Wine and cheese have gone hand in hand for centuries; however, with today’s ever increasing options for both wines and cheese the pairing decisions can be staggering. So, to take a lot of the guess work out of pairing, here is a handy guide to give you a starting point for pairing your favorite wines with soon-to-be favored cheese. Keep in mind that these are just recommendations, not law – experiment with your own pairings and see if there’s a combination, listed or not, that just knocks your socks off.     A few tips to keep in mind: Pairing wines and cheeses from the same region is a good, and “safe” place to start wine and cheese combinations.

 

Wine: Merlot - Cabernet Franc; Cheeses to Consider: Blue, Bre, Cheddar, Fontina, Goat Cheese, Gorgonzola, Gouda, Gruyere, Parmesan

 

Wine: Chardonnay; Cheese to Consider: Brie, Camembert, goat cheese, Gouda, Gruyere, Parmesan, Provolone Wine:

 

Wine: Riesling; Cheese to Consider: Blue, Brie, Colby, Gouda,Monterey Jack

 

Wine: Pinot Noir; Cheese to Consider: Brie, Camembert, Feta, Gruyere, Muester, Port

 

Wine: Catawba; Cheese to Consider: Look for regional cheeses to complement, perhaps Fontina, Mozarella, Parmesan or Provolone

 

Wine: Ice Wine; Cheese to Consider: Crème Fraiche, Marscopone, or shake it up with a salty/sweet combo. and consider a crumble or two of blue cheese.

 

Wine: Niagara; Cheese to Consider:  Muenster, Swiss, Mild Cheddar or Colby