How to Pair Cheese With Wine Like a Party-Planning Pro

May 31, 2012

If you plan to host a high-end or upscale event, then you also probably plan to serve the default high-end snack and drink combo – Wine and cheese. But with more and more wines to choose from along with more and more cheeses to choose from, how can you go about pairing your wines and cheeses in a way that leaves your visitors satisfied and remembering your little get together fondly? It seems so simple, and yet it is an essential skill if you plan to host a social event. Here are 3 wine and cheese pairing tips that should keep you safe:

1. Hard or strong types of cheese go best with more bitter wines. For example, a New England extra sharp cheddar will go well with a young red wine.
2. Conversely, soft or creamy cheeses usually go well with something like champagne or chardonnay, which have distinctly more acidity to their taste and after flavor.
3. When it comes to taste as opposed to texture and tang, a salty or savory cheese will usually go best with a sweeter wine, while a sweeter cheese will usually go nicely with a bitter wine.

As you can see, learning how to complement your cheeses with your wines is really not that difficult as long as you know a few basic rules. Keep these in mind and show off your hosting skills at your next party!