What Cheese Goes With What Wine?

This weekend is London's Cheese and Wine Festival,  held in The Southbank Centre Square in London, and catered to those who want to discover more about the many delicious pairings that can be created with the many varieties of Cheese and Wine... You will be able to experience tasting events, and view Cooking shows from London's finest chefs! So, here at Smart Gift Solutions, we thought it perfect timing to give you a few tips on the best pairings!

Okay... there are no strict rules to finding perfect wine and cheese combinations because choosing wine and choosing cheese when it really comes down to it is a matter of your personal preference and taste.  So the particularly fantastic thing about Cheese and Wine is there are no official rights or wrongs. However, there are of course 'Classic' Cheese and Wine pairings that never fail to disappoint, such as Sauvignon Blanc and Goats Cheese or Brie and Champagne, which suits perfectly due to the creamy texture of the cheese with the acidity of the drink.

White wines match best with soft cheeses with stronger flavours  - red wines match best with hard cheeses and milder flavors - fruity and sweet white wines (not dry) and dessert wines work best with a wider range of cheeses.  Bascially the more pungent the cheese you choose, the sweeter the wine should be. Use this as a guideline when pairing at home or at a dinner party! 

And of course there is also the famously delicious Port and Stilton pairing which we sell here at Smart Gift Solutions, in the Cheese and Wine Gift Box featured to the right, for an affordably priced £30.85. Unlike White Wines, Red Wines tend to match better with harder cheese and milder flavours, which is why this combination is so perfect!

Here's a list of well known popular cheeses and suggestions for complementary wines -

Gloucester Cheese pair with  Pinot Noir or Zinfandel

Gruyère Cheese pair with a Sauvignon Blanc or an Australian Shiraz...Champagne especially vintage or Blanc is also highly recommended

Red Leicester Cheese pair with  a quality Rioja or a full and rich Australian Shiraz

Stilton Cheese pair with sweet wines Port being the favoured choice of many or a dessert wine or full bodied robust red wine

Wensleydale Cheese pair with a sweeter wine  such as a Muscat from Australia or also recommended is a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Parmesan Cheese pair with  – try with a Spanish Cava, an Amarone or a Super Tuscan wine

Goats Cheese pair with (there are so many different types of goat cheeses) a good Rhone Red or a Sauvignon Blanc or an an Italian Trebbiano

Feta Cheese pair with a full dry wine such as an Alsace Riesling or a red Beaujolias.. Retsina too, for a true Greek experience

Cheddar Cheese pair with a Sauvignon Blanc for a white or a good claret, Rhone, or Rhone styled wine from California or Australia... Zinfandel wine is great too. An Argentinian Bonarda makes a tasty, affordable alternative

So there you are, just a few tips and ideas when you are pairing cheese and wine for your cheese board :o)
Let us know via Facebook, Twitter or in the comment box below what pairings you prefer, we would be interested to know whether you break tradition with your tastes!