Wine and cheese – it sounds like a classic combo, but it's actually a surprisingly difficult discipline. Not all wines go with all cheeses, and some matches can make even the best wine taste sour. On the other hand, it can also come together into a higher unity when it's successful – like a little gastronomic love affair on the tongue. Here you'll get inspiration to try it at home with simple matches and a few tips on what to look for.
🧂 Salt meets acid – this is how it works
Most cheeses have a certain fat and saltiness, while wine often has acidity, fruit and tannins. The combination can either balance each other out or clash completely. A good rule of thumb is to find contrasts that work together – for example, a creamy, fatty cheese with a fresh white wine with good acidity, or a strong blue cheese with a sweet dessert wine. It’s all about balance.
🧡 Good combinations to try
You don't need a huge cheese buffet and 12 different wines – start small and delicious. Here are some surefire hits:
• Brie or camembert + sparkling wine
Soft cheeses love bubbles. A good Crémant or Cap Classique cleanses the palate and lifts the fat.
• Goat cheese + Sauvignon Blanc
A classic match – especially from the Loire. The fresh acidity and green tones go perfectly with the slightly acidic goat cheese.
• Comté + white Burgundy or Chardonnay without too much wine
Comté has nutty notes that pair beautifully with round but fresh wines.
• Blue cheese (e.g. Roquefort or Gorgonzola) + Sweet wine (Sauternes, Port or Noble Late Harvest)
The salty and sweet balance each other in a wonderful way. One of the great classics.
• Hard cheese (e.g. Gruyère or Manchego) + red wine with soft fruit (Pinot Noir, Barbera)
Here you have to be careful with too strong tannins – go for something fruity and soft.
🧪 Experiment and be curious
The most important thing is not to hit the “right” thing – the most important thing is to taste and discover what you like. Make an evening out of it: 3-4 small cheeses, a couple of wines and maybe some bread, nuts or fruit. Make little notes if you’re nerdy – or just enjoy it all without rules. Cheese and wine don’t have to be a science. It can also be cozy.
🏡 Cheese board with wine – easy at home
You don't need to buy a lot. A good wine from the shelf, a few cheeses from the supermarket or the local cheesemonger, and you're good to go. Put it all out on a cutting board or a nice platter, and let people combine it themselves. It's perfect as part of a Friday night get-together, an informal dinner – or as a way to end an evening where dessert was skipped in favor of a little extra cheese.
👃 Use your nose and stomach
When pairing wine and cheese, use both your nose and your stomach. Smell the cheese, taste the wine, and experiment. Some combinations will surprise you – both positively and negatively – but that’s part of the charm. And who knows? You might find a new favorite duo that you’ll come back to again and again.