Your Guide to White Wine & Cheese
My husband and I recently took a trip to Tennessee to visit my sister in law and her husband. We had a wonderful time with them strolling through the shops and gazing up into the glorious snow white peaks. We stopped in at one of the many wine shops to have a tasting and I was instantly transported back to summer when I had their Riesling. A nice glass of white wine reminds me of a cool evening, a much needed vacation, a spring wedding, and the trip I took to Germany. So why am I writing about it in the dead of Winter? Who knows? Maybe it’s because every quintessential Southern belle loves it no matter what time of year or maybe it’s because you have to know the rules in order to break them. Whatever the reason, I'm inspired and you're along for the journey.
I am not claiming to be an expert on the subject by any means. The study and testing of wine is much more of a hobby to me. With that being said there are some fool proof rules I have learned with trial and error. The first is that pairing wine and cheese is always about contrast of flavors and my does sweet love salty. The salt in savory cheese will always heighten the perception of the natural sugars in the wine. This creates a delicious flavor sensation bringing both flavors to forefront in a harmonious culinary marriage. A second way to pair is with physical texture to complement . A “heavy” Oakier wine will always pair well with creamy buttery cheese. Light bubbling refreshing wines go well with hard and semi-soft cheeses. The last way to pair is by region. For example, Spanish wines go well with Manchego because they are from the same region. A lot of the cheese rhines are actually washed and cleaned with the wine of the region. These rules don't always work flawlessly but they work in a pinch.
Let's move on shall we? I will get to the cheat sheet now. Here is some basic information about five popular white wines. They will go in order from dry to sweet:
1.) Pinot Grigio is the second most popular wine in America and for good reason. Perhaps it's the sophisticated name that makes one feel larger than life or maybe it’s the notes of honeysuckle and green apple. Pinot Grigio is a refreshing dry wine perfect for a hot summer's day and as refreshing as ice tea. Pinto Grigio is a very underrated wine. Hipsters and wine snobs alike will generally turn up their nose to, it hailing it as too simple. I did too, until I tried it in Europe. Pinot Grigio can be delicious and complex. The trick is to not buy cheap! Cheap white wine is a no- no, Most of the time you will end up with a skunky rust taste. Think $12 and up.
Here are a few to try; Santa Margherita $20( my husband proposed to me with this one)
-Cramele Recas 2013 Dreambird $7
Pairs well with : Mozzerella & Gruyere
2.) Sauvignon Blanc is known for its refreshing crispness, which is due to high levels of acidity and smaller amounts of sugar. The word Sauvignon roughly translates to savage meaning "wild" because the grape grew like a weed throughout the French region. Sauvignon Blanc wine is refreshing and affordable. It is an easy to drink wine with notes of apple, floral, lychee, and, sometimes grassy undertones.
Try: 2013 Le Jaja de Jau Pays d'Oc $12
2016 Prophecy $9-$16
Pairs with: Taleggio, Chevre, other various goat milk cheeses
3.)-Chardonnay is one of the most popular wines on earth. You can find it virtually anywhere on the globe. It gets a bad rap though as its taste profile can shift drastically depending on who makes it. That has to do with the cast it is made in. If you don’t like the oak flavor look for a bottle that says un-oaked or opt for an over $10 and something thats not mass produced. Chardonnay is also an easy drinking fruity wine that is sweet but dryer than Riesling or Moscato with sometimes vanilla undertones.
Try: 2016 Bear Hug Winemaker Select $15
2014 Matchbook The Arsonist Dunnigan Hills $21
4.) Riesling is a deliciously crisp wine that tastes like apricots, peaches, pears, and apples . It typically comes in a tall slender glass bottle. Riesling originates from the Rhine river region in Germany & Austria. It can be both sweet and dry depending on the time of year and elevation of the city it is grown in. Riesling is my favorite white wine because of its complexity and potential of broad flavors.
Riesling pairs well with long talks, friendship, and a good acidic dish or a savory cheese. As we get to the sweeter vines you want to think of more pungent cheeses to balance out the natural sugars. A fresh chèvre pairs nicely or try some Parmegenio Regginio or blue cheeses for a nice contrast.
Try: 2014 Madsen Family Cellars "Beri's Delight" Rattlesnake Hills Sweet Riesling $18
5.) Ice Wine- So I'm mixing it up a little bit with this last one. You we're probably thinking I would say Moscato, eh? Nope. I personally don't care for it. (sorry guys, just my personal opinion.) I'm talking about Ice Wine. Ice Wine is very very sweet and made from harvested frozen grapes. Legend has it that a wine maker in Germany many years ago accidentally let his vineyard freeze over. He made wine from the frozen grapes instead of counting it as a loss. Voila, Ice wine was born! Ice Wine can be costly but makes for a nice treat on special occasions.
Try: Chateau des Charmes Vidal for $29 or Heringer Estates Late Harvest $20 Pairs well with Chambert , Muenster, and maybe even Swiss.
Cheers! Check out my store where you can purchase all of these wines!
