So, you want to serve some cheese with wine. How do you know which goes with what? Keep this tip in mind, aim to match boldness of a wine with boldness of cheese.
Let's look at these broad types of cheese. Fresh and creamy cheese, salty, hard cheese, high fat content cheese, semi-soft nutty flavors and strong, sharp cheese.
Fresh and creamy cheese with a range of textures and flavors can create balance with higher acid wines, light bodied whites, rose` or fruit forward light-bodied red wines. Our Monarch Nectar with fresh Mozzarella or cream cheese/fig spread is heaven.
Salty and hard cheeses like aged Cheddar and Manchego typically have sharp, nutty flavors, getting saltier with age. The higher salt content mellows tannins in medium to full-bodied red wines. Try Monarch Grove Cabernet Franc and Malbec!
Soft cheese like Brie and Camembert have a velvety white rind formed by an edible mold. These popular cheeses become creamier with age. Combine with light or full-bodied white wine and fruit forward light-bodied reds. Monarch Grove Pinot Noir or Sangiovese make a dynamic pairing.
Semi-soft cheese often have salty, nutty, or savory flavors. Fontina, Monterey Jack, Asiago and Havarti are a few examples that pair nicely with dry light-bodied and full-bodied white wines as well as medium-bodied red wine. Monarch Grove Chardonnay or Petite Sirah would be my pick.
Blue cheese can be sharp, tangy and salty.The pungent, strong flavors need a fruit forward or sweet wine to counterbalance the intensity. Pair with aromatic white wines, full-bodied red or dessert wine. My choice would be Monarch Grove He Said Red Dessert wine. A delicious ruby port that is not too sweet!
So, at your next gathering whichever you choose, have fun trying different cheese and wine pairings. As with most things, it's a matter of personal taste. We hope you will include Monarch Grove wines in your next pairing.