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Wine and cheese pairing: what wine is a good match for cheese?
France is a country rich in regional specialties. We are spoiled for choice when it comes to gastronomy. It is not always easy to find your way around, especially with the wide variety of cheeses available in our regions. The wide range of Alsace wines makes it easier to pair food and wine, with harmonious flavors for each major cheese family.
Bestheim offers some tipson wine and cheese pairings to guide you, with a selection of white and red wines.
Which wine goes well with pressed cheeses?
Pressed cheeses, whether cooked or uncooked, include Emmental, Gruyère, Comté, Beaufort, Saint-Nectaire, Morbier, Cantal, Tomme de Savoie, Raclette, Reblochon, and Mimolette. Cooked cheeses, also known as hard cheeses, are the kings of aged cheeses. They are rich, authentic, fatty cheeses that can be enjoyed young or after a longer aging period.
They should be paired with wines of the same type. These cheeses can therefore be naturally paired with a white wine such as Pinot Gris from Alsace. This grape variety will stand up to their character with its characteristic opulence and power.
Which wine should you choose for soft-ripened cheeses?
Bloomy rind cheeses include Brie and Camembert, which have a slightly bitter taste.
They should be accompanied by a sparkling wine such as Crémant d'Alsace. This wine will surprise and subtly prolong the bitterness during tasting, ensuring a perfect blend of flavors.
Wine pairings - blue cheeses
Roquefort, Bleu d'Auvergne, and Fourme d'Ambert are examples of strong blue cheeses.
Sweet, even syrupy wines such as Vendanges Tardives are excellent choices to pair with these types of cheese. Their sweetness and beautiful structure bring out the mildness and balance the strong personality of these blue cheeses.
What wine should you serve with goat and sheep cheeses?
Tomme, Crottin de Chavignol, Ossau-Iraty and other goat's cheeses (logs, etc.) and sheep's cheeses are very flavorful with a strong taste. It can be difficult to find a wine that is a good match for these cheeses.
A good dry white wine such as Riesling is a delicious accompaniment to goat and sheep's cheese thanks to its freshness and acidity. This fresh, expressive wine with its fine, lingering acidity is, without a doubt, the ideal pairing!
Which wine goes well with strong cow's milk cheeses?
These distinctive cheeses require a wine that can stand up to them, with good structure, richness, complexity, and a certain aromatic strength. Munster, Maroilles, Mont d'Or (or Vacherin Mont-d'Or), and Livarot can be served with a distinctive white wine such as Gewurztraminer. Its beautiful structure and full-bodied character are the perfect match for these strong, assertive cheeses.
The cheese platter
When there is a wider choice and you are faced with a platter filled with several types of cheese, don't take any risks. Opt for an Alsace red wine to accompany a cheese platter! A good glass of Pinot Noir will always go perfectly with all types of cheese and will delight your guests.
Finding the perfect wine to accompany cheese is an art... but also a pleasure! Whether you opt for a generous Pinot Gris, a refreshing Crémant d'Alsace, a full-bodied Gewurztraminer or a crisp Riesling, Alsace white wines offer a range of pairings that are as rich as they are delicious. Not to mention Pinot Noir, the ideal partner for varied cheese platters. The secret? Balance aromatic intensity, texture, and freshness. Now it's up to you to compose your own gourmet symphony, centered around a cheese platter... and a well-chosen glass of wine.
