Wine Pairing Stilton

Stilton is known for its strong smell and taste.

Our favorite wine pairing is Red Port.

The older the Port is, the stronger the Cheese can be.

Below are some excellent wine options to complement Stilton:

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Sweet Wines

The classic pairing with blue cheese is sweet dessert wine: sweet + fat + salt + umami is delicious.

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

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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.

Late harvest Gewürztraminer

Late harvest Gewürztraminer offers intense aromatics, tropical fruit flavors, and a hint of spice. Its sweetness and acidity can provide a refreshing contrast to the pungency of Stilton, creating a unique and enjoyable pairing.

Late harvest Riesling

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.

Late harvest Chenin Blanc

Late harvest Chenin Blanc offers flavors of ripe stone fruits, honey, and floral notes. Its sweetness and acidity can balance the cheese's sharpness and enhance its creamy texture, creating a harmonious pairing.

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Dessert Wines

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Aged Port

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.

Banyuls

Banyuls is a fortified sweet wine from the Roussillon region of France, made from Grenache grapes. Its dark fruit flavors, hints of chocolate, and velvety texture can complement the bold flavors and creamy texture of Stilton.

Sweet Sherry

Sweet Sherry works well with blue cheese. Pedro Ximénez or Cream Sherry, with their rich, sweet flavors of raisins, caramel, and nuts, can be delightful pairings with Stilton. The wine's sweetness balances the cheese's saltiness and enhance its creamy texture.

Madeira

Madeira, with its oxidative style and rich flavors of caramel, nuts, and dried fruits, can be an excellent match for Stilton. Look for a medium-dry or medium-sweet Madeira to balance the cheese's saltiness and enhance its creamy texture.

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Sparkling Wines

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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.

Lambrusco

This slightly sparkling red wine from Emilia-Romagna, Italy, offers a touch of sweetness, bright acidity, and fruity flavors that can balance the richness of Stiltonwhile cleansing the palate between the bites.

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Red Wines

Full bodied red wines can be a suitable choice if you’re eating Stilton as part of a meal rather than on its own. Anyway, the red wine must be bold, aromatic and savory.

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Malbec

Malbec from Argentina is a full-bodied red with notes of black berries and plum. This distinctive flavor profile makes it a great partner for Stilton. Oaked Malbecs also have hints of cocoa, coffee, tobacco and leather, so the complex flavors of Stiltonwill not overwhelm the wine. Instead, they marry beautifully.

Cabernet Sauvignon

A full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with its rich dark fruit flavors, firm tannins, and hints of spice can provide a bold complement to Stilton.

The wine's structure and intensity balances the cheese's creamy texture and enhances its undertones.

Syrah / Shiraz

A bold and fruity Syrah/Shiraz can be a delicious pairing with Stilton. The wine's dark fruit flavors, spicy notes, hints of pepper, and firm tannins complements the cheese's robust flavors.

Zinfandel

Zinfandel, particularly those with jammy fruit flavors and a hint of spice, can complement the richness and complexity of Stilton. The oak, the tannins, the acidity, and the aromas of vanilla and coconut in Zinfandel match the blue cheese without overpowering it.

Personal Preferences

As always, 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.

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

• Crusty Bread and Crackers
• Nuts, Peanuts and Fries
• Grapes and Berries
• Olives and Garlic
• Figs and Rasins
• Slised Apple and Pear
• Dark Chocolate
• Rosemary and Thyme

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Grows Together Goes Together

If it grows together it goes together.

Pairing locally is a great way to learn more about wine and cheese:

France

• Goat cheese from Loire is great with Sauvignon Blanc from Loire.
• Munster from Alsace is great with Gewürztraminer from Alsace.

Italy

• Strong Italian Gorgonzola pairs perfectly with Italian Barolo.
• Pecorino pairs well with Chanti.
• Pino Grigio goes well with Mozzarella.

Spain

• Spanish Manchego is gorgeous both with Cava and Spanish Rioja.