Most of us love indulging in wine over the festive period. Indeed, 20% of us are looking forward to a glass of red with our Christmas dinner, while 18.8% will be opting for a white (wine) Christmas.
Ultimately, there’s no better partner for your favourite tipple than some gorgeous cheese. TikTok has seen an explosion in cheese-related videos, with the hashtag #cheeseboard garnering over 901 million views and the festive hashtag #christmascheeseboard receiving over eight million views.
The hashtag #cheeseandwine has over 36 million views, highlighting how many of us are looking for great pairings to share with friends and family. But how to select the cheese that will pair perfectly with your selected wines?
Susie Townend of fine wine merchant House of Townend, has some top tips for creating that perfect Christmas pairing to ensure your festivities go off without a hitch.
Key findings
• 20% of us are looking forward to a glass of red wine with our Christmas dinner.
• 18.8% will be opting for white wine this Christmas.
• The hashtag #cheeseboard has over 901 million views on TikTok.
• The festive hashtag #christmascheeseboard has over 8 million views on TikTok.
• The hashtag #cheeseandwine has over 36 million views on TikTok.
• 35% of respondents to a 2023 survey claim Stilton is among their most-hated foods.
• Gorgonzola is aged for around three to six months to give it that distinctive tang.
What to pair with Stilton?
Many people turn their noses up at Stilton cheese because of its distinctive blue striations, with 35% of respondents to a 2023 survey claiming Stilton is amongst their most-hated foods. But this cheese is beautifully rich and mellow. One of the more pungent cheeses, Stilton does carry a strong smell but this only enhances the intensity of the flavour!
Those blue veins are actually Penicillium mould spores. While this may sound off-putting initially, the mould itself – Penicillium roqueforti – is not harmful to humans and works to give the cheese its distinctive creamy taste.
Gewürztraminer 2021, Dopff & Irion
This dry white wine is zesty and aromatic, with notes of lychee and grapefruit, as well as a lick of ginger and spice.
Susie says: “Thanks to its round, soft palate, this well-balanced wine brings out the flavour of Stilton beautifully. The lychee flavours of the Gewürztraminer balances perfectly the saltiness of the Stilton for a truly stunning flavour profile.”
Sauternes 2020, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, Sichel
This French dessert wine is rich and indulgently sweet, balancing well with the tang provided by Stilton.
“A Sauternes is often full-flavoured and stunningly sweet,” Susie comments. “You may be able to taste a fruity undertone with such wines often carrying mango or pineapple notes, providing the perfect foil to the salty tang of your Stilton.”
What to pair with Gorgonzola?
Gorgonzola is another blue cheese, but one with a much creamier texture than Stilton. Its blue veins are much lighter and it has a much milder taste, too. It’s aged for around three to six months to give it that distinctive tang.
Gorgonzola is available in two varieties: dolce and piccante. Dolce has a sweeter, creamier taste and is soft enough to eat with a spoon, while piccante Gorgonzola has a stronger taste, with clearer sections of blue striations.
Chianti 2021, Duca di Saragnano, Barbanera
This wine is soft, fruity and smooth. Susie says: “Red wine pairs well with the bold flavour of Gorgonzola cheese, offering a delightful flavour combination.”
Chiantis are often bright red in colour and carry a distinctive savoury flavour, endearing them to stronger flavours, such as piccante Gorgonzola.
Verdicchio di Castelli dei Jesi 2022, Pontemagno
Susie also recommends a lighter, white wine to pair with Gorgonzola cheese: “The fruitiness of the elegant and crisp Verdicchio truly works to complement the salty taste of the Gorgonzola.”
Although the Verdicchio has a delicate flavour, it is also rich with great character, making it the perfect partner to tangy blue cheese.
What to pair with Brie?
Brie is another gorgeously creamy cheese, with a buttery, smooth texture and a gorgeous melt-in-the-mouth middle. There are many different varieties on the market, each with different levels of creaminess. An aged Brie will have a stronger, fuller flavour profile, while a young Brie has a milder taste.
The rind of this particular cheese is also edible and carries a distinctive, tangy flavour that enhances the overall indulgent experience. Always make sure to check the rind for signs of cracks and mould – a quality Brie should have a creamy, white rind.
Beaujolais Villages 2022, Domaine Pardon
Susie recommends pairing your Brie with a juicy Beaujolais: “Soft and ripe with an undertone of berries and bramble, this delicious red wine will offset the buttery profile of your Brie perfectly.”
Some Beaujolais also carries flavours of violet and raspbery, making for an interesting flavour combination, especially if you’re indulging in the mushroom-like taste of the Brie rind.
Chardonnay 2022 Les Argelieres
This versatile white varietal encompasses a wide variety of flavours and finishes, but Susie recommends choosing a bottle that has undergone the ageing process with oak: “This process brings sweet notes of vanilla to the wine, helping to bring out the subtle creaminess of a younger Brie.”
