Red Wine & cheese

Visiting few dozen cheese shop and testing wine with those Cheeses here i am again.cheese  and red wine is another natural match. Red wines can stand up to more pungent flavors in cheese. Stinky and richly scented cheeses are often too much for more delicate white wines. However, many richer red wines have meaty and earthy aromas of there own which can pair nicely with many types of rich cheeses. Also, their fuller body and rich structure can buffer very sharp cheeses with an intense personality. Here are some general types of red wines and the cheeses that pair well with them. As with food, try pairing wines that have similar profiles, matching richly flavored cheese and red wine that has similar, rich flavors. Also look for natural pairings from the same region, such as Italian truffle cheese (Boschetto al Tartufo) with Barolo or Barbaresco. Here are some more tips on red wine and cheese pairing which i learn talking to expert and testing my own .


1-Light, Fruity Red Wines
The Wines: Lighter, fruity wines include Beaujolais, Gamay and other wines with less structure and a lighter-body. While they can be richly flavored, they do not have as much weight and power in your mouth as fuller-bodied wines.

The Cheeses: Look to lighter-bodied wines such as Feta, Mozzarella, Jarlsberg and Swiss. However, just because they are lighter in body doesn't mean they can't stand up to earthy or pungent flavors. Some of these wines will do well with stinky cheeses like Morbier, Muenster, and Raclette.

2-Medium-Bodied Red Wines
The Wines: Medium-bodied wines include some Pinot Noirs, some Italian wines, and lighter versions of Zinfandel, Merlot and others.

The Cheeses: Look to slightly richer cheeses with pronounced personalities to stand up to these rich wines. Some examples are Emmentaler, Manchego, Morbier, Port Salut, Provolone, and Smoked Gouda.

3-Full-Bodied Red Wines
The Wines: Rich, full bodied wines include Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah-based wines, Shiraz, and Italian Barolo, Barbaresco, Amarone and Brunello, among others.

The Cheeses: More intense, sharply flavored cheese and red wine of these types make a great pairing. Some examples are sharp, aged Cheddar, aged Fontina and Gouda, Grana Padano, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino-Romano. The full flavors of the wine can stand up to the strong, salty flavor of the cheese. Even some milder blues can work, such as Blue Castello. Northern Italian wines like Barolo, Barbaresco and even Barbera are a natural match for truffled cheeses like Boschetto al Tartufo.

4-Cheese and Red Wines that are "Stinky"
The Wines: There are many red wines that naturally have a quite pungent, meaty and sometimes even stinky aromas. While this may not sound like a good thing, in the right wine it can be a great complexity that works quite well and makes these wines unique. Examples can be anything from the smokey bacon and meat flavors of some Syrah-based wines. Other examples are the Burgundy "funk" of some rich red Burgundies which can be anything from meaty, to earthy to downright stinky and "barnyardy". Some southern French wines like Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Bandol can also be quite meaty and earthy as well. These flavors add a complexity that allows them to stand up to very rich, pungent cheeses as well.

The Cheeses: These types of wine demand a big, rich, meaty cheese to pair with. While these pairings are not for the wine beginner who is wary of anything to intense, when you learn to appreciate them they can be some of the most delicious and hedonistic combinations of cheese and red wine. Examples of this type of cheese include washed-rind cheeses like Epoisse, Affidelice, and Pié d'Angloys. These pair beautifully with many rich, meaty red Burgundy, Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Bandol. However, because of the intensity of the smell of these cheeses, their presence at table can make it hard to appreciate the nuances of the aromas and flavors of a great wine.

Wine Dr.

KHAN CS,CSW

red wine & cheese

i will be posting my next blog within few days as i am finishing up
Thanks
khan
CS.CSW

White wine & Cheese

After week long hard work and drinking few bottles wine and testing some cheese here is my little idea and observation .white wine and cheese pairing is not that hard. White wine works well with a variety of different types of cheeses. And when you get a great combination, pairing wine and cheese can result in a nearly religious experience! There is almost nothing in the world we love more than some great cheese with great wines. As with pairing wine with food, first look for natural matches, like matching cheeses from a particular region from white wines from nearby. For example, many Italian white wines pair beautifully with various types of Mozzarella cheese. Also look to match the overall flavor profile. Pungent, richly-flavored white wines can stand up to more strongly flavored cheeses while more mild and light-bodied whites are better with more tame cheeses. Generally, very sharp, hard, aged cheeses pair better with red wines.

1-Italian white wines
Most Italian white wines are on the bright and crisp side of the spectrum. These pair nicely with mildly flavored, creamy cheeses such as Mozzarella. In particular, if you can find fresh Burrata, a fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream, it can be one of the most perfect pairings with crisp, savory Italian whites. The cheese has an outer shell of solid mozzarella and the inside is a mixture of Mozzarella and cream, giving it a creamy, soft texture when cut. Drizzled with olive oil, Balsamico, salt and/or pepper and served with bread, this makes an awesome accompaniment to lighter-bodied white wines. This can be a great white wine and cheese dish

2-Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a unique grape because while it is lighter to medium-bodied with crisp acidity, it also can have quite pungent flavors to stand up to more strongly flavored cheeses making for interesting white wine and cheese combinations. Such wines include Sauvignon Blanc from California, New Zealand and white Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Bordeaux from France. Many cheeses will work here, but some examples include Bucheron, sharp Cheddar, Double Gloucester, dry Jack, various Chevres (goat's milk cheeses) and Gruyere. It can even stand up to some milder blues like Blue Castello.

3-Gewurztraminer
As the name implies ("gewurz" means spicy), this grape can have a quite pungent and distinctive personality. It is often a "love it or hate it" grape, causing people to have quite polarizing opinions. While some people love the unique, pungent flavors which often seem like lychee fruit and roses, others are put off by how different and unique it is. This is nothing like Chardonnay! Most of the best examples come for the Alsace region in France but you can find examples from around the world. Pair this white wine and cheese such as Boursin, Chevres and Swiss-type cheeses. They pair nicely with the round, rich texture of the wines.

4-Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc is a potentially noble grape varietal which really hits its best stride in the Loire Valley of France, although some interesting examples can come from South Africa, where it is called Steen. In particular, Savennières and Vouvray can be sublime! While the former is generally dry, Vouvray can range from dry (sec) to off dry (demi-sec) very sweet (moelleux). This silky and perfumed grape pairs well with a number of cheese but we particularly like it with local Loire cheese like Loire Chevres. It is full flavored enough to stand up to the likes of Blue Castello, Camembert and Brie type cheeses as well.

5-Riesling
Riesling is truly a noble grape and my personal favorite if i can or have a power to change the name of the grape i will called it KHAN, making world-class examples of dry and sweet wines from many areas, most notably Germany, Austria and Alsace. It is a high acid grape that gives a bright and intense character which can be anything from light to full-bodied and quite sweet. It has enough power and body to stand up to cheeses with a lot of flavor like Cheshire, Colby, Edam and young Gouda, to name a few. Very sweet examples, like Alsatian SGN's or German TBA's pair well with richer blue cheeses, like other dessert wines.

6-Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the most famous and widely planted white wine grapes on the planet. It also happens to make some outstanding wine which can make great white wine and cheese pairings. Its character can vary considerably depending on where and how it is produced, from the steely and mineral wines of Chablis to rich, round and buttery Californian Chardonnays. Generally though, it has a full-bodied feel and rich flavors so that it can stand up to many cheeses. Some examples are Brick, Brie, Bucheron, Mild and Medium Cheddars, Gruyere, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Provolone, and young or smoked Gouda.

Cheers and  Enjoy

your Wine Dr.

Khan CS,CSW