| When trying to put together a tasty wine and | | | | choose, the sweeter the wine should |
| cheese pairing, the thing you have to know is: If | | | | be.o Rapport should always exist between the |
| it tastes right, do it! I am sure you have heard | | | | cheese and the wine. They should have similar |
| all the best known chefs explaining about what | | | | intensities. There should always be a balance - |
| cheese works with which wine; however, when | | | | strong and powerful cheeses should be paired |
| you make your selection, it is all about personal | | | | with similar wines and delicate cheeses should be |
| taste. You may prefer one cheese with a | | | | paired with lighter wines.o A complete list of well |
| particular wine while someone else may like an | | | | paired wine and cheese groupings can be found at |
| entirely different pairing. My recommendation is | | | | temecula-wine.net. |
| for you to be in a mood experiment and | | | | When offering many cheese brands in a wine and |
| enjoyment. Choose several cheeses and several | | | | cheese pairing, white wines fair better than reds. |
| wines. You will find one pairing that is best for you | | | | Thats because several cheeses, particularly soft |
| and another for someone else. You cannot go | | | | and creamy ones, leave a after taste of fat on |
| wrong. wine tasting parties will create | | | | the palate that interferes with the flavor in reds, |
| conversation. It will be interesting. It will be | | | | making them monotonous and bland. |
| delectable. And it will be enjoyable. | | | | Just the opposite, most of those sweeter whites |
| Cheese and wine have a great deal in common, | | | | nicely complement most cheeses. The sparkle in a |
| and they have been enjoyed together since days | | | | sparkling wine or champagne can help break |
| gone by. Both result from fermentation. Both | | | | through the fat in heavier cheeses.Therefore, the |
| may be consumed while fresh, simple, and young | | | | spicy zing of a Gewurztraminer or the peachy zip |
| or in their more complicated forms when they | | | | of a Riesling is perfect if you are going for |
| are aged and mature. | | | | wide-reaching appeal. |
| When paired up, wine and cheese bring out the | | | | If you are an adventurist and willing to try the |
| best in each other, and even the experts cannot | | | | stinkiest of cheese, pick a big wine to back it up. |
| agree on any absolutes in the wine and cheese | | | | Try a French Bordeaux or a buxom California |
| pairing match game. Now certainly, if you are | | | | Cab. Ports and dessert wines are your best |
| looking into this, you are a highbrow like the rest | | | | combination if you like mold-donned or blue-veined |
| of us, and with snobs, theres no worry about | | | | cheeses. |
| errors in wine and cheese pairings — say like | | | | To be safe while having several wines, choose |
| nibbling american cheese while sipping boxed | | | | Parmigiano or Romano cheeses. They go with |
| Franzia. | | | | most wines. |
| There are no hard and fast rules as to which | | | | A Wine and Cheese Pairing Party to Remember |
| wines should always be served with a particular | | | | Here are my tips for setting up a group pleasing |
| cheeses. There is a tradition that cheeses of a | | | | wine and cheese pairing affair for your friends:o |
| certain geographic region are best paired with | | | | Purchase your cheeses in big chunks for a |
| wines of the same region. But, just as one bottle | | | | memorable display.o Cheeses should be served |
| of zinfandel from the France is not like that of | | | | at room temperature. Pull them out of the frig |
| another vintage or another producer, neither is | | | | several hours prior to your affair.o Serve most |
| one Brie exactly like another. Both are living and | | | | wines fairly cool — whites between 50-55 |
| constantly changing. This is what makes combining | | | | degrees and reds between 60-65 degrees. o Let |
| cheese and wine fascinating as well as fun. | | | | your reds breathe 15-20 minutes after you open |
| Even though it comes down to personal taste, | | | | them. o Print typed name cards for all your |
| certain general rules have been proven favorable | | | | cheeses. o Display cheese on a cheese tray, a |
| by most of chefs. Here are some of those | | | | wood cheese board, or even a nice piece of china. |
| general guidelines:o White wines pairs well with | | | | Ultimately, the perfect wine and cheese pairing is |
| soft cheeses and stronger flavors.o Red wines | | | | not a rule. It is a match made on the palates of |
| pairs well with hard cheeses and milder | | | | each of your guests. Start with the basic rules |
| flavors.o Fruity and sweet white wines (not dry) | | | | and then rebel with the new pairings. You never |
| and dessert wines pairs well with a wider range of | | | | know which couple will eventually be your choice |
| cheeses. o The more snappy the cheese you | | | | selections. |