Your Guide to Wine & Cheese
Coffee and cream. Peanut butter and jelly. Wine and cheese. As pairings go, there’s none better than wine and cheese. Though great on their own, something wonderful happens when wine and cheese are enjoyed together. Rich, creamy or salty cheeses complement the acidic and tannic qualities of wine – balancing out the flavors in the mouth and creating delicious harmony. If you’re planning a dinner party or hosting a Wine Tasting and need an idea of where to start, these wine and cheese pairings are matches made in heaven.
Red Wine & Cheese Pairings
Merlot + Gouda
A mild, semi-soft cheese like Gouda is particularly fantastic when paired with a tannic Merlot that showcases plenty of red, ripe fruit.
TRY WITH:
Lumière de Vie 2013 California Merlot
Terroir Cellars 2015 Bergerac, France l’Ouverture
Zinfandel + Havarti
A powerful wine with spicy or smoky flavors like a Zinfandel is counteracted by the mild creaminess of this Danish cow’s milk cheese.
TRY WITH:
Lumière de Vie 2013 California Illumination
Cabernet + Sharp Cheddar
Only a sharp cheese like Cheddar can hold up to the strength of a big, bold Cab (whether it be a Cab Sauvignon or Cab Franc).
TRY WITH:
Harlow Court 2013 North Coast Cabernet Franc
Terroir Cellars 2015 Pays d’Oc, France Cabernet Sauvignon-Petit Verdot
Artisan 5 2013 North Coast Masterpiece
Pinot Noir + Blue Cheese
An earthy Pinot Noir with creamy flavors of berries and plums pairs well with the salty, spicy pungency of a rich blue cheese.
TRY WITH:
Deluge 2012 Carneros Pinot Noir
White Wine & Cheese Pairings
Chardonnay + Camembert
These two form a perfect union. Creamy, soft-ripened Camembert will counteract the acidity of a crisp Chardonnay, enhance a fruity Chardonnay or complement a rich, buttery Chard.
TRY WITH:
Moderna 2014 California Chardonnay
Personalized Chardonnay and Wine Brittle
Sparkling Wine + Brie
A glass of slightly sweet bubbly with good acidity throughout the palate calls for a soft, mild cheese like Brie. Want to take this pairing over the edge? Two words: baked Brie.
TRY WITH:
le Cadeau California Semi-Seco Sparkling Wine
le Cadeau California Rosé Sparkling Wine
Sauvignon Blanc + Goat Cheese
The zip and zest of a Sauvignon Blanc is equaled by the acidity and bite of goat cheese or young goat cheese – called chèvre. This pairing is a classic for a reason.
TRY WITH:
Joy Cellars 2015 Valle Central, Chile Sauvignon Blanc
Lumière de Vie 2016 California Sauvignon Blanc
Muscat + Swiss
A fragrant, invitingly sweet white wine like Muscat is complemented by a mild cheese like Swiss, which allows the flavors of the wine to shine through.
TRY WITH:
Broadmoore Estates California Muscat
Joy Cellars 2015 California Muscat of Alexandria
Moderna 2015 California Artist’s White Blend