Cheese and Wine Pairing Guide

You may have heard that cheese and wine go well together and bring out the flavors in each other. But how do you know which cheese to eat with wine? A basic rule of thumb is that if it tastes good together then it's fine. But other than that, how do you pair wine and cheese? There are some basic guidelines for pairing the two.

In general, soft cheeses that have stronger flavors go well with white wines. Hard cheeses with milder flavors match red wines better. Sweet, fruity wines can match a wide range of cheeses. Basically, the strong and more pungent the flavor of the cheese, the sweeter your wine should be.

Some common pairings for white wines include champagne with Brie or Camembert cheese. Chardonnay goes well with mild cheeses like mild cheddar and provolone. Gewurztraminer works well with most German cheeses, and Rieslings with Gouda.

For red wines, you can try some sharp cheddar and blue cheese with a cabernet sauvignon or a Shiraz, or gorgonzola with a port wine. Parmigiano-Reggiano and asiago go well with Amarone wines.

If you are setting up a wine pairing party, keep in mind that it is best to have more white wine on hand. More cheeses will go with white wine than red. Also, purchase your cheese in large wedges to make your presentation look nicer. Arrange the cheese on a beautiful serving platter if possible. Serve the cheese at room temperature so that they are easy for your guests to cut and taste the full flavors of the cheese. Let your red wines breathe about 15 minutes prior to your party.