How to Pair Wine and Cheese

Cheese and wine go together like… well, cheese and wine.

Pairing the right wine with the right cheese can elevate your cheese eating experience to the next level. Luckily for you, it’s not that difficult to master.

And, if nothing else, you get to enjoy plates of cheese and a glasses of wine as you test out combinations. Here at Angle 33, we call that a win.

If you remember from our blog “Which Wines Go Best With What Food?”, the best food-wine combinations either match flavor profiles (like attracts like) or contrast them and cut through otherwise overpowering flavors. 

For cheeses, this same rule applies.

Before we get into the nitty gritty here’s one easy-to-remember tip: cheeses and wines that are born in the same region (northern California, southern France etc... ) can really compliment one another. It’s a simple way to start your pairing journey that even has a catchy slogan “what grows together, goes together.”

Now, here are five common cheeses and their perfect wine counterpart.

Chevre (goat’s milk)

Perfect match: Sauvignon Blanc

Why: Not only do these (usually) both come from the Loire Valley, but the high acid content of this white wine helps to cut through the fatty, creaminess of the cheese. Additionally,  sommeliers describe Sauvignon Blanc as having earthy, grassy undertones which matches those same undertones found in chevre. 

Firm

Perfect match: Dry sherry (like Amontillado)

Why: A classic like-attracts-like combo. Most firm cheeses have a nutty flavor, which matches the nuttiness of an oxidized, dry sherry perfectly.

Soft (like Taleggio)

Perfect match: Pinot noir

Why: Soft cheeses tend to have subtle flavors, so you don’t want a wine that’s too overpowering to taste those quiet undertones. Pinot noir fits the bill perfectly. Not only does it have a light flavor profile, but it’s also acidic enough to cut through the creamy texture of a soft cheese.

Blue

Perfect match: Port

Why: This classic dessert wine has the sweetness to offset the salty, funky, stinky flavors of a blue cheese. The sweeter the port, the crazier you can get with the cheese.

Fondue

Perfect match: Riesling

Why: The sweet, fruitiness of a nice Riesling compliments the robust nuttiness of fondue, creating an amazing salty-sweet experience. Plus Riesling is dry and crisp, a great contrast to the richness of this melty cheese.

Choosing the perfect wine-cheese combo all comes down to personal preference. The only way to find your perfect match is to eat a lot of cheese and drink a lot of wine — not a bad way to spend your time.

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