The Best Wines To Pair With Feta Cheese

Feta cheese is a rich, salty, and acidic Greek delicacy with a strong character. Its versatility as a table cheese, in salads, and savoury pies makes it a unique ingredient to pair with wine. While Greek wine is the obvious starting point, particularly white wine, which suits its sharpness and saltiness, there are several other wines from around the world that can complement this strong-flavoured cheese.

Greek wines, especially whites, are a good starting point

Assyrtiko, a Greek white wine, is a classic pairing for feta cheese. It is often enjoyed with traditional Greek dishes such as the classic Greek salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and olives. Assyrtiko also pairs well with other salads that feature feta, such as a watermelon and feta salad or a whipped feta dish. For a baked feta recipe, a Greek white wine with a touch of oak or an older vintage is recommended.

Other Greek white wines that complement feta cheese include Moschofilero and Sauvignon Blanc. These crisp, dry Greek whites are excellent matches for feta, as they can stand up to the cheese's strong flavour and acidity. Sauvignon Blanc, in particular, is known for its grassy and capsicum characters, which work well with feta's salty and spicy notes.

When enjoying feta cheese in a salad or savoury pie, a high-acid Assyrtiko from Santorini or a Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé are excellent choices. These wines have the acidity and structure to balance the richness and saltiness of feta. Additionally, a sparkling Xinomavro rosé from Amynteo or a dry rosato from Veneto can be delightful pairings for a watermelon salad with feta.

Sauvignon Blanc is a great choice

Feta cheese is a rich, salty, and acidic Greek sheep's milk cheese with a strong character. When it comes to wine pairings, a structured, high-acidity wine is the best choice to complement these flavour profiles.

When selecting a Sauvignon Blanc to pair with feta, consider a wine from Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé. These French regions are renowned for producing high-quality Sauvignon Blanc wines with a strong personality that can stand up to the bold flavours of feta.

In addition to its classic pairing with goat cheese, Sauvignon Blanc also pairs well with grilled dishes, such as grilled lamb served with feta. The wine's acidity and freshness complement the grilled flavours, creating a harmonious combination.

For a well-rounded dining experience, consider serving feta with a Greek salad, which typically includes tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and olives. The crispness of Sauvignon Blanc will refresh the palate between bites, enhancing the flavours of both the food and the wine.

Beaujolais/Gamay is a good red option

Feta cheese is a rich, salty, and acidic Greek sheep's cheese with a strong character. It is one of the world's oldest cheeses and is often used in salads and savoury pies.

When it comes to wine, feta is typically paired with white wines, such as Greek Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc, or other crisp, dry whites. However, if you're looking for a red wine option, Beaujolais/Gamay is an excellent choice. Beaujolais/Gamay is a light, soft red wine that can complement the salty and spicy notes of feta. It has a good structure and high acidity, which is essential when pairing with feta cheese. The high acidity of Beaujolais/Gamay cuts through the richness of the cheese, creating a pleasant contrast.

Beaujolais/Gamay also has a fruity character, which can enhance the feta's flavour profile. The wine's bright, red fruit notes, such as strawberry and raspberry, can add a layer of complexity to the pairing. Additionally, Beaujolais/Gamay is known for its smooth and elegant tannins, ensuring a pleasant drinking experience.

When serving feta with Beaujolais/Gamay, consider dishes that showcase the cheese's versatility. Feta can be the star of salads, adding a salty kick, or it can be baked, grilled, or used in savoury pies. The salty, tangy notes of feta will be balanced by the acidity and fruitiness of Beaujolais/Gamay, creating a delightful sensory experience.

So, while white wines are the traditional choice for feta, don't be afraid to explore the red wine option of Beaujolais/Gamay. Its high acidity, fruity notes, and smooth tannins make it a perfect companion for the robust and salty feta cheese.

Crisp, dry whites with high acidity are best

Feta cheese is a rich, salty and acidic Greek sheep's cheese with a strong character. It is best paired with structured, high-acidity wines. Crisp, dry whites with high acidity are a great choice to match the strong flavour of feta.

A classic pairing for feta cheese is a crisp, dry white wine with high acidity, such as a Sauvignon Blanc. This variety provides a great starting point, whether from Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé in France, or from Marlborough in New Zealand. A crisp, dry white Sauvignon Blanc will also complement the ingredients often paired with feta, such as tomatoes, olives, courgettes (zucchini) and watermelon.

Other crisp, dry Greek whites that will match well with feta include Assyrtico (or Assyrtiko), and Moschofilero. These wines will also suit the classic Greek salad of tomatoes, cucumber, onion and olives, as well as other salads such as watermelon and feta. A Greek white with a touch of oak or a slightly older vintage will pair well with a baked feta dish.

In addition to Greek wines, Spain’s Albarino and Portugal's Alvarinho also have the clean, fresh sharpness that would suit feta-based dishes.

IPAs and ales also pair well

Feta cheese is a rich, salty and acidic sheep's milk cheese from Greece. It is a soft, brined cheese with small holes and no skin. It is often used as a table cheese and in salads. Its strong flavour pairs well with almost any fruit, vegetable, herb or spice.

When it comes to wine, feta is typically matched with white wines, such as Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio. These crisp, dry white wines complement the sharpness and saltiness of the cheese. Greek wines are an obvious choice, particularly for traditional Greek dishes like the Greek salad. However, wines from other regions, such as Spain's Albarino and Portugal's Alvarinho, can also be excellent pairings.

IPAs and ales also pair very well with feta cheese. The bitterness and carbonation of IPAs and ales can help cut through the richness and saltiness of the cheese, creating a balanced and refreshing combination. The carbonation can also help to cleanse the palate, making each bite or sip feel like a new experience.

When considering an IPA or ale pairing, look for beers with a strong enough personality to stand up to the bold flavours of feta. Hoppy IPAs, for example, can provide a nice contrast to the cheese's saltiness, while a citrusy ale might complement the cheese's acidity. The specific type of IPA or ale you choose will depend on your personal preference and the particular characteristics of the feta you're pairing it with.

Additionally, consider the other ingredients in your dish. For example, if you're enjoying a baked feta and tomato pasta, a Greek white wine with a touch of oak might be a better match. On the other hand, if you're having a watermelon and feta salad, an off-dry sparkling rosé or a dry rosato could be a delightful pairing.

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