White Wine & Grilled Cheese
Wine and cheese is taken to a whole new level when the wine is white and the cheese is in one of these refined grilled cheese sandwiches.
Whether youre making an easy late night supper or feeding friends for lunch, white wine with a grilled cheese sandwich makes it an effortless and elegant event. Enjoy a yummy grilled cheese with your favorite white wine today.
Blue Cheese & Champagne
“The salty blue cheese with spicy crushed juniper berries calls for a contrasting sweet wine,” says Werlin. “Pair it with a late-harvest white wine such as sauvignon blanc, riesling or gewürztraminer. Or, a semi-sweet sparkling wine known as a demi-sec in France goes beautifully with the creamy, salty cheese.”
If you’re looking for the perfect blue cheese, Deer Creek Cheese The Blue Jay cheese is a great option. “The saltiness and creaminess of this dreamy blue cheese beg for a little bit of sweetness to cut the salt,” says Werlin. “The sweetness of the wine also wants a bit of contrast, which the salty and even crunchy cheese thanks to the crushed juniper berries provide. With a sparkling wine, the bubbles cut through the richness of the cheese, cleansing the palate to make way for more cheese.”
When In Doubt Choose Nutty Cheese
Wine and cheese pairings are more complex than people think! To make things easy, nutty cheese is a cheese that goes with wine and all types of wine.
Firm and nutty cheeses have the flavor and fat content to balance intense, high-tannin wines. But theyre also delicate and light enough to match with dry or sweet white wines.
Some great cheese examples include Comté Extra, Abbaye de Belloc, and Emmental.
The only exception to this rule is eating firm, nutty cheeses with sparkling wine. Thats because you should always choose a softer variety.
Dont worry there are plenty of nutty-flavored cheeses with a soft and spreadable texture. These include Robiola Bosina, Bucheron, and Camembert de Normandie.
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Provence Ros And Havarti
Why it works: The crisp, red fruit you find in a is delicious but delicate, and the mellow flavor you find in a Havarti complements the wine gracefully without overpowering it. In addition to this, the steely minerality of a Provence Rosé is a great contrast to the smooth, soft texture of the cheese.
Also try: and Fontina, and Mozzarella, or and Ricotta.
Why Does Wine And Cheese Pairing Work
Winemaking and cheesemaking have flourished side-by-side for centuries, so its no surprise that this food and drink combination go so well together. Both often take years of aging to reach maturation and optimum flavor, both require careful tending by artisan producers, and both are often created in similar terroir.
Still, you could say that wine and cheese have a yin and yang kind of relationship going on. Cheese is fatty. Wine is sharp. Yet these opposites attract to create a magical coupling of flavor and texture. And it seems that scientists have discovered why these two are better together.
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What Is Best To Drink With Cheese
One drink pairing per cheese type The mild and creamy cheeses, such as brie, camembert and similar, pair well with something light. A lager or G would go well here. A crisp white wine or a very light red wine, such as Pinot Noir, would also be a lovely match. Or try a Chardonnay that isnt too oaky.
Pleasant Ridge Reserve & Pinot Noir
This specialty, award-winning Wisconsin farmstead cheese has aged 9-12 months and is absolutely divine with medium-bodied wines like pinot noir. However, Werlin says that this cheese can even pair well with the right white wines, like pinot blanc or Riesling. “The nutty, brown buttery and grassy flavors in the cheese marry well with aromatic fruity whites,” says Werlin, “Together, it makes you think of green pastures filled with spring flowers. Red wine takes the experience into fall or winter when those same characteristics in the cheese are made a bit earthier and savory because of the dark berry and forest-like characteristics in the wine.”
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A Few Final Cheese Pairing Considerations
Youre practically a pro at this point, but there are a few more things to consider when it comes to pairing wine and cheese. Before introducing the wine, try the cheese by itself to fully perceive its special characteristics. Remember to engage your senses and evaluate all aspects of the cheese its smell, texture, color, and taste. Is it sweet, sour, salty, bitter, or umami? How does it feel on the tongue?
