Born and raised in Wisconsin, cheese has always been a big part of my daily snacks and meals. I began to enjoy wine as an adult, at a time when I still preferred different types of wine. Enjoying cheese with wine seemed natural, but often the cheese would clash with the wine and not taste good Very good. If you’re like me and enjoy both wine and cheese, but don’t know how to pair wine with cheese, here’s a guide to different wine and cheese pairings.
Wine and Cheese Pairing for Longhorn Colby: Longhorn Colby cheese, produced in Wisconsin in the late 1800s, is probably my favorite cheese. Colby cheese is similar to Cheddar, but has a milder flavor, softer texture, and more moisture than Cheddar. Longhorn Colby and Colby are the same cheeses. The name longhorn refers to the long cylindrical shape used for cheese. A Longhorn Colby will have a half-moon shape while a Colby will be square or rectangular.
A nice Pinot Grigio will pair very well with Colby. My favorite Pinot Grigio wine is Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio which I have really enjoyed along with Colby. Wines sparkling-wines, Ducc Pinot Grigio Champagne pairs equally well with Colby and Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio.
Although Longhorn Colby and Colby are the same cheeses, just processed in different ways, I still think Longhorn Colby tastes better. When shopping for cheese, I always choose Longhorn Colby if it’s available. Colby cheese is best fresh and not aged as it dries quickly. A simple plate of Longhorn Colby split with a glass of Pinot Grigio works well. Add butter-flavored crackers (Ritz, Club) or sliced sweet and sour apples, such as the delicious Granny Smith, if you want a little more than simply wine and cheese together.
Wine and Cheese Pairing for Brie: Brie is a soft cheese originating from France. It can be served at room temperature or warmed, as in toasted Brie in puff pastries. Brie is available at many grocery stores. However, if not in your area, you will most likely find it in a specialty cheese store. At room temperature, Brie can be spread on thin slices of crusty French bread, crackers, or apple slices. If you choose to serve it with baked Brie, crackers or crusty French bread will work well as a delicious bowl of melted cheese.
My favorite wine to go with Brie is V. Sattui Gamay Rouge. V. Sattui Gamay Rouge should be served slightly cold, white wine served similarly. Serving this wine with Brie will take a little planning to ensure that V. Sattui wines are only available from the winery when ordered on-site or from their location. Another nice choice to serve with Brie is a light and fruity Champagne, like the Barefoot Pinot Grigio Champagne suggested above. Barefoot wines are available throughout the US.
In addition to crusty bread or crumb for Brie, strawberries and grapes are also good additions and I’ll go with both Gamay Rouge and Pinot Grigio Champagne.
Wine and Cheese Pairings for Sharp Cheddar: Cheddar cheese is available in cremes and can be defined as mild, medium, sharp, or extra sharp depending on the intensity of the flavor. Cheddar cheeses can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer. Several different types of Chedder cheese from different dairies allow you to choose the cheese that best suits your tastes.
Spicy Shiraz wines pair well with sharp Chedder, such as Wolf Blass Label Gold Sciraz or Aged Sciraz. Both are from Australia and are available in a wide range of locations nationally. To serve, sharp cheddar cheese can be cut or layered. Crusty bread or crackers go well with sharp cheddar and hard salami, either sliced or even tripled.
Wine and Cheese Pairing for Italian cheeses: Italian cheeses such as Mozzarella, Provolone, Fontina and Reggiano Parmesan. pairs well with the classic Italian wine, Chianti. One of my favorite appetizers is a fresh mozzarella, ham, and onion salad. This is simple, divide the fresh mozzarella, prepare large ripe tomatoes, and a large red or sweet onion in 1/4- unc pure Starting with the onion, slice a pile of onion, slice a tomato, then slice the mozzarella on a salad plate. Repeat the other segment. Drizzle Italian dressing or simply drizzle olive oil over the top and sprinkle with a little julienned fresh basil if available. Fresh mozzarella is not the same as the mozzarella typically used for pizza. Look for it in the specialty cheese section of your local grocer.
Da Vinci Chianti Classico pairs well with Italian cheeses as well as with Mozzarella, Tomato and Onion Salad. Da Vinci Chianti Classico is available nationwide and from E & Gallo.
Wine and Cheese Pairing for Muenster Cheese: I only tasted Muenster cheese for the first time a year or two ago. Ptolemy cheese is a mild, light-yellow, semi-soft cheese. Muenster cheese made in the US is much milder than the original varieties from France and Germany. It is the US Ptolemy that I am familiar with. Ptolemy cheese has a rind, a little darker in color than the cheese itself. I have eaten a bad thing, and it is not necessary to remove it at first.
Muenster cheese can be served sliced or tripled, similar to Cheddar cheese. I really enjoy that mild flavor with sliced red and green peppers. Muenster Cheese served on a side of triple sliced bell peppers is very refreshing with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, such as Petroni Vineas Sauvignon Blanc.
