Wine and Cheese Flashcards
Bold red wines such as Cabernet, Syrah or Zinfandel match up well with
equally intense cheeses that are firm and a bit salty
- enjoyed in small bite sized pieces over grilled bread
Match Cabernet with
aged cheddars (bandage wrapped) and peppery cheeses
Candied and fruity Garnacha wines are a complimentary match to
a four month old Spanish Manchego
Emphasize the tobacco notes in Shiraz with
a smokey cheese such as smoked gouda
Smooth out rigid tannins and bracing acidity with a
slightly less firm cheese
- fat content will compliment the tannin
- texture will absorb the high acidity
Cheese to pair with bold red wine
1) Aged gouda
2) Bandage wrapped cheddar
3) Goat cheddar
4) Smoked cheddar or gouda
5) Nufenen
6) Basque sheep’s milk cheese
7) Grana padano
8) Fiore sardo
9) Toma del lait brusc - northern Italy
10) Pecorino
11) Azores flores
12) Manchego
Light red wines like Pinot Noir and Beaujolais match up nicely with
1) delicately flavored, washed-rind cheeses
2) nutty, medium-firm cheeses
Example of nutty cheese
Gruyere
Taleggio is a
semi-soft, washed-rind cheese that is not overly intense
Softer style, soft ripened cheeses
Brie and Camembert
Pinot Noir matches well with
Gruyere
A good rule of thumb is the funkier the
wine - the funkier the cheese
A very rustic wine will do wonders when matched with
an odoriferous cheese
A sweet berry wine will beg for a cheese that’s
cheesy
Cheese to pair with light red wine
1) Gruyere - Comte Extra
2) Swiss
3) Raclette
4) Provolone
5) Caciocavallo
6) Saint-Nectaire
7) Pont L’Eveque
8) Ossau Iraty
9) Nocerino
10) Fontina
11) Brie
12) Camembert
13) Coulommiers
14) Raschera
15) Taleggio
White wines match up with a wider array of cheeses than reds because
whites do not have any tannins
One cheese that does not match up well with whites is
Blue cheese as it tends to overwhelm
Sauvignon Blanc matches up well with
goat cheese as it tends to be firmer with a chalk like taste texture due to high calcium content and as cheese ages, it develops a spiciness that will match up fantastically with Sauvignon Blanc or an unoaked Chardonnay
Garganega makes the wines of
Soave
Soave like Sauvignon Blanc is
crisp with a slightly bitter almond note on the finish
Soave’s bitterness makes it a fascinating match with
a young asiago that’s not too firm
The aged versions of asiago go well with
a fruity off-dry Prosecco or Moscato d’Asti
Off-dry styles of Riesling match up wonderfully with
Fondue as the sweetness and acidity compliment the nutty robust fondue flavors and make everything taste delicately sweet and salty
Traditional triple cream cow’s cheeses pair well with
Chardonnay
Three traditional triple cream cow’s cheese are
1) Delice de Bourgogne
2) Brie
3) Fresh style Tomme
Washed-rind cow’s cheeses are made in the same region as
Chardonnay
When a washed-rind cow’s cheese is matched with Chardonnay,
the stinkyness goes away
Examples of wash-rind chesses
1) Epoisses de Bourgogne
2) Good Thunder
3) Red Hawk
CP - Moscato d’Asti &
Gorgonzola
CP - Sangiovese &
Pecorino Toscano
CP - Sauvignon Blanc &
Goat Cheese
CP - Port &
Stilton, a blue cheese
CP - Rose &
Havarti
CP - Cabernet Sauvignon &
Aged cheddar
CP - Bubbles &
Brie
CP - Riesling &
Raclette
CP - Vermentino &
Fiore Sardo
