by Rachel Voorhees
Wine and Cheese Pairings
To me, wine and cheese are like peanut butter and jelly. I really don’t like to have one without the other. Although there are no rules set in stone about pairing wine and cheese, there are some guidelines to follow as well as classic pairings. Think crisp Sauvignon Blanc paired with fresh goat cheese, Sauternes paired with Roquefort or a Port paired with Stilton.
Did you know your local BevMo! store not only carries a wide variety of wine from all over the world, but also carries cheese? It is one stop shopping at its best. Here are my favorite wine and cheese picks from BevMo! right in time for all of those holiday parties and family gatherings. You’ll undoubtedly host the best holiday party of the season.
Bubbles paired with cheese
If you are anything like me, I love starting off any festive occasion, or any occasion for that matter, with bubbles. I especially love Champagne with creamy double and triple-crèmes, such as Brie, Fromager d’Affinois or Brillat-Savarin. The bubbles do a wonderful job cleansing your palate and help break down the acids and fats of the cheese. Champagne and other sparkling wines also have a degree of acidity and sweetness that gives them a special affinity for certain cheeses, especially these rich, buttery types.
Try the Nicolas Feuillatte Brut from BevMo. It’s elegant, buttery and rich with wonderful apple skin lemon and honey notes.
White wine cheese pairings
To broadly generalize, you’ll find that rich white wines will pair with softer-textured cheeses like Brie, although white wines pair with all types of cheese, soft or firm, mild or pungent. Dry whites pair well with soft cheeses, especially those with mild flavors, while whites with crisp acidity go well with acidic goat cheeses.
Perhaps two of my go-to white wine and cheese pairings hail from France. I love Crottin de Chavignol, a goat cheese, which is made in town of Chavignol, just 2 miles from Sancerre in the Loire Valley of France. Like I always say when it comes to food and wine pairing, “what grows together goes together”.
Try the 2011 Domaine Vacheron Sancerre from BevMo! It’s light and crisp with racy acidity and pairs wonderfully with acidic goat cheese. This regional pairing is one for the record books and is absolutely delicious together.
Another favorite white wine and cheese pairing of mine is Chenin Blanc, also from the Loire Valley in France, paired with Chèvre, also a French goat cheese. Try the 2008 Domaine Pichot Vouvray from BevMo. It’s fruity, smooth and playful with wonderful peach, pear and citrus blossom notes.
Red wine cheese pairings
Traditionally, red wines do well with firm cheeses, especially firm, aged cheeses. Red wines also pair nicely with more pungent cheese. Beware of softer-textured cheeses, which can make red wines taste thin and flabby, while emphasizing the tannins.
One of my favorite classic pairings is aged Parmigiano-Reggiano with Chianti. This is another regional pairing that works beautifully together. Real aged Parmigiano-Reggiano is a hard cheese with an excellent nutty crumble. The ripe red fruit and the acidity of Chianti wines balance well with the richness and saltiness of aged Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Try the 2009 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico It’s an excellent food wine that is smooth and supple. Nice red fruits, well structured with an elegant finish and freshness.
Dry red wines with ample tannins, such as Bordeaux, gloriously pair with firm aged cheeses such as cheddar. Try the 2006 Chateau La Guillaumette Bordeaux it has delicious currant notes, both black and red, dried tealeaves and cedar. The best part? La Guillaumette is a Bordeaux you can enjoy without taking out a second mortgage on your house!
Port wine cheese pairing
Pungent, stinky, salty and delicious? Bring on the Stilton. Ruby Port paired with Stilton blue cheese or even earthy aged cheddar is classic and heavenly. The rich creaminess, sharpness and saltiness of Stilton paired with the sweetness of Ruby Port, which has the body of a fortified wine, creates an elegant and classic pairing. Try the Fonseca Ruby Porto with beautiful fresh intense blackberry and plum fruits, sweet and fresh.
Enjoy your wine and cheese-shopping trip at your local BevMo! Your taste buds will thank you; over and over again.
