Cheese & Wine Pairing

Blue Cheese

Wine Pairing Blue Cheese

Blue cheese is a wide range of cheeses.

They are all made with the addition of cultures of edible molds, which create blue spots or veins through the cheese.

Blue cheeses may have a distinctive smell, either from the mold or from various cultivated bacteria. They vary in taste from mild to strong or sharp, from slightly sweet to salty and in consistency from soft to hard.

Pairing wine with blue cheese can be a delightful experience, as the rich and bold flavors of blue cheese can complement certain types of wine quite well.

Blue cheeses need strong wines or sweet wines to balance their flavors.

---

Fortified Wines

Vintage Port is a classic pairing with blue cheese. The sweetness and richness of port complement the pungent and salty flavors of blue cheeses.

Do not hesitate to experiment with matching different types of fortified wines with different types of blue cheeses to create unique combinations:

• Cream Sherry (Spain)
• Madeira (Portugal)
• Marsala (Italy)
• Tawny Port (Portugal)
• Sweet White Port (Portugal)
• Vin Santo (Italy)
• Vermouth (Italy)

---

White Wines

Blue cheeses will make white wine taste bitter.

Gewürztraminer is an aromatic white wine with a slightly sweet flavor profile with notes of lychee, rose petal, and spice. This can create an interesting contrast with the saltiness of a blue cheese.

Sauternes, a sweet French wine made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes is an excellent pairing. Its honeyed sweetness complements the tanginess of blue cheese.

Trockenbeerenauslese (late harvest Riesling) has the sweetness and acidity to complement the creamy texture and intense flavor of blue cheese without overpowering it.

Moscato d'Asti is a sweet, slightly sparkling Italian wine. It has a light and fruity character that can provide a pleasant contrast to the bold flavors of blue cheese.

Tokaji, the famous Hungarian dessert wine with marmalade and orange peel flavours are fantastic with blue cheeses.

---

Sparkling Wines

The bubbles and the acidity of sparkling wines can cut through the creaminess of blue cheese while enhancing its flavors.

• Blanc de Blanc
• Cava (Spain)
• Franciacorta (Italy)
• Trentodoc (Italy)
• Espumante (Portugal)
• Sekt (Germany)
• Lambrusco (Italy)

---

Red Wines

Blue cheeses can make light red wines taste bitter.

Blue cheeses need bold red wines. The bolder the cheese, the bolder the wine.

A full-bodied red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon can stand up to the strong flavors of blue cheese. Its tannins and fruitiness can provide a nice contrast to the cheese.

Syrah, known as Shiraz in some regions, offers bold flavors of dark fruit, pepper, and spice, which can complement the richness of blue cheese.

Other excellent alternatives:

• Amarone (Italy)
• Barolo (Italy)
• Malbec (Argentina)

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

---

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.