What to Serve with Cheese and Wine

The true cheese connoisseur needs nothing more than a wedge of cheese and a carafe of wine to be in seventh heaven. However, sometimes, it is necessary to consider the tastes of others and create a stunning centrepiece for a wine and cheese party.

A well-stocked cheese board is always a thing of beauty, but unfortunate individuals who cannot eat cheese will need an alternative. Mixing up flavours and textures with different accompaniments is fun.

Here are some great ideas to inspire you.

Wine and cheese pairings

Serving wine and cheese that complement each other is essential.

Wine and cheese are a great combination because the fats in the cheese and the acids in the wine combine to give a satisfying taste sensation. Wine and cheese varieties have a broad spectrum of tastes and textures, and getting the correct pairing can seem like a minefield.

If you are going to offer a traditional cheese board with soft cheeses, hard cheeses, blue cheese, goat cheese, and maybe vegan cheese, then you may need a few varieties of wine to complement the different flavours.

It's best to keep it simple. If in doubt, crisp white wines complement many cheeses. However, if you'd like your wine and cheese party to be a more sophisticated gathering, then read on.

Soft cheese with white wine - or red

Soft cheeses like Brie, Camembert, and goat's cheese have earthy, salty notes that pair well with palate-cleansing crisp white wines like Sauvignon Blanc, unoaked Chardonnay, or Pinot Grigio.

Tannic red wines would overwhelm the creamy deliciousness, but light-bodied reds like Pinot Noir would make an interesting accompaniment to soft cheese.

Hard cheeses pair well with red wines

Hard cheeses pair well with tannic red wines.

Full-flavoured, hard cheeses like aged Cheddar, Parmesan, and aged Gouda taste even more delicious with full-bodied wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, but sweet or fortified wines like Port and Madeira are also worth consideration.

Blue cheese and sparkling wines

Blue and stinky cheeses need a wine that will complement their strong umami taste.

The refreshing qualities of sparkling wine make it an ideal partner for your Stilton and give wine and cheese parties a celebratory feel.

Parmesan and Prosecco is another strong cheese and sparkling wine pairing to consider.

Other treats for your wine and cheese party

A tasty loaf

French bread batons are ideal for spreading runny Brie, Camembert, or young cheeses, but you could also choose a handmade sourdough with a robust flavour and satisfying texture.

Biscuits for cheese

Crackers or biscuits are essential for guests to load their cheese or cured meats, and plain and salty crackers have their place.

Flavoured crackers mix well with soft cheese, while plain crackers allow the full flavour of aged cheese to sing.

Nuts

Cheese and nuts are a classic combination, but you could add some zing to the cheese board by serving spiced or salted nuts with creamy cheeses.

Charcuterie

A fine selection of cured meats, such as prosciutto, chorizo, and parma ham, will satisfy carnivores and complement everything on your cheese board.

Medium-bodied red wine is an excellent foil for charcuterie.

Fish

Smoked salmon surrounded by fresh herbs makes a fantastic centrepiece for your table.

Salmon mixes well with creamy cheeses, but you could also serve salty anchovies or smokey-grilled sardines to add a savoury spark.

Serving smokey fish gives you a good reason to open a bottle of aromatic wine, perhaps a sophisticated Pinot Gris.

Olives

The robust salty flavour of marinated olives or the fruitier taste of green olives make an ideal accompaniment to cheese and charcuterie.

Fruit and preserves

Fresh and dried fruit with cheese and wine is another classic pairing.

The sweetness complements blue cheese's strong flavour, while some of the acidity of fresh fruits, like apple slices, can cut through the buttery creaminess of a Brie or Camembert.

Remember preserved fruits, pickles and caramelised onions.