A Perfect Pair
Wine and cheese are a great duo, but creating the perfect combination on your own can be challenging. Here are six pairing tips to guide you in the right direction.
Pair wine and cheese with equal intensity
A big, bold Cabernet Sauvignon overwhelms the subtle and delicate characteristics of Gruyére, but matches nicely with a Pinot Noir. Generally, wines over 14.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) are more intense and taste better with more intensely flavored cheeses. Wines under 12.5% ABV are less intense and match nicely with more delicately flavored cheeses.
Aged cheese pairs well with a bold red
When cheese ages, it loses water, resulting in an increase in fat content and a rich flavor. This is ideal for matching bold red wines because the fat in the cheese counteracts the high-tannins in the wine. Select cheeses that have aged at least a year such as Cheddar, Gruyére, Manchego, Gouda, Provolone or Parmesan.
Funky cheeses match with sweeter wines
Stinky cheeses help balance sweeter wines like Moscato, Gewürztraminer, dessert wines and Port. The sweetness in the wines also makes the cheese taste creamier and less funky.
Sparkling wine pairs well with soft, creamy cheese
High acidity and carbonation, both found in sparkling wines, are palate cleansing. Brie, Muenster, Camembert, Cremont and Bourgogne are all sticky and creamy, something a sparkling can help wash away.
Pair wines and cheese from the same region
Staying within a region is a fool-proof way of benefiting from local traditions. Some examples include Sauvignon Blanc with Goat cheese (Loire Valley, France), Chardonnay with Époisses de Bourgogne (Burgandy, France) and Garnacha with Manchego (Spain).
When in doubt, get a firm and nutty cheese
Firm, nutty cheeses have enough fat content to counterbalance tannins in red wine, but enough delicacy to compliment delicate wines. Swiss, Gruyére, Gouda and Emmental are a few examples.
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One-Stop Cheese Shop
Instead of navigating along the North Bay cheese trail for a taste of local artisanal cheeses, Freestone Artisan Cheese offers a one-stop shop. Husband-wife team Omar and Giovanna Mueller, collect and offer local cheeses from Valley Ford Creamery, Central Coast Creamery, Cypress Grove and Bleating Heart Creamery, among many others.
Rather than a grocery store, Freestone allows local cheese companies a platform to showcase their product. “Local cheesemakers needed a local specialty retail outlet where they could build brand recognition in the region,” says Omar.
After getting some more practice making cheese, Omar and Giovanna found a run-down building in the town of Freestone in the historic district that was zoned for retail business. “It was close to our home and perfect for a cheese shop,” says Mueller. Their cheese shop is perfectly situated, with more than 12 cheesemakers within a 20-mile radius.
“What I offer to my customers is the opportunity to go out of their comfort zone with cheese,” says Mueller. “I hope to show them something they didn’t know about in the cheese world. One of the cheddars we offer has a rind. It crumbles, but is still familiar to someone who grew up on mac-and-cheese. No matter your palette, the cheese we offer has a certain ‘je ne sais quoi.’”
