Pairing the perfect red wine and cheese can feel daunting. There are so many varieties of both wines and cheeses. It can feel overwhelming!
This is why we have pulled together 5 frequently asked questions to help you out, if you are a beginner.
We will explore 5 key areas that will encourage you at the start of a red wine and cheese pairing experience, with some simple to follow tips and guidelines.
However, do remember that part of the fun of learning about new stuff is to experiment and always rely on what tastes good to you, personally.
5 Frequently Asked Questions about Red Wine and Cheese Pairing
1) How do you pair red wine and cheese?
There are 3 golden rules when it comes to pairing red wine and cheese...
1: Equal Intensity
Ideally, you want both the wine and cheese to have similar intensities. This means that if you have a really strong (stinky!) cheese, your red wine needs to have a similar level of bold flavours (and possibly a higher alcohol content).
If you mismatch the intensity, then the flavour of one will always over power the other. This means you don’t get the enhancement of the flavour of both the wine and the cheese that you are looking for. They are not complementary.
2: Contrasting Flavours
Whilst you want to match on intensity, you also want to consider contrasting and complementary flavours.
This may seem a little counter-intuitive for a beginner, but a good rule is that you will find that sweet wine can pair well with a salty cheese. For example, you have no doubt heard of the classic combination of ruby port and stilton. This is a good example of complementary (but contrasting) flavours.... or, 'opposites attract'!
3: Comparable ages
Cheeses certainly aren’t aged as long as some red wines, so let’s firstly clear up that they don’t have to be the same age exactly. We don’t want you eating something long past its use by date!
However, keep in mind that something labelled as vintage cheese will pair well with red wines with a bold flavour that has probably come from being aged. Equally, ‘young wines’ will pair well with a soft or lighter cheese.
2) What are tannins?
If you are beginner, you may have heard of ‘tannins’ in red wine, but feel unsure as to what this exactly means. And, how it may affect pairing cheese and red wine together.
To explain, tannins come from the skins, stems, and seeds of grapes and are a complex compound that when in wine attach to proteins and fats in the food we eat, and clean out the inside of our mouths as we do so.
The reason cheese and red wine goes so well together, as explained by Hunter Valley Tours, is because “the fats and proteins in cheese can break down the tannins in wine, making the wine taste smoother. The cheese also coats the palate, protecting it from the harshness of the tannins.”
So, they really are complementary - working together to create fantastic flavours.
3) Can you only have red wine and cheese?
Not at all. Red wine and cheese is a very traditional pairing because many red wines are bold in flavour which complements the many bold cheese flavours we are familiar with, particularly in the UK, like Cheddar and Camembert, for example.
Fortified red wines also pair well with cheese too. As mentioned above, a sweet ruby port will often pair well with a salty cheese, such as stilton, but also other blue cheeses, like Roquefort and Gorgonzola too.
However, white wine, rose wine and sparkling wine can pair well too – as long as you follow the three golden rules above.
4) What are some quick wins for cheese and wine pairings?
A top tip for beginners is to stick to really classic red wine and cheese pairings. A simply internet search will offer you a whole list, but three classic examples include:
- Cabernet Sauvignon (a heavy red) with vintage cheddar.
- Malbec (a medium red) with goat’s cheese.
- Pinot Noir (a lighter red) with brie.
- Port (a fortified red) and stilton.
By starting with classic, well-known pairings you can get used to how the cheeses and red wine 'work together', before you start experimenting.
Learn more about pairing
specific wines and cheeses
5) What if I don't like a particular wine or suggested cheese pairing recommendation?
Can I experiment?
If you are feeling brave, then yes, as a beginner, it is a great time for you to experiment. At the end of the day, the most important bit about trying new things is that you enjoy the experience. It is personal to you.
Choose what you know you like already, and see if your favourite red and your favourite cheese go together.
If your wine of choice is overpowering a slightly more delicate cheese, then you could look for a stronger version of your favourite cheese, or something similar.
You can also make small adjustments to enhance the flavour of your favourite cheese, by adding honey or a chutney for example, to help with pairings if the stronger or more acidic flavours of the wine are just not quite working for you.
Find your favourite red wine and cheese pairing
Cheese and wine are meant to be enjoyed... and shared with good company! Find enjoyment in the mixing, matching and experimentation. Creating the cheese board and choosing the wines can be such a fun way to enjoy new flavours too.
If you all this talk of red wine and cheese has got your excited about trying new things. Then do take a look at our full range of red wine and cheese hampers:
Browse our cheese and wine hampers
There is a combination of different wines, cheeses, accompaniments and complementary products. Take a browse.
