[José Elarba] Wines & Food: Pair Cheese and Wines

How to Pair Cheese and your Favorite Wines

Today in the second part of our series “Wines & Food” we show you what works perfectly with your favorite cheese.

Many experts always remember one of the main rules to pair wine with cheese: keep yourself stuck to white wines. This because some say that white wines have lower levels of tannin and are usually lighter in body, complementing the flavors you find in cheese. However, as pairing chocolate or tobacco with foods, many aspects depend on your personal tastes. In this case, many people prefer red wines and they simple broke this main rule. So, whether you're planning a wine-and-cheese party or just want to choose the right wine to enjoy by yourself, today in the second part of our series “Wines & Food” we show you what works perfectly with your favorite cheese.

A brief review of your possibilities

Having your specific cheese in mind, what you have to do first is contemplating the categories below and in which one of them your cheese belongs to. Then, see some of our suggestions and ideas.

• Fresh:Soft, often spreadable cheeses that can be tangy or mild. They are not usually aged.
• Hard: Stiff cheeses, which are often sharp and/or salty. They can also be aged.
• Blue: Pungent, often salty cheeses, with a blue tinge.
• Bloomy:Creamy, decadent cheeses, with a soft rind.

Rosé

If your thing is rosé wines, look for cheese that pair well with the acidity and subtle berry flavors typical of a dry rosé.

• Feta cheese: tangy, salty feta cheese is perfect to pair with the zippy acidity in rosé. The crispy, clean flavor of rosé will help wipe the palate clean and make you feel ready for more salty cheese.

White wine

Try mixing salty and sweet flavors this time. If you have a sweet white wine, choose a saltier cheese. They also go great with fruits or nuts; cheddar would be perfect, too. Creamy cheeses can provide delicious contrast with bubble or sparkling wine.

• Triple cream cheese: Chardonnay is a dry, medium-bodied white wine with apple and pear notes; its fruity and crisp characteristics make it perfect for mild cheeses, particularly the creaminess and the sweetness.

Red wines

Red wines can be enjoyed with many cheeses; they are perfect to be matched with hard cheeses and milder flavors. We give you a tip: the more pungent the cheese you choose, the sweeter the wine should be.

• Blue cheese: blue cheeses are a smart choice to pair with mulled wines, which are red wines with spices added in.

-José Elarba