Wine and cheese have been paired together since 6000 BC; this is because they are both staples of the Mediterranean diets that were seen in early civilizations. This allows cheese and wine to grow and change over time, enhancing the flavors and combinations depending on what works best. When pairing wine and cheese it is very important to consider what you like in terms of fruit as well as what kind of cheese best fits your taste buds. We don’t want to pick something that you won’t enjoy while still finding something that is a traditional pairing to ensure the best combination. The best way to enjoy wine and cheese is by finding and enjoying whatever you choose as your combination. Her are some traditional wine and cheese pairings based on the characteristics of the wine and cheese.
Fresh Cheese:
Fresh and soft cheeses such as Feta, Mozzarella, Ricotta, and other cheeses in that category have a distinct fresh feel and taste. This feel and taste best pairs with a young fruity red wine such as Pinot Noir, Lorie Cabernet, and even a crisp, dry rose. Saltier cheeses in this category such as feta can be better paired with white off-dry wines to compensate for the saltiness.
Bloomy Cheese:
Bloomy cheeses such as brie, camembert, and robiola have a rind on the outside while the middle is a creamy consistency and has a pungency with more and more age. Tang and saltiness require a traditional sparkling wine such as champagne or most red wines that cancel out the pungency of the cheeses. This category of cheeses is more for the pungent cheese lovers who are looking for something new and exciting.
Hard Cheese:
Most people can identify hard cheeses as Cheddar, Comté, Parmesan, and more that can be seen in common dishes. We suggest that you use a sparkling wine for younger hard cheeses, while some bold, older red wines such as Rioja, Nebbiolo, and Aglianico. These pairings will complement the harder and sharper taste that these cheeses produce.
Blue Cheese:
Blue cheese includes Stilton, Roquefort, and Gorgonzola, and more. The classic wine pairings for blue cheese are Stilton and Port, Gorgonzola Picante and Vin Santo, and Roquefort and Sauternes. These pairings can also include most of the matches as bloomy cheeses, but some white wines such as noble rot sweet wines. Some dessert wines with fruitier flavors can have an impact of chasing the pungent cheese and curating a blend of flavors in your mouth that are quite pleasurable.
Washed-Rind Cheese:
These cheeses are often referred to as the stinky cheese’ and includes Époisses, Reblochon, Vacherin Mont d’Or, and Taleggio. These cheeses have an incredibly pungent nature to them and can often be unappealing for those who aren’t comfortable with certain cheeses or smells. Pairing these types of cheeses with a crisp, dry white wine is often better than drowning out the taste of the cheese with red wine because it can be too overpowering and ruin the characteristics of both the cheese and wine.