering either component. A versatile red wine, Merlot is known for its dry fruitiness and pairs well with a variety of foods, including different types of cheese.
A sharp cheddar is a crowd favourite in the cheese world and is a perfect match for Merlot. The bold, sharp flavours of Cheddar contrast nicely with the rich and smooth characteristics of a Merlot. The wine's acidity and tannins cut through the fat in the cheese, creating a harmonious balance of flavours. The Merlot will showcase the bold flavours of the cheese, bringing out the sharpness as well as the more subtle nutty flavours.
Garlic Herb Cheddar cheese is another excellent choice to pair with Merlot. The sharpness of the cheese and the garlic and herb flavours add an extra layer of flavour that complements the fruitiness of the Merlot. The garlic and herb also provide a contrast to the wine's smoothness, making the pairing even more enjoyable.
For a wine that is less dry and more compatible with heavy and light taste profiles, Merlot is a better choice than its cousin, Cabernet Sauvignon. However, a dry red Cabernet Sauvignon is also a good pairing with sharp cheddar as the full body of the wine helps bring out the bold flavour qualities of a strong cheese.
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Chardonnay
When selecting a Chardonnay to pair with sharp cheddar, consider the wine's oak content. Chardonnays aged in oak complement the bold and sophisticated flavours of sharp cheddar. This pairing enhances the fruitiness of the wine and the mellowness of the cheese. The oak flavours in oaked Chardonnays also complement the nutty notes in cheddar, adding a layer of complexity to the taste experience.
For a classic combination, opt for a light and crisp Chardonnay with soft cheddar cheese. The sweetness of the Chardonnay will balance out the sharpness of the cheddar, allowing the subtle flavours to come through. This pairing is delicious on its own or with fresh fruit. Try an unoaked Chardonnay with mild cheddar and sliced apples or pears to enhance the taste sensations.
If you prefer a more complex pairing, try an unoaked Chardonnay with sharp cheddar. In this combination, the wine will soften the sharpness of the cheese while retaining its fruity notes. The acidity of the Chardonnay will also cut through the richness of the cheese, making it less overwhelming on the palate. The creamy texture of mild cheddars blends well with the fruitiness of the wine, resulting in a balanced and harmonious taste.
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Pinot Noir
When it comes to wine and cheese pairings, the right combination can accentuate and bring forth richer flavours, creating an amazing sensory experience. The best wine to pair with cheddar depends on its maturity. A mild to medium block cheddar will be easier to match than a well-aged, extra sharp cheddar.
If you're looking for a wine to pair with a sharp cheddar, Pinot Noir is an excellent choice. This light to medium-bodied red wine has dry characteristics and ripe red fruit flavours, with earthy notes and hints of strawberry. The dryness of Pinot Noir will complement the bold, sharp flavours of cheddar, while its fruitiness will provide a nice contrast. The wine's earthy notes will also go well with the nutty, cold flavours of cheddar, especially if it's a Vermont sharp cheddar.
When pairing wine with sharp cheddar, it's important to consider the wine's characteristics and how they will interact with the cheese's strong flavours. The dryness and fruitiness of Pinot Noir will lift and enhance the sharp cheddar, creating a well-rounded sensory experience.
While Pinot Noir is a great choice for sharp cheddar, there are also other wines worth considering. Cabernet Sauvignon, a dry red wine with dark fruit and herb notes, can bring out the strong flavours of extra sharp cheddar. The wine's boldness and mouth-drying tannins pair well with the fattiness of aged cheddar, creating a complementary balance. Merlot is another versatile red wine that goes well with sharp, tangy cheeses. The dryness and fruitiness of Merlot create a delightful contrast with the sharpness of cheddar, especially when paired with a Garlic Herb Cheddar.
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Chilean Cabernet Sauvignons
When it comes to wine and cheese pairings, finding the right balance between the two is key to enhancing the flavours of both. Cabernet Sauvignons are known for their bold, dry red profile, featuring understated hints of dark fruits, herbs, and mouth-drying tannins. To balance this, a semi-hard cheese with some age, such as a sharp cheddar, is an excellent choice. The cheese's sharpness, nuttiness, and slight crunch elevate the dark fruit flavours in the wine, while the wine's tannins bind to the cheese's protein and fat, creating a harmonious and well-rounded pairing experience.
When selecting a cheddar cheese to pair with Chilean Cabernet Sauvignons, consider the maturity of the cheese. Aged cheddars tend to be saltier, sharper, and crumbly, making them a perfect match for the wine's bold flavours. The sharpness and richness of the cheese are balanced by the wine's robust structure and tannins, resulting in a harmonious combination.
In addition to the cheese's maturity, the specific flavour notes of the cheddar can also enhance the pairing experience. For example, Keen's Cheddar from England has a nutty flavour, earthiness, and slight crunch that pairs exceptionally well with the dark fruit flavours found in older Chilean Cabernet Sauvignons. The nuttiness of the cheese brings out a lovely, slightly bitter walnut note in the wine's tannins, creating a complex and intriguing flavour profile.
When creating a wine and cheese pairing, it's important to remember that the goal is to find a balance where the flavours of both the wine and the cheese complement each other without overpowering one another. While cheddar cheese is a versatile and safe choice for Chilean Cabernet Sauvignons, feel free to experiment with other semi-hard, aged cheeses with higher fat content to discover your perfect pairing.
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Frequently asked questions
The best wine to pair with sharp cheddar cheese depends on its maturity. Aged, sharp cheddars with saltier, bolder, and crumbly textures are best paired with dry, red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine's high tannin content and notes of dark fruit, tobacco, and leather complement the cheese's strong, nutty flavour.
Merlot is a versatile red wine that pairs well with Garlic Herb Cheddar cheese. The wine's dry fruitiness and complex notes complement the cheese's sharpness and herb flavour. Pinot Noir, a light to medium-bodied red wine with dry characteristics and ripe red fruit flavours, is another good option.
Yes, Chardonnays aged in oak are said to complement sharp cheddar cheese's bold and sophisticated flavours. This pairing brings out the fruitiness of the wine and the mellowness of the cheese.
