Cheese and Wine Pairings for Your Next Get Together

Wine and cheese pairings are an age-old tradition and they’re one of the easiest ways to add some fun to your next party.

Wine and cheese pairings have to be well thought out thanks to the variable flavors and textures they have to offer. There are a variety of factors involved, such as fats and acidity levels of the cheese in question, and the tannins in the wine that you plan to offer.

Given the complexity of these pairings, we decided to put together a little guide for you. Instead of trying to name exotic cheeses to pair with a wine you’ve never heard of, we designed a framework to help you create your own pairings that will allow you to go wild with your combinations.

What Are The Six Categories of Cheese?

There are six categories of cheese. Let’s get to know them::

Fresh

Fresh cheese is soft and unaged and is made with cow, goat, or sheep’s milk. These cheeses are bright in color and usually come with a mild flavor.

Bloomy

A cheese covered in white mold in ‘bloom’ patterns. Usually rich in flavor, they’re easy to spread over other edible items, and the rind is edible as well.

Semi-soft

A creamy cheese that is practically unbreakable and hard to spread; however, they slice well, and can be melted very easily. These cheeses are soft at first but become hard as they age.

Washed rind

A cheese that’s been washed in a liquid-like brine or beer, and now comes with an orange-tinted rind. Usually rich and creamy in texture, but it tends to be smelly, that is fine to some and horrible to others.

Hard

A cheese that’s been aged, and will break into shards or crumbs when pressure is applied to it. These cheeses usually taste nutty, and can also carry a salty undertone.

Blue

A soft cheese that features blue, moldy veins running through the body. Blue cheese can be sharp in taste, but it can be equally soft and mild.

What Are The Different Types of Cheese?

There are several different types of cheese so let’s dive in and get to know some of them :

Mozzarella

A fresh cheese that carries a sweet taste that can also be creamy when consumed immediately after production.

Burrata

Another fresh cheese that’s part of the mozzarella family with a hard exterior that breaks into a creamy center.

Chèvre (goat)

A fresh cheese that’s easy to spread, and tends to be tangy in taste and crumbly in texture. A lot of people tend to describe this cheese as rich.

Feta

A fresh cheese that’s been washed in brine that tends to be salty as well as creamy with a nutty taste to it.

Ricotta

A fresh cheese that is made up of different parts from other types of cheese. It has a hard cheese whey combined with milk that gives it a sweet taste that’s also easy to consume.

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What Are Some Excellent Cheese and Wine Pairings?

If you want some examples of excellent cheese and wine pairings, we’ve got some fantastic samples to get you started:

Blue Cheese and Riesling

Blue Cheese tends to be mild, so a similar wine taste is required here. Riesling is an excellent wine to combine with Blue Cheese, thanks to the low amount of tannins in the wine, so it does not taste bitter.

Goat Cheese and Sauvignon Blanc

Goat cheese tends to be a fresh cheese but can have multiple factors. Sauvignon Blanc ensures that the acidity in the goat cheese does not overpower the taste of the wine, thanks to a similar amount of acidity.

Cheddar and Cabernet Sauvignon

Cheddar can have a mixed flavor, so it pairs well with a wine that has a long-lasting aftertaste to it. Cabernet Sauvignon is a good match for such a complex and popular cheese.

Brie and Champagne

Brie is a light and mild cheese that’s also aged and carries more of a nutty flavor, which pairs well with the sparkling nature of Champagne.

Gruyère and Chardonnay

Gruyère is a hard cheese that can be both sweet and salty. Chardonnay tends to be crisp and sharp in its flavor profile, which provides a good counterbalance to the taste of Gruyère.

Gouda and Merlot

Merlot is an easy wine to serve at the table, and Gouda is a similarly easy and popular type of cheese. Put these two together, and anyone will be eager to dig in.

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Now You Know!

We all love cheese, and we all know just how rich the tastes can be. Pairing the right cheeses with the right wines, and a winning combination is born.

During your next wine party, make sure you put cheese and wine pairings on the menu. They’re an excellent way to combine simple culinary pleasures and the fun of a get-together, and now you’ve got all the knowledge you need to lay out a good spread!