Goat Cheese Souffle: The Perfect Wine Pairing Guide

A goat's cheese soufflé is a delicious dish, but what wine should you pair with it? Well, it depends on the type of goat's cheese you use. If you're using a firm, aged goat's cheese, a full-bodied wine will work well. However, if you're using a fresh, tangy goat's cheese, a crisp, dry white wine is a better choice. Some specific wine recommendations include Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc. These wines will complement the tangy, earthy flavours of the goat's cheese and enhance the dining experience. So, the next time you're planning a meal featuring a goat's cheese soufflé, keep these wine pairings in mind!

Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley

When it comes to wine, Sauvignon Blanc is the variety that is most associated with the Loire Valley. It is a wine that inspires strong feelings, with drinkers either loving or despising its pungent and aromatic qualities.

Sauvignon Blanc is a great wine to pair with goat's cheese, and the Loire Valley in France is renowned for producing some of the finest goat's cheeses in the world. The Loire Valley's Sauvignon Blanc wines are acidic, mineral-driven, and citrusy, and they work beautifully with goat's cheese, adding herbal flavours to the creaminess of the cheese.

If you are looking for a specific Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley to pair with your goat's cheese soufflé, there are several options to consider. For example, the Chateau de la Presle - Sauvignon Blanc is produced by a family-run domaine situated between the Loire and its tributary, the Cher. Les Deux Moulins - Sauvignon Blanc is another option, produced in vineyards made up of gravel and schist soils, which give the wine a vibrant and long-lasting flavour. Les Nuages - Sauvignon Blanc is produced by a major cooperative in the region, Les Caves de la Loire, which brings together 140-150 winemakers and represents 4,000 acres of vineyards.

When pairing Sauvignon Blanc with goat's cheese soufflé, it is best to avoid oaky wines, as they tend to have less of the acidity and minerality that complement the cheese so well. Instead, look for wines from the Touraine, Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, or Saint Bris appellations, which are known for their excellent Sauvignon Blancs.

Crisp, dry rosé

A goat's cheese soufflé is a delicate dish, so you'll want to avoid wines that will overwhelm its flavour. A crisp, dry rosé is an excellent choice to pair with a goat's cheese soufflé. The dryness and crispness of the wine will complement the tangy, fresh goat's cheese, without being too overpowering.

Rosé wines are typically made from a blend of red and white grape varieties. The exact blend will depend on the winemaker's style and preference, but common red grape varieties used include Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre. White grape varieties used in rosé wines include Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Vermentino, and Viura.

When choosing a rosé to pair with a goat's cheese soufflé, consider a Provençal rosé. These wines are typically dry and crisp, with a light, refreshing quality that pairs well with the soufflé's airy texture. The crispness of the wine will also cut through the richness of the soufflé, cleansing your palate between bites.

In addition to its flavour, a crisp, dry rosé will also complement the colour of a goat's cheese soufflé. The pale pink hue of the wine will echo the golden brown of the soufflé, creating a visually appealing pairing.

When serving a goat's cheese soufflé with a crisp, dry rosé, aim to serve the wine chilled. This will further enhance the refreshing quality of the wine and provide a pleasant contrast to the warm soufflé.

Pinot Noir from Oregon or Washington

A goat cheese souffle is a delicate dish, and the wine pairing should reflect that. While goat cheese is often paired with Sauvignon Blanc, red wines can also be a good match. Pinot Noir from Oregon or Washington is an excellent choice to accompany a goat cheese souffle.

Pinot Noir is a versatile red wine that pairs well with a variety of dishes, from charcuterie and cold meats to grilled asparagus and spring vegetables. It is also a classic wine match for duck and can complement salmon or tuna, depending on the preparation and style of Pinot Noir. The key is to look for lighter, cooler-climate Pinots that won't overwhelm the subtle flavours of the souffle.

Oregon and Washington, particularly the Willamette Valley, produce some outstanding Pinot Noirs that are well-suited to goat cheese. These wines often have a lighter style with more herbaceous notes and bright acidity, creating a delightful combination with the tangy and pungent flavours of the souffle.

When selecting a Pinot Noir from Oregon or Washington, look for wines from cooler regions such as the Columbia Gorge or the Willamette Valley. These areas offer a more suitable climate for the Pinot Noir grape, resulting in elegant wines that showcase the varietal's characteristic red fruit and earthy notes.

By choosing a Pinot Noir from Oregon or Washington, you'll be discovering the unique expression of this varietal in these regions while also enjoying a delightful pairing with your goat cheese souffle.

Spanish Rueda

If you're looking for a wine to pair with a goat's cheese soufflé, a Spanish Rueda could be a great choice. While goat's cheese is often paired with Sauvignon Blanc, a goat's cheese soufflé may include other cheeses, and so a wider range of wines can be considered.

Rueda is a region in Spain that produces some amazing wines, despite being relatively unknown. The area is a patchwork of vineyards on the flat high plains south of Valladolid, and is home to a rare indigenous white grape called Verdejo. Rueda wines are typically refreshing, and well-made varieties will develop more toasted almond and orange peel notes as they age.

Verdejo is a very old grape that was supposedly brought to the region over 1000 years ago, before the Moorish rule of Iberia. The grape fell out of favour during the early 1900s, but was saved in the 1970s with the help of Rioja producer, Marques de Riscal. Today, Verdejo is very hard to find outside of Rueda, with only a few producers in California and Virginia.

Wines labelled as 'Rueda Verdejo' must contain at least 85% Verdejo, and many are 100% Verdejo. Wines labelled simply as 'Rueda' may contain up to 50% Sauvignon Blanc and other white grapes, a style that is gaining in popularity.

When pairing wine with food, a good rule of thumb is 'what grows together, goes together'. So, if you're looking for a wine to accompany your goat's cheese soufflé, a Spanish Rueda could be a great choice to transport you to the sunny vineyards of Spain.

Greek Moschofilero

A Greek Moschofilero is a great wine to pair with goat's cheese and feta. It is a fragrant and floral white wine with hints of stone fruit and citrus. Moschofilero is an aromatic white grape of Greek origin with a pink/purple skin and a spicy flavour with good acidity. It is grown throughout Greece, particularly in the Peloponnese region, and is used to make dry and bold wines with a lot of spice and perfume.

The Peloponnese region is known for its Mantineia Plateau, where the Moschofilero grape is grown. This grape is the most aromatic member of the fileri grape family and is mainly used to produce white wines with characteristic grey or orange hues. These wines are light and have good acidity, often carrying notes of muscat, frankincense, fresh herbs, and white-fleshed fruits.

Moschofilero wines are versatile, producing not just white wines but also sparkling and rosé varieties. The wines maintain their light body and titillating acidity across various styles, whether they are still, sparkling, or oaked to be fatty and full.

When pairing wine with goat's cheese, it is important to remember that goat's cheese is a blank slate, ready to be impressed upon. It is a tart, earthy blank slate that pairs well with acidic, mineral-driven, and citrusy wines. Greek Moschofilero wines offer a unique blend of aromatic complexity and refreshing acidity, making them an excellent choice for those interested in exploring Greek wines.

In summary, Greek Moschofilero is a versatile and aromatic wine that pairs well with goat's cheese and feta. It offers a range of flavours, from floral and fruity notes to spice and perfume, all underpinned by good acidity. Its light body and refreshing taste make it a delightful choice for those looking to explore the diverse world of Greek wines.

Frequently asked questions