Choosing Cheese For A Wine Tasting
What makes a better match than spaghetti and meatballs? Than hot weather and swimming? Cheese and wine, of course! It is no secret that wine and cheese make the perfect pair. Each brings a unique texture and taste to the table but together they create a magical experience for our palates.
When hosting a wine tasting party or get together be sure to provide a wine and cheese selection that will compliment one another. A good wine is even better with a good cheese. And vise versa! This decision will be based on the type of wine you decide to feature. Select a wine that will be tasteful to all. Choose a simple wine and don’t worry, featuring a great cheese to compliment your simple wine will amplify the tasting experience!
For example…a good blue cheese can make a younger and lower end Cabernet Savignon taste like a much higher quality wine. Who wouldn’t want to impress their guests without spending a fortune? The tanins of the Cab go extremely well with the fatty heaviness of bleu cheese. It is also always a great suggestion to have crackers along side your cheeses. This will aid in helping guests clear their palates for the next tasting experience. Choose crackers that are simple and not flavored or extra salty.
What is the best strategy when hosting a tasting gathering? Have your guests take a sample of the wine first. Then introduce the blue cheese and have them taste the wine again. Their assessment of the wine after the blue cheese has coated their mouth will probably be much higher than their original assessment of the wine without the cheese. Obviously, different pairings of cheese and wine should be conducted the same way. Use the crackers in-between different pairing to clear your palate.
There are several wine and cheese combos. Merlot pairs wonderfully with brie, cheddar, gruyere, parmesan and gorgonzola. It is not necessary to include all of these different cheeses in your presentations; however, it is suggested that two or three are available.
Two other popular wines are Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc. To make this pairing complete consider a camembert, goat cheese, roquefort (blue cheese), cheddar, Colby, gouda or parmesan.
Other popular wine and cheese combos: Remember that for your party to be successful choose two or three different wines and cheeses so that the guests have plenty to choose from.
Sauvignon Blanc-consider brie, feta, asiago, goat cheese, cheddar or parmesan
Pinot Noir-consider Monterey jack, Swiss, brie, gruyere or muenster
Pinot Grigio-consider cheddar, edam, goat cheese, gouda, mozzarella and muenster
Riesling-consider blue cheese, Gouda, Edam, brie or Monterey jack
Chardonnay-consider provolone, brie, Gouda, gruyere, parmesan or camembert
Chianti-consider mozzarella, parmesan, fontina or provolone
Beaujolais-consider goat cheese, brie or camembert
Have fun with your wine and cheese tasting parties. This is a time to connect with co-workers, family and friends and make memories that will last forever. Impress your guests by knowing your wine and cheese pairings. Also, present your cheese and crackers on presentable platters making it tempting for all! There are even party kits and websites available to aid you in your preparation and hosting.