Wine and cheese pairing is a skill that requires practice and study. But once you know the basics, you can have a lot of fun experimenting with what works .
Aged Port And Blue Stilton
Why it works: is known for its full body, sweetness, and bold character. And when youre dealing with all that, you need a cheese to match: something stinky. The complex character of a pungent and salty Blue Stilton matches up beautifully with an older, sweeter Port. Remember: the sweeter the wine, the stinkier the cheese.
Also try: and Beenleigh Blue, and Torta del Casar, or and Roquefort.
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What Kind Of Cheese Goes With Moscato Wine
blue cheese
. Just so, what goes best with moscato?
Moscato also pairs particularly well with spicy Asian fare as the sweet from the wine tames the heat in the food. While dessert is Moscato’s forte, cheese courses, charcuterie, or antipasto plates can be perfect pairings for Moscato d’Asti wines.
One may also ask, what food does white Moscato pair with? Sweeter white wines such as Riesling pair well with a lot of different things. You can pair them with soft cheeses, pastas with creamy sauces, breads and smoked meats. Sweet whites are great wines to have with finger foods, and meat and cheese platters.
Beside above, what cheese goes best with pink moscato?
A neutral pairing which goes well with Moscato is goat cheese. Goat cheese is very soft, and almost begs to be eaten with something salty or flavored.
What kind of cheese goes good with wine?
18 Best Cheese and Wine Pairings
- Cabernet Sauvignon and Extra Sharp Cheddar.
- Merlot and Garlic and Herb Cheese.
- Malbec and Vintage or Reserve Cheese.
- Zinfandel and Jalapeno or Hot Buffalo.
- Pinot Noir and Vermont Sharp Cheddar or Gruyere.
- Chianti and Tomato Basil or Tuscan.
- Red Blend and Sharp or Smoked Cheese.
- Syrah/Shiraz and Aged Cheese.
What Kind Of Cheese Is Best With Wine
The best cheeses to pair with red wine are hearty ones-semi-firm, firm and aged hard cheese. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah , Zinfandel , Tempranillo and Sangiovese are but a few of the red wines that pair well with aged Gouda and Cheddar, aged Manchego or Pecorino and other similar cow, goat or sheep milk cheeses.
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Can I Prep A Cheeseboard In Advance
Absolutely. Ill oftentimes prep the board completely the morning of, then take the crackers and nuts off and store them in a plastic baggie, so I have the exact amount I need. I cover the board with plastic wrap and store in the fridge. When youre an hour our from guests arriving, pull it out and put the crackers back on.
You actually really do want to prep a cheeseboard at least an hour in advance, because the cheese and meats needs to come to room temperature.
Ham And Gruyre French Toast Sandwiches
Pairing: 2010 Coast Range Vineyard Dry Riesling
Dive into the delectable sandwich with a fork and knife or pick it up with your hands, providing there are plenty of napkins close by. Chef Jesse Cool likes to tuck the maple apples in with the ham and cheese, but the fruit can be served on the side, along with a spicy mustard or horseradish sauce.
Smoky, salty ham and sweet, nutty Gruyère are perfectly complemented by the contrasting fruity, tart character of a dry Riesling like this minerally Oregon bottling.
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Burrata & Pinot Grigio
When it comes to a burrata, Werlin says “pair with light wines such as pinot grigio or Austrian wine, grüner veltliner. The latter is a mouthful but surprisingly easy to find these days.” She adds that “the light high-acid white wines cut through the rich, creamy, delicious cheese to create a perfect balance.” You could even enjoy a glass with this Mediterranean burrata plate!
Which Cheese To Pair With Your Favourite Wine
Most people like to pair red wine with cheese and thats fine – just bear in mind that there are some cheeses, as Ive suggested above, that taste better with a white wine or dessert wine so don’t be afraid to experiment.
