By Aillinn Brennan • Special to The Current
Red, white and rosé wines all have their perfect cheese mate. Sauvignon Blanc, the perfect summer sipper with his refreshing grapefruit-ie freshness, tropical fruit notes and characteristic tartness pairs perfectly with the grassy, tangy and tart Chèvre, a French goat cheese.
Rosé, light and fruity is the essence of summer in a glass and provides a nice contrast to a decedent Cremeaux De Bourgogne, a cheese from the Burgundy region in France. It’s a triple cream which in cheese lingo translates to a cheese made from cows’ milk that is enriched with cream.
To be the real deal in Burgundy it must have a fat content of 75% or more. It’s the butter of cheese! This gooey, sweet and nutty cheese is delicious with the lightness of a rosé. Add some sweet seasonal fruits and you have the perfect summer cheese plate.
When we picture a wine and cheese pairing there is a glass of red wine in it. A California Cabernet Sauvignon, with its, bold astringent oakiness, big fruit dark berry and stone fruit flavors like black currant, plum, and ripe cherry is an easy pair with many cheeses. Think of it as the easy button of wine and cheese pairing.
A favorite to try with that bold red is a Grana Padano, a cheese from the Emilia-Romagna region in northwest Italy. This cheese closely resembles the more familiar Parmigiano-Reggiano. It is made from raw (unpasteurized) cow’s milk.
“Grana” means “grain,” which makes for a cheese with a flaky, crystalline and chewy texture. Big red wines have a lot of tannins, which causes them to be drying on the palate. Cheese with its fat content remedies the situation creating a sip, nibble, repeat cycle. It’s why we love it!
When in doubt, scout it out. Cheeses are regional, and are produced with many rules, just like wines. A Bordeaux wine can only be called a “Bordeaux” if it has been produced under a bunch of complicated rules.
It’s the same with cheese. The foods and drinks that are produced under these regional rules tend to go perfectly together. These are what the people who live in these regions have enjoyed eating and drinking together for centuries.
For example, the Gascony region of France is famous for its Pâté, and guess what pairs perfectly with Pâté, the sweet white wines which are also produced in this region.
In Spain, the La Mancha region produces wonderful red wines made from the Tempranillo grape which have cherry, leather and earthy notes. The same region also produces the famous Manchego cheese made from the milk of the Manchega breed of sheep. Another, love thy neighbor match.
So, a sip and staycation this summer? Wine and cheese are your ticket!
Aillinn Brennan is proprietor of The Marion Hose Bar located at 16 W. Broadway in Jim Thorpe.
For more visit www.marionhosebar.com
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