The fusion of wines and cheeses

Aaaaaaah cheeses , this product continues to make mouths around the world salivate with its incredible variety in taste and texture. And if cheeses had a childhood friend, a right arm or a soul mate, it would be wine! It allows the aromas and flavors of cheeses to be expressed and vice versa, which makes this striking duo very attractive in the eyes of many epicureans. But not all cheeses go well with all wines, and that's where it gets complicated because a poorly chosen pairing can quickly end in divorce. So how to choose them? We obviously won't be able to cite them all, but we will see some famous examples from the cheese world .

Which wine with the Comté?

It is one of the hard cheeses like Beaufort or Swiss Gruyere. It's the easiest type of cheese to pair with full-bodied red wines like a Malbec from Argentina , a Chianti from Tuscany or a Rioja from Spain. The fat of this cheese harmonizes wonderfully with the powerful tannins found in these wines. They can also pair with a Pinot noir from South Africa , the United States or Chile, often more structured on the palate than the majority of Burgundian Pinot noirs.

Which wine to pair with Camembert?

It belongs to the family of soft cheeses such as Brie and Brillat - Savarin. This type of cheese goes extremely well with Chardonnays aged and/or fermented in oak barrels because they have buttery and nutty aromas that combine very well with the creamy texture of the cheese. We obviously find this type of wine with Chardonnay from Burgundy but also with Chardonnay from South Africa , New Zealand , the United States and even Argentina .

In another register, sparkling wines made using the traditional Champagne method such as Champagne, Crémant or Cava d'Espagne also make a surprising pairing. Their fine bubbles bring a spicy side and their brioche notes combine wonderfully with the creaminess of the brie and offer a very comforting contrast.

Which wine with goat cheese?

With its farmy and slightly earthy notes, it is not the easiest cheese to pair with, to the point that the majority of red wines are often poor choices. On the other hand, when combined well, this cheese can become a pure delight for the palate. The citrus and mineral notes of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc , South African Chenin or German Riesling bring out the wonderful vegetal and nutty flavors that can be found in this cheese. We can also think of lesser-known but equally interesting wines with this pairing, such as a Grüner Veltliner from Austria or a Vinho Verde from northern Portugal .

Which wine to pair with Roquefort?

This spicy, powerful and salty cheese is part of the blue cheese family like Gorgonzola or Stilton. Try it with a glass of Port at the end of your meal. Indeed, its sweetness and power will balance this cheese and reveal its blue-veined notes. You can also choose a pairing with a late harvest Gewürztraminer whose floral and spicy notes will soothe the power of the cheese. Finally, a Moscato d'Asti from Piedmont also works particularly well with Gorgonzola. This sweet and sparkling wine from Italy, with its fine bubbles and exotic notes, will refresh the palate to continue with the indulgence.

Which wine to pair with Reblochon?

Reblochon is part of the family of washed rind cheeses like Epoisse or Munster. These cheeses can be combined with a wide range of wines such as aromatic white wines like Gewürztraminer from Alsace or Torrontes from Argentina . Depending on the strength of the cheese, they can also be paired with light fruity red wines such as a Pinot noir or a Gamay. Finally, a lively and expressive Riesling or a round and delicious Pinot Gris will go particularly well with Munster.

So in the end, we're not going to lie, it will obviously be difficult to put out all these bottles on a platter of various cheeses. However, it is interesting to know how to combine these two products of French gastronomy if the opportunity arises and to enhance their respective flavors...