10 popular wines and the cheeses to pair with them
1. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and Bordeaux blends – cheddar, gouda and other hard cheeses
2. Pinot noir – brie and camembert
3. Rhône and other southern French reds – a good all-rounder with a French cheeseboard
4. Rioja – particularly good with sheep cheeses like Manchego
5. Chianti – parmigiano reggiano and pecorino
6. Port – blue cheeses like stilton
7. Sauvignon blanc – goat cheese and feta, cheeses with garlic and herbs
8. Chardonnay – buttery cheddar
9. Pinot Grigio – mozzarella and other mild Italian cheeses
10. Champagne and other sparkling wine – Vacherin Mont dor, Chaource
If you enjoyed this post download my cheese book 101 Great Ways to Enjoy Cheese and Wine for loads of other pairing ideas
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More Essential Pairing Pointers
But age definitely isn’t the only factor to keep in mind. A cheese’s texture, saltiness, and pungency also influence a wine pairing, as do the wine’s structure and sweetness. Here are a few other notes to keep in mind:
Watch those tannins. Tannic red wines are terrific with rich, aged cheeses, because their tannins literally bind to protein and fat, cleaning your palate after each bite. But the same process makes tannic wines feel far too astringent with young cheeses they tie up what little fat’s available, leaving you with a chalky sensation and a metallic aftertaste. If you must serve red wine with young cheeses, reach for one low in tannin, like Beaujolais or sparkling red Lambrusco.
Salt loves sweet. Sweet wines beautifully balance the saltiest cheeses like hard Grana, blue cheese, aged Gouda, or feta. The salt in the cheese heightens the perception of sweetness in the wine, so a wine that’s already headed in that direction makes for a breezy pairing.
Cheese loves fruit and nuts. There’s a reason we adorn cheese plates with fresh fruits, dried fruits, and nuts. The juicy, tangy fruits go well with young cheeses like Brie. Sweet dried fruits are wonderful with salty cheeses like Stilton. Buttery, bitter nuts are tasty with rich Cheddar. From fruity to sweet to nutty to tannic, these same pairing principles apply to wines, too. When in doubt, try to imagine which food would pair best with a cheese, and let that guide you toward a wine.
Pairing Cheese With Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir grapes are comparatively difficult to grow, but they produce quality wine that has more alcohol, is less bitter and has a light color. The flavors of this wine are mostly described as smooth, sensual, and complex.
Its berry and floral aromas blend well with natural rind cheese. While Swiss, Brie, Gruyere, and Muenster are some of the popular cheese pairings with this red wine, the exquisite blue cheese and the washed rind type of cheese are best avoided.
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White Wines Pairing Guidelines
Whites are generally considered a better company for a wide range of cheeses. Due to their natural qualities, white wines almost never can overpower cheese odor and taste, but complement them harmoniously.
Chardonnay Wine Pairings
Chardonnay is a dry white wine with rich creamy and nutty flavor, sometimes with apple or citrus hints. It is one of the most versatile wines and matches well both hard and soft cheeses, varying from Gruyere and Cheddar to Brie and Camembert.
Muscat Wine Pairings
Muscat is a sweet wine with lush fruitiness in its taste and a touch of honey. It pairs wonderfully with desserts and chocolate, fois gras and soufflés, as well as blue and cheddar cheeses.
Pinot Grigio Wine Pairings
This is an aromatic dry light white with a fruity bouquet of scents and an acid zest. Pinot Grigio food pairing is quite diverse, including Thai and Chinese dishes. It is ideal for soft cheeses with Mozzarella, Ricotta and Fontina among them.
Riesling Wine Pairings
Riesling is a noble classic light-bodied white wine. Its taste gets richer with age, revealing citrus, apricot and peach notes. The wine shines well with hard Gouda or Edam and soft Cotija or Mascarpone cheeses.
Sauvignon Blanc Wine Pairings
Cheese Pizza & Chianti
Pizza night? Yep, there’s cheese on pizza too, and you want the perfect wine to pair with it! To find the perfect pairing, we reached out to Joseph Ciolli, CEO of Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, for his advice. He recommended a Rosso Toscano, a Tuscan red blend, which they also sell at the restaurant! The Mille Gradi is a red wine blended by the Grimaldi’s team at the Rocca del Macie estate in Chianti, and is available for 50% off any Grimaldi’s Pizzeria carryout food purchase!
