How To Pair Red Wine And Cheese

Wine and cheese is a classic pairing that so many people know and love. We get asked all the time how to create a perfect wine and cheese pairing for a night with friends or as an act of self indulgence. Although we can give you pairing suggestions, your taste is purely personal. In this post, we’ll give you some basic pointers on how to pair red wines with cheese.

Pairing Red Wine & Cheese

Just how each type of milk produces a different color, flavor, strength, and aroma in cheese; different grape varieties produce their own characteristics when fermented into wine.

Rule of Thumb: Pair cheeses with wines of equal strength.

There are light bodied red wines (ex: Pinot Noir), full bodied wines (ex: Cabernet Sauvignon), and everything in between (ex: Merlot). The wine should not overpower the cheese nor vice versa. You should be able to taste characteristics of both and notice how they complement or contrast each other.

Lighter bodied red wines tend to be fruitier and juicier. They pair better with fresh, soft-ripened cheese (i.e. bloomy rind cheese), or other milder cheeses.

Here are some light red wine with cheese pairings:

• Lambrusco with Kourellas Barrel Aged Greek Feta

• Pinot Noir with Arethusa Camembert

• Red Burgundy with Comté 15 Month

Medium bodied red wines tend to be the most versatile in terms of pairing with cheese because they can play to the mild and the strong side.

Here are some examples of cheeses to pair with medium bodied reds:

• Cabernet Franc with Gorgonzola Dolce

• Merlot with Honey Bee Goat Gouda

• Grenache with Brebicet (sheep’s milk brie)

Full bodied red wines tend to be earthier, have a high tannin level (= dryness) and a viscous mouthfeel. Aged cheeses and blue cheeses with robust flavors can stand up nicely to these heavier reds.

Here are some good cheeses to pair with full bodied red wines:

• Zinfandel with Manchego

• Cabernet Sauvignon with Rogue Creamery’s Caveman Blue

• Malbec with Beemster X-O 26 Month Gouda

Remember, pairings have a lot to do with your own personal preferences. Don’t overthink it. Hopefully these general guidelines help you marry wine and cheese in the most delicious ways possible!