Stilton (England)

Stilton is a Cow cheese from England.

Stilton is known for its strong smell and taste.

Wine Pairing Stilton

The classic English blue Stilton pairs best with wines that balance its salty, creamy, pungent character. The traditional answer is Port, but there are several excellent options depending on the style you want.

Type	Wine
Young & creamy	LBV Port
Mature & crumbly	Vintage Port
Extra salty	Sauternes
Nutty aged Stilton	Tawny Port
Dessert cheese board	PX Sherry
Want dry red	Amarone

Fortified Wines

A classic pairing with blue cheese. The sweetness and richness of port complement the pungent and salty flavors of blue cheeses.

Vintage Port

The most famous pairing for Stilton

Port wine, particularly a vintage or late bottled vintage (LBV) Port, can be a delicious pairing with Stilton. The wine's rich, fruity flavors, and sweetness complements the cheese's intense flavor and creamy texture, enhancing its complexity. The older the Port is, the stronger the cheese can be.

Tawny Port (10–20 Year)

Softer and nuttier than Vintage Port.

It has a flavor match of walnut, caramel, and dried fruit. Excellent with older Stilton. A 20-year Tawny with mature Stilton is particularly elegant.

Pedro Ximénez Sherry

Very sweet, raisiny, almost syrupy.

Sweet (not dry) Sherry works well with blue cheese. Pedro Ximénez or Cream Sherry, with their rich, sweet flavors of raisins, caramel, and nuts, are both delightful pairings with Stilton. The sweetness in the wine balances the saltiness in the cheese and enhances the creamy cheese texture.

Creates a dessert-like pairing, best for an after-dinner cheese course.

Sweet Wines

Sauternes, Spätlese, Auslese, Tokay and any other late harvest wines, with a bit of residual sugar will dance with the tanginess and saltiness of a blue cheese.

Sauternes

Sauternes is a classic pairing for Stilton. This sweet white wine from the Bordeaux region of France offers flavors of honey, apricot, and botrytized fruit. Its richness and sweetness can balance the sharpness and saltiness of the cheese, creating a harmonious combination.

Note: Similar wines like Monbazillac or Sainte Croix du Mont are a more affordable alternatives.

Riesling Auslese

Late harvest Riesling offers intense aromatics, ripe fruit flavors, and a hint of sweetness. Its acidity can provide a refreshing contrast to the pungency of Stilton, while the sweetness complements the cheese's tanginess.

Sparkling Wines

Unexpected but excellent. Especially Demi-Sec or richer styles.

Acidity cuts through the richness
Bubbles refresh the palate

Champagne

Blanc de Noirs styles work particularly well.

Moscato d'Asti

Moscato d'Asti is a sweet and slightly sparkling white wine from Italy, known for its floral aromas and flavors of ripe stone fruits. Its light effervescence and sweetness can balance the sharpness of Stilton, making it an enjoyable pairing.

Red Wines

Amarone della Valpolicella

If you prefer red wines

Works because:

High alcohol and concentrated fruit
Slight bitterness complements blue cheese

Personal Preferences

Enjoy your wine and cheese with local fruits nuts and bread!

Personal preferences play a significant role in wine and cheese pairings, so don't hesitate to experiment to find the combination that suits your taste buds best.

Consider adding some accompaniments like fruit, nuts, or bread to enhance the pairing experience: