Classic cheese platter to serve with wine

In the world of wine, there are a number of classic food pairings: salmon and Pinot Noir, lamb and Merlot and of course wine and cheese. Wine and cheese are such a classic pairing that many people assume that any good wine will go with any good cheese.  We tend to be rule breakers around here  but there are some basic cheese and wine pairing rules that you will want to consider.

Cheese and Wine Pairing Rules

• The saltier the cheese, the sweeter the wine.
• The stronger the cheese, the lighter the wine in terms of body, color and flavor intensity.
• Creamy rich cheeses pair with sparkling wine and white wines. The high fat content of these cheeses distort red wines.
• Sweeter wines will pair with more cheeses than a dry wine
• Sparkling wines go with the greatest variety of cheeses
• What grows together, goes together in other words pair cheeses and wines from the same region.

Classic pairings

• Port  + Roquefort
• Sauternes + Blue cheese
• Sauvignon Blanc + goat cheese
• Sparkling wine + Brie
• Cabernet Sauvignon + aged Gouda

More pairing options

• Gewurztraminer + Swiss and German cheeses
• Viognier + goat and cow bloomy rind and washed rind cheeses
• Riesling + Gouda and savory, washed rind cheeses
• Merlot + sheep cheeses
• Pinot Noir + Manchego

• Sangiovese + Gruyere
• Shiraz + aged cheddar

Want to learn more about Cheese and Wine Pairing? Check out Chef Lenny Redé’s Wine and Cheese pairing course at NW Wine Academy.

Related posts:

1. Wine and Cheese Pairing Class
2. Cheese-a-topia comes to Seattle
3. Asparagus: Wine Friend or Foe?
4. Dedie’s Cheese Fondue