Philadelphia, PA - There are no “rules” in pairing cheese and wines, which depend on personal likes and dislikes. Like having a good cheesemonger, having a good wine seller is equally important and should be someone whose opinions you trust and whose knowledge of wines is good. In many cases, you will discuss many characteristics found in both wine and cheese.
Wine and Cheese Philly
A slice of good cheese and wine pairings take some thought, and it’s important to consider both the wine and the cheese’s texture and flavor profiles before making final selections. Remember, the goal is to create harmony and balance between the wine and the cheese and not overpower one with the other.
Pairing Cheese and Wine
1. Keep pairings simple: pick one distinct wine and one distinct cheese that pair well. For example, full-flavored cheeses, such as creamy washed rind cheeses, require medium to full-bodied wines, such as Merlot, Zinfandel Syrahs. Likewise, pair light cheeses with light wines, such as Rieslings, Pinot Gris, or Pinot Noirs.
2. Pair wine and cheese according to the area of origin or even in the local region. Just as the growing conditions impart particular characteristics (called “terroir”) to a region’s wines, It may impart these same characteristics to the cheeses through the vegetation on which the animals graze.
3. Do not limit yourself only to still table wines, but branch out and try sparkling wines, late harvest, and sweet wines, as well as fortified wines such as sherries and ports. In particular, blue cheeses pair extremely well with dessert wines such as late harvest Viogniers and Rieslings and Muscat wines. Also, creamy cheeses pair well with sparkling wines and Champagne, as the bubbles help cleanse the palate and refresh it for another bite.
4. Explore the varieties of cheeses based on their sources of milk. For example, fresh goat cheeses are mild, lemony, and somewhat acidic in their flavor profiles and creamy texture. They pair well with crisp white wines, such as a Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Rieslings. Aged sheep’s milk cheeses pair well with Gewurtztraminers and fruity Zinfandels. Aged cow’s milk cheddars go well with sherries.
5. Remember that wines aren’t the only beverages that go well with cheese! There is an ever-growing number of artisanal and craft beers and craft ciders available that create interesting and fresh flavor combinations, which can also inspire you to experiment and broaden your culinary knowledge.
Also, See.
- Philly to Build The World’s Largest Cheesesteak
- Philly Celebrates American Cheese Month
- Say Cheese Philly Food Truck
- Top CheeseStake Places in Philly
- Philly - Why We Love Cheesecake - Phillybite
