Wine and Cheese Pairing Does Not Require Years of Experience

When trying to put together a wine and cheese pairing, the only thing you have to know is: If it tastes yummy, do it! I’m sure you’ve heard all the fancy chefs sharing about what cheese works with a wine; however, when you make your selection, it’s all about personal taste. You may prefer one cheese with a particular wine while someone else may like an entirely different pairing. My typical recommendation is for you to be in a mood a fun afternoon. Choose several cheeses and several wines. each person will find what combination is best for themselves. You will enjoy yourself more if you are open to all combinations. wine and cheese pairing will create conversation. It will be fun. It will be delightful. And it will be lots of fun.

Cheese and wine are quite similar, and they have been enjoyed together since olden days. Both are products of fermentation. Both may be consumed while fresh, simple, and young or in their more complicated forms when they are mature.

When joined, wine and cheese bring out the best in each other, and even the experts can’t agree on any absolutes in the wine and cheese pairing match game. Now obviously, if you’re reading this, you’re a snob like the rest of us, and with snobs, there’s no worry about errors in wine and cheese pairings — say like snacking on Cheese Whiz while sipping boxed Franzia.

There are no hard and fast rules as to which wines should regularly be served with a particular} cheeses. There is a tradition that cheeses of a certain geographic region are best paired with wines of the same region. But, just as one bottle of pinot gregio from the France is not like that of another vintage or another producer, neither is one quesco cotija exactly like another. Both are living and constantly changing. This is what makes pairing cheese and wine fascinating as well as delicious.

Even though it comes down to personal taste, certain general rules have been approved by most of enthusiasts. Here are some of those general guidelines:
• White wines match favorably with soft cheeses and stronger flavors.
• Red wines match favorably with hard cheeses and milder flavors.
• Fruity and sweet white wines (not dry) and dessert wines match favorably with a wider range of cheeses.
• The more snappy the cheese you choose, the sweeter the wine should be.
• Rapport should always exist between the cheese and the wine. They should have similar strength. There should always be a parity - strong and powerful cheeses should be paired with similar wines and delicate cheeses should be paired with lighter wines.
• A complete list of well paired wine and cheese pairings can be found at temecula-wine.net.

When offering several cheese brands in a wine and cheese pairing spread, white wines are better than reds. That’s because several cheeses, particularly soft and creamy ones, leave a layer of fat on your tongue that interfere with the taste of reds, creating a taste that is monotonous and bland.

Quite the opposite, most of those sweeter whites combine with most cheeses. Additionally, the “sparkle” in a sparkling wine or champagne can help clean the fat in heavier cheeses.Therefore, the spicy zing of a Gewürztraminer or the peachy zip of a Riesling is perfect if you’re going for a wide appeal.

If you’re new to cheese tasting, pick a big wine to back it up. Try a French Bordeaux or a buxom California Cab. Ports and dessert wines are your good pairing if you like mold-donned or blue-veined cheeses.

When serving several wines, choose Parmigiano or Romano cheeses. They go with most wines.
A Wine and Cheese Pairing Party to Remember

Here are a few ideas for setting up a memorable wine and cheese pairing dinner for your friends:
• Purchase your cheeses in large wedges for the best presentation.
• Cheeses should be eated at room temperature. Pull them out of the frig a couble of hours prior to your dinner.
• Serve most wines refridgerated — whites between 50-55 degrees and reds between 60-65 degrees.
• Let your reds breathe 15-20 minutes after you open them.
• Create handwritten name cards for all your cheeses.
• Display cheese on a cheese tray, a wood cheese board, or even a nice piece of china.

Ultimately, the perfect wine and cheese pairing is not a guideline that professional chefs dictate. It is a match made on the taste buds of individuals of all tastes. Start with some basics and then try the unfamiliar. You will be surprised which couple will be your choice pairings.

David Cragg is an SEO expert for the Temecula wineries with over 30 years of work experiance. His work started with IBM and then was supported by Microsoft. Today he is retired and offers his suppport to winery managment to support with their SEO to support expand their businesses. You can read more about his work for Temecula wineries at http://temecula-wineries.net/AboutUs.html.