Wine Cheese Pairing

Certain foods are unquestionably better together: tomatoes and basil, French fries and ketchup, peanut butter and jelly, and wine and cheese, which is our favorite combination because they're a perfect pair: the aromas and acidity in wine serve as a palate cleanser between bites of cheese, helping cut the fat that coats the mouth.

We’ll take any excuse to throw together a solid cheese board. Pairing our artisanal cheese with the right wines can elevate the flavors and take your tasting experience to the next level, so be sure to select varieties that complement each other for optimal indulgence.

Organize the order. Order your tastings from lightest mouth feel and lowest alcohol content. By working your way toward the heaviest and most complex tastes, you’ll be able to enjoy the experience without running the risk of lighter tastes being overpowered by stronger, bolder flavors.

Serve (and store) at the right temp. Room temperature is ideal when tasting cheeses. In order to experience the full range of notes and flavors, be sure to remove your cheese from the fridge with enough time to come to room temperature before you taste.

Maintain balance. The cheese should not overwhelm the wine, and the wine should not overwhelm the cheese. Think about matching levels of intensity and you'll be off to a great start. Choosing similarities in complexities is important when pairing wine and cheese. For example, pair sparkling wine with a delicate, soft cheese.

Take your time. There is no right or wrong way to enjoy a pairing, but as a general rule, taste the cheese, then taste the drink, then try together as a pairing. Also, be sure to take time as you taste. Breathe through your nose as you taste, and notice the aromatics and flavors of the cheese, the wine and how the pairing mingles together.

White Wine + Gouda Cheese. A Sauvignon Blanc is a solid choice here. It has citrus notes and tropical flavors which make for a youthful, elegant and fresh taste with a lingering, zesty finish. Our pick for a Gouda is our Smoked Gouda - young, aged, smoked or flavor infused.

Sparkling White + RAW Cheddar. Bubbles are actually a fun, forgiving pairing partner. Match a dry sparkling white with crisp acidity with a rich cheese, like Spring Hill Jersey RAW White Cheddar which can be very intense, flavor-wise. With high acidity and that strong pungeant flavor, a full-bodied white wine can help mellow things out and still highlight what's great about the white cheddar. Plus, if you pair with a sparkling white you'll have an interesting textural pairing too.

Rosé + Asiago Cheese. Choose a Provençal-style rosé with delicate flavors of strawberry, rose petals, and herbs. Its bright, refreshing acidity will make it a perfect fruity companion with Spring Hill Jersey Asiago Cheese. 

Red Wine + Colby Cheese. We love a big, bold cabernet sauvignon with flavors of blueberry, blackberry, and toasty vanilla layered with notes of espresso. These bold flavors will pair perfectly with a mild cheese like Spring Hill Jersey Colby Jack Cheese.

Fresh is best. Fresh, milky, mild cheeses (like mozzarella) make a wonderful pairing canvas for rosé. Avoid pungent cheeses (like our 3-Year RAW) that could overwhelm the delicate flavors in the wine.

Skip the sweet. Reach for dry wines over sweeter bottles. The acidity in dry wines helps to balance the richness in the cheese. While a sweet wine can be a fun pairing with super bold cheeses (think big blues), dry wines are more versatile for many different cheeses and give you more to play with in terms of variety.

White is more forgiving. The tannins in red wine can be harsh and abrasive up against the wrong cheese, so make sure to pair reds with full flavored cheeses that have a good balance of acidity and fat.

MARKS Artisans presents cheese, butter and curds on the plate for wineries, restaraunts and private events.