Today's Tip : WINE AND CHEESE PAIRING

I usually encounter some friends asking me what cheese best pairs with a certain wine. So, I thought of posting my tips on some wine and cheese pairing. The next time you decide to host a small cocktail party, these tips might be of help. Read on...

CHEESE	WINES
Brie	Sancere, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a light Beaujolais
Camembert	dry Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, unoaked Chardonnay or Chablis
Cheddar	Claret, Rhone, Zinfandel, South African Cebernet, or Chateauneuf-du-Pape (for mature cheddar) cru Beaujolais
Edam	Beaujolais, Valpolicella
Emmenthal	Sauvignon Blanc (any New World Type), Riesling, Macon Blanc
Feta	Greek Whites, Pouilly Fune or any dry white
Goat’s Cheese	Sancerre, Pouilly Fume, dry Gewurtztraminer, Chinon Rose or a light cru Beaujolais
Gorgonzola	Austrian Gewurtztraminer Trockenbeerenauselese or any botrytized sweet wine (botrytized wines are commonly called wines with “noble rot” or Edelfaule)
Gruyere	Fendant, Alsace Pinot Gris, Rhone White or Gewurtztraminer (for aged Gruyere)
Manchego	Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Siraz
Mozzarella	Light reds like Chianti and Beaujolais or light crisp whites
Munster	Alsace Gewurtzraminer or red Burgundy and red Languedoc
Parmesan	Valpolicella or any Sangiovese-based wine or Claret
Raclette	Fendant
Roquefort	Sauternes, Barsac, Monzbazillac or any botrytized sweet wine, Port, Madeira or Marsala
Tomme de Savoie	Powerful White Bordeaux, Chardonnay, Alsace Pinot Gris or Sicilian White

My other General Tips on Wine and Cheese Matching:
1. Fresh & creamy cheeses should be matched with light crisp whites having ample acidity.
2. The stronger the cheese, the more powerful or heavier the wine should be.
3. Dry white wines and light red wines are usually matched with soft and semi-soft cheeses.
4. Pungent cheeses (with strong sharp taste and smells) should be matched with powerful whites and/or medium bodied reds.
5. Hard cheeses with strong flavor (aged Gruyere, old Gouda, mature Cheddar & Manchego) should be matched with full-bodied red wines ( but not the fine, mature-type of reds).
6. Never match a tannic red wine with a creamy cheese.
7. A lot of cheeses are too strong or too greasy-textured to be matched with fine mature reds.

If you have specific query on wine and cheese pairing, just e-mail me at I will gladly share info with you. Cheers!