***Pairing Wine and Cheese: Part II

written by Christine Carroll

If you enjoyed January’s Wine Buzz, you might find these additional tips on pairing wine and cheese helpful.

Instead of trying to remember which cheeses go with which wines, focus on these few simple pairing principles.

FIND HARMONY

Evaluate the four major components of wine: tannin, alcohol, acidity, and sugar, and do your best to balance them with the intensity of the cheeses you’d like to pair them with. Consider:

Mouthfeel: How do the wine and cheese harmonize in your mouth? A creamy, oaky white will work well with a rich, buttery cheese. A tannic, not-too-fruity red will pair nicely with a lean, not-too-salty mountain cheese (like Gruyère, Appenzeller or Hoch Ybrig).
Weight: Goat cheeses have a pleasant lightness, while sheep milk cheeses taste heavier due to the higher fat content. Consider how bold a statement a cheese makes on its own and balance that flavor with an appropriate alcohol level in the wine.
Acidity: Fresh cheeses and younger wines pair well because they tend to be higher in acidity. The acidity mellows in both aged cheeses and older wines; so they will tend to harmonize.
OPPOSITES ATTRACT

Think about the salty/sweet combination of chocolate covered pretzels or a Snickers bar. This same principle can be applied to pairing wine and cheese.

Stinky, washed rind cheeses like a Taleggio (cow’s milk, semi-soft) with an off-dry or semi-sweet white like a German Riesling. Look for the words “Kabinett” or “Spatlese” on the label.
Strong, peppery blue cheeses with sweet dessert wines…a classic example of opposites attract.
“GO-TO” COMBOS

Looking for the Rodgers and Hammersteins of the wine and cheese world? Try (with complete confidence):

Goat cheese and Sauvignon Blanc (Both young and acidic-Harmony Principle)
Uber-rich triple cremes like Pierre Robert or Brillat Savarin with sparkling wine or Champagne. (Opposites attract: The light bubbles in the wine work to offset the richness of the cheese.)
Port and cheddar. Make sure it’s a traditional, preferably cloth-bound English or English-style cheddar. (Both wine and cheese are aged and lower in acidity)
REGIONAL PAIRINGS

A good rule of thumb when pairing wine and cheese:
What grows together goes together.

It’s not a bad idea to take a look at regional pairings that have historical roots. Some memorable match-ups are:

Parmigiano Reggiano and Lambrusco, both from Emilia-Romania.
Spanish sheep milk cheeses like Queso de la Serena and sherry. (Don’t underestimate the pairing ability of sherry. Its savory, nutty quality works wonders with other nutty cheeses).
Sancerre and lightly aged goat cheeses like Chevrot or Chabichou du Poitou from the Loire Valley.
Epoisses and Pinot Noir: A Burgundy match made in heaven, or a heavenly match made in Burgundy, whichever you prefer.
WHITES ARE EASIER TO PAIR

The tannin in most red wine conflicts with the natural protein in cheese. The resulting matches are often bitter or astringent. Red wines are also typically less acidic, which makes them harder to pair. Acidity balances the fat in cheese.

So reach for a white wine, unless you’re pairing a familiar red or serving a classic combination.

ADDITIONAL PAIRING TIPS

*Serve Cheeses in this order:

Young to Old

Mild to Strong

Soft to Hard

*Easy to Pair Wines

Champagne, Blanc de Blancs

Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc

Pinot Noir, Syrah

Fruity Wines that are not too tannic

*When Tasting, try wine first, then cheese.

*A No-No: Raw goat’s milk cheese and Champagne (Causes a metallic taste)

Now you’re an expert. So relax and start experimenting to find your favorite pairings. What’s the worst that can happen? Even “mistakes” can be enjoyable when you’re lucky enough to share them with friends.

You may respond to Christine below or email her at ccarroll@boomer-living.com or visit her online at cmc@crossingvineyards.com