Top pairings

Wine and Cheese Pairing for Beginners

Posted by Fiona Beckett (Google+) on July 25 2023 at 07:12

Wine and cheese are well known bedfellows but if you’re a beginner it might seem daunting to decide exactly which wine to choose for which cheese. This guide will quickly help you to get started pairing wine and cheese like a pro.

Which wine with which cheese?

You might be wondering, should I start with the wine or the cheese?

Most beginners to wine and cheese pairing will be starting with a particular cheese or looking for wines for a cheeseboard. So I’ve broken things down by cheese type. (For cheeses to pair with your favourite wine see below)

Wine with Hard Cheese

To gain full access to this article and other premium content you need to purchase a bundle of credits which you can do as a one-off purchase or - and this is better value if you consult the site regularly - on an ongoing subscription basis. (1 credit = 1 article)

To buy credits you need to register an account, which which is easy to do here. Or just sign in to your account if you already have one.

If you’d like be able to check out all the food and wine pairings on the site you can buy a bundle of credits here to access my premium content.

And/or for regular updates on what and where I’ve been eating, drinking and travelling sign up for my weekly newsletter Eat This, Drink That, Live Well.

You may also enjoy …

Cheese and Pickles: Take your cheese board to the next level with homemade pickles

Stilton quiche and white burgundy

Radicchio, pickled pear and blue cheese salad and Le Bistro Montmija white

Tags: melted cheese stinky cheese blue cheese goat cheese camembert brie cheddar wine pairing wine and cheese food:cheese

Comments: 7 (Add)

luxury on August 12 2024 at 13:16

This blog post by Fiona Beckett provides a beginner-friendly guide to pairing wine and cheese, breaking down the best combinations based on cheese types. It suggests pairing medium-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon with hard cheeses, and fruity reds like Pinot Noir with soft cheeses. The post also explores classic pairings, such as Sauvignon Blanc with goat cheese and Sauternes with blue cheese, while encouraging experimentation to find personal favorites. Overall, it's a useful resource for those new to wine and cheese pairing.

Tama Zorn on March 28 2024 at 02:36

I actually find a good Madeira works well with a mixed board: we like the board to include cow, sheep, goat and hard, creamy and blue so we need something very flexible

Sue Levine on November 21 2023 at 17:13

So happy to have found your website. I only wish your books were in print. I'm not great on the computer. Loved the information you have so generously shared.

Sara on December 22 2021 at 23:53

Thank you, this was very helpful!
I'll be making a cheese board with hard cheeses (various cheddars, parmesan, perhaps gouda) and I wasn't sure if I had to go with white or could bring a red (my preference). And for some reason I was fixated on fresh grapes and dried apricots & figs (when thinking of fruits) but fresh crisp apple slices are a great match for cheddar!
Thank you for the helpful info.!

Bev Watkinson on June 23 2021 at 15:55

What kind of cheese would you choose for a nice rose?

Fiona Beckett on February 6 2021 at 07:31

So glad you enjoyed it!

Ivana on February 5 2021 at 19:37

Great article! Thank you!
I will definitely try all combinations :D

« Later entry Earlier entry »