Pairings Wine

Wine pairings

Wine and cheese pairings, wine by wine

The easiest wines for a cheese board are Champagne, dry rosé and Pinot Noir. Match light wines with fresh, soft cheeses and bold reds with hard, aged cheeses; sweet port belongs with blue cheese.

Pick your bottle to see the cheeses, meats and extras that suit it, and the ones to skip.

Wine with cheese

Quick answer table

WineBest cheesesBest meats & extras
Pinot NoirGruyère, Comté, Aged GoudaProsciutto di Parma, Duck Prosciutto, Pâté de Campagne
Cabernet SauvignonAged Cheddar, Aged Gouda, Parmigiano-ReggianoGenoa Salami, Soppressata, Bresaola
Champagne & ProseccoTriple-Crème, Brie, Parmigiano-ReggianoGougères, Prosciutto di Parma, Smoked Salmon
Sauvignon BlancFresh Chèvre, Crottin de Chavignol, Sainte-Maure de TouraineWhipped Feta, Prosciutto di Parma, Smoked Trout
ChardonnayBrie, Camembert, GruyèreProsciutto Cotto, Smoked Salmon, Apples
RoséFeta, Fresh Chèvre, ManchegoProsciutto di Parma, Chorizo, Jamón Serrano
RieslingMuenster, Taleggio, ÉpoissesBlack Forest Ham, Speck, 'Nduja
MerlotAged Gouda, Aged Cheddar, GruyèreGenoa Salami, Coppa, Pâté de Campagne
MalbecSmoked Gouda, Aged Cheddar, ManchegoChorizo, Soppressata, Pepperoni
Chianti & SangiovesePecorino Toscano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino RomanoFinocchiona, Prosciutto di Parma, Soppressata
PortStilton, Roquefort, GorgonzolaWalnuts, Dried Figs, Dark Chocolate
BeaujolaisComté, Brie, MorbierPâté de Campagne, Saucisson Sec, Rosette de Lyon

Questions

What is the best all-round wine for a cheese board?

Dry sparkling wine. Its acid and bubbles suit soft, hard and salty cheeses and cured meats alike.

Red or white wine with cheese?

More cheeses pair well with whites and sparkling wine than with big reds. Choose light reds like Pinot Noir or Beaujolais for mixed boards.

What wine goes with blue cheese?

Sweet wines: port, Sauternes or late-harvest Riesling. Salt and sweetness balance each other.

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