“The balanced, supple, and fresh taste with ripe berries and oak spice is the perfect complement to the smoky coal-fired crust of Grimaldi’s Traditional pizza, even better when the pizza is topped with Italian sausage, meatballs, and pepperoni,” says Ciolli. Can’t get your hands on this bottle? Try a Tuscan red wine, like a Chianti.
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What Cheese For A Cheese Board For Wine Tasting
It might be an unconventional approach, but rather than struggling with cheese decision paralysis, I just did a flight of cheddar cheeses for this board!
Just as there are subtle differences between different varieties of wine, its the same for cheese.
Hard cheeses like cheddar are generally the easiest types to pair with wine, and cheddar works well with both white and red wines.
In particular, cheddar pairs very well with an oaky Chardonnay, as well as Syrah and Malbec.
So, this one platter can be a cheese board for red wine AND a cheese board for white wine!
Creating A Cheddar Flight For A Wine And Cheese Party:
For my cheese flight, I chose three cheddars from Black Creek Cheeses:
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese naturally aged for nine months to produce a distinctive flavor profile thats rich and creamy with a pleasant sharpness.
- Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese naturally aged for two years, imparting a pleasantly sharp and complex flavor that is both rich and nutty.
- Cheddar Cheese with Parmesan Notes smooth, creamy Cheddar cheese carefully blended with deliciously subtle notes of nutty Parmesan.
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Wine Pairing Blue Cheese Combinations And Advice
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Pairing wine and cheese can be a delicate art. Wine and cheese both have many different properties to consider, along with countless varieties that all have their nuances. Looking at wine pairing blue cheese can be especially difficult, as blue cheese has such an intense flavor.
Many wine choices simply cannot hold their own when paired with blue cheese, so their nuances tend to get drowned out. The solution isnt simply to focus on intense reds either, many of these have their own problems when paired with blue cheese.
Thankfully though, some types of wine can be consistently used with blue cheese. As youll see from the list, many of these are sweet wines, as the sweetness provides an excellent contrast to the pungency of the blue cheese.
There are some other choices too. These are important, as you wont always want to be drinking sweet wine.
- Pinot Noir with Cornish Blue Cheese
- Medium Bodied Red Wines
Ten Popular Wines And Types Of Cheese To Pair Them With
- Rioja pairs well with Manchego and other types of sheep cheese
- Port goes with blue cheeses, such as stilton
- Rhône and other reds from southern France these are proper all-rounders when you have a cheeseboard of French cheeses
- Chardonnay pair this with buttery cheddar
- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and blends of Bordeaux these pair well with varieties of hard cheeses, such as Gouda or cheddar
- Pinot Grigio this pairs well with any type of mild cheese from Italy. You will enjoy this combination most with a platter of antipasti
- Chianti pecorino and parmigiano are some of the cheeses you can have with this wine
- Champagne and other types of sparkling wine these can be had with Chaource or Vacherin Mont dOr
- Sauvignon Blanc pair this with feta or goat cheese. You could also use cheese with herbs and garlic
- Pinot Noir this can be paired with Camembert and Brie.
Get to know Best Grapes for Making Wine to get more knowledge on the kinds of flavors youre going to be tasting with these cheese pairings
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Cheese And Wine Matching Suggestions In Brief:
- Hard cheeses like cheddar or Comté: White Burgundy, Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir, Rioja, red Bordeaux blend
- Soft cheese: Champagne, Chablis, Hunter Semillon, Beaujolais
- Blue cheese: Sauternes, Pedro Ximénez Sherry, Rutherglen Muscat
- Goat and sheep cheeses: Sancerre, Dry Riesling, Rhône varieties red and white , Fino Sherry
- Washed-rind cheeses: Rioja, red Burgundy, Alsace Pinot Gris, Gewurtztraminer
- All-rounders: Amontillado Sherry, tawny Port
