🍷 Wine and cheese
A classic pairing: the acidity and tannins of wine refresh rich, salty cheese.
Wine and cheese are an old pair at the table. The acidity and tannins of wine refresh the rich, salty taste of cheese, and cheese softens the sharpness of wine. That is why they are often served together at tastings and in restaurants.
There is no simple rule, but there are handy guides. Aged Parmesan is good with a full red wine. Camembert is often served with a light red or cider. Aged cheddar is loved with a full red or port, old Gouda with a rich red or fortified wine. Italian Pecorino is eaten with local reds such as Chianti. Feta goes well with a fresh Greek white. Mozzarella suits a light white or rosé, and fried halloumi a cold white. Salty brynza is served with a young white wine, and Suluguni with Georgian wine.
A good rule: wine and cheese from the same place usually suit each other. They grew in the same climate and traditions.
These are only tips, and everyone's taste differs. The main thing is to try and choose what you like. Wine should be served in small servings, and for those who do not drink, grape juice will do.
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Wine and cheese → linked → 🧀 Cheese ← linked ← 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Wine and food pairing
- Wine and milk
- 🧀 Cheese, 🧀 Parmesan, 🧀 Camembert, 🧀 Cheddar, 🧀 Gouda, 🧀 Pecorino, 🧀 Feta, 🧀 Mozzarella, 🧀 Halloumi, 🧀 Bryndza, 🧀 Sulguni
Frequently asked questions
Which wine goes with cheese?
It depends on the cheese: full red with aged Parmesan, fresh white with feta, light white or rosé with mozzarella.
Why do wine and cheese go together?
The acidity and tannins of wine refresh the rich, salty taste of cheese.
What is served with Suluguni?
Usually Georgian wine.
What to read next
- 🧀 Bryndza — A brined cheese, often from sheep's milk; in Slovakia the name also covers a soft spreadable cheese.
- 🧀 Feta — A brined cheese made from sheep's milk (up to 30% goat's milk allowed), a protected Greek name.
- 🧀 Cheddar — A hard cheese named after the village of Cheddar in England.
- 🧀 Gouda — A semi-hard cheese named after the town of Gouda in the Netherlands.
- 🧀 Sulguni — A Georgian brined cheese that stretches when heated.