How do you pick a cheese for your red wine?

[ack]

I have to admit I am in the dark in this department.

 

[flez007]

For me the easy rule is, the strongest/aged the wine is, chesse follows.

 

[rsbeck]

I personally don't care for red wine with cheese. I don't find it a good pairing. I much prefer white wine with cheese. It all depends on your taste buds, but in my opinion, you want contrasts. What I mean is this; if you've got a dry cheese, you don't want a dry wine with it -- too much dry. If you've got a sweet, buttery cheese, you don't want a sweet buttery wine, too much butter and sweet!

If your cheese is sweet and buttery, like Brie for example, you want a wine with some acid and mineral to cut through, refresh your palate and let the two emphasize the best qualities in each by providing contrast. IMO, a fabulous pairing is a Muscadet. That's Muscadet, not Muscat. Muscat is a sweet dessert wine, Muscadet (moose-ka-day) is a light crisp, minerally white wine from the Loire Valley in France. (This is also a fabulous wine to drink with Oysters!)

You can get great Muscadet for $12 to $20.

Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc) is another fabulous choice with sweet buttery cheese. I like Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre because it tends to be crisp and that's what you want.

Champagne will also make a wonderful pairing.

I have never really found a wine that pairs well with a cheese like Sharp Cheddar, so I just don't serve it with wine, I grate it and put it over chili and eat that with a nice Chianti.

 

[rsbeck]

Another good choice for some kinds of cheeses is Port.

You get a dry salty cheese and let it play against the sweet, but tannic Port and you have yourself a little slice of heaven.

 

[muralman1]

We go to the wine tastings at CG d' Arie where there is always a dozen or so fine Blue and Cheddar sourced from American farm cheese makers. With the wine tasting the pourer suggests a cheese, or meatball, or cakes or..... It is all in fun, but you do get to taste the best in cheeses and wine.

 

[flez007]

For all of you that will attend CES in Vegas, there is a fine French restaurant at the Wynn that has an imported cheese table to die for.... The sommelier is more than capable to suggest the best wine to go with it.... Cheers!