A Chardonnay is generally a full-bodied wine with buttery undertones that pair well with both younger and older Brie cheeses. The recognisable flavours of apple and citrus fruits can evolve into more exotic notes of papaya and pineapple!
What to pair with goats cheese?
Goats cheese is well-known for its distinctive smell – like Stilton, this particular cheese has a bit of a bad reputation. But when paired with the right wine, it can offer a fresh and exciting tasting experience!
Although many goats cheeses are soft, you can find firmer varieties with different flavour profiles. Depending on how the cheese is produced and for how long it is aged, goats cheese can be tangy, mild and even quite sweet.
Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Le Charme
A classic pairing for goats cheese, Sauvignon Blanc is crisp, bright and juicy. Susie explains: “This pairing works so well because the acidity and citrus flavour of the wine brings out the earthy, herbal taste of the goats cheese.”
The aromatic notes of the Sauvignon Blanc balance out the rich, gamey flavour of the goats cheese, creating the perfect match.
What to pair with Manchego?
This fragrant Spanish cheese has an intense, creamy flavour profile. With hints of fruitiness and a nutty undertone, this hard cheese is sweet and immediately distinctive.
If you prefer a stronger, full-bodied cheese with a distinctive aftertaste, try aged Manchego, whilst a
semi-cured Manchego profiles a softer, milder flavour. A semi-cured Manchego has little ‘eyes’ running throughout its interior, providing a fuller, richer aftertaste.
Muerza Rioja Crianza 2016, Bodegas Ugalde
This red wine delivers a rich, bold taste profile with a variety of potential flavours depending on its ageing process. Susie explains: “Younger versions of a Rioja will feature overtones of red berries, while those that have been left to age for longer will incorporate more vanilla and caramel tones.”
This rich, tannin-high tipple will meet aged Manchego with bold, bright flavours while balancing out the milder taste of a younger Manchego cheese.
Verdejo 2022, Oro de Castilla
This delicate white wine pairs beautifully with a lighter, younger Manchego cheese. With layers of elderflower and citrus fruits and a bright, fresh palate, this wine is both subtle and refreshing.
However, Susie points out: “When aged for longer, this fruity wine takes on a richer flavour profile with nutty undertones, making it the perfect partner for an older Manchego.”
What to pair with Gruyère?
Gruyère cheese carries a nutty, creamy flavour, ranging from mild, green undertones when young and a sharper zest once aged. Firm and yellow in colour, Gruyère hails from Switzerland and usually undergoes an extensive ageing process for six months or longer.
Pinot Noir 2020, Scotchmans Hull, Geelong, Australia
This red wine is typically refreshing and complex. Susie comments: “A great Pinot Noir is compelling and beguiling, a symphony of flavours with notes of cherry and raspberry that will offset the nuttiness of a Gruyère.
“When aged in French oak barrels, notes of spice and a hint of vanilla can also become apparent, further enhancing the creaminess of this firm cheese.”
Kuki Riesling 2020. Marlborough, New Zealand
This white wine offers a more refreshing pairing, with a more natural flavour palette. Susie comments: “With a good Riesling, you can expect delicate fruit flavours, ranging from lime and apple to peach and apricot, perfectly balancing the rich nuttiness of your Gruyère.”
What to pair with Wensleydale?
Wensleydale cheese is pale in colour with a delicate, mild taste. Often crumbly and moist, this cheese is traditionally made with sheeps milk, enhancing its sweetness. This particular cheese becomes firmer as it ages, while retaining its fresh, milky flavour.
Viognier 2022, Los Coches, Argentina
Susie recommends pairing a glass of Viognier with your Wensleydale cheese for a mouthwatering combination: “With its smooth, rounded finish and perfumed ripe peach notes this rich and spicy white wine delivers a punch of flavour, enhancing the milder notes of Wensleydale cheese.”
With Susie’s tips and an understanding of the flavour profiles of all your favourite cheeses, you’ll be the master of the cheeseboard this festive season.
Whether your guests are looking for a mild Wensleydale or a bright, bold Stilton, you’ll be able to select the perfect wine pairing to tantalise their tastebuds.
That's Christmas would like to thank Susie Townend and her family business, www.houseoftownend.com
FACTFILE: House of Townend was established in 1906 in Yorkshire and has remained in the ownership of the same family for well over 100 years. For four generations, the business has built direct relationships with some of the world's best and finest wine producers. Its buying emphasis lies firmly with the smaller, quality-led, and often family-owned, wine estates and domaines that possess like-minded philosophies.
Whilst the traditional wine producer is an important part of its portfolio, House of Townend works hard at being at the cutting-edge of the wine world, too. House of Townend seeks out the new star performers, ensuring it gets into the supply chain before the new suppliers become renowned and obtaining product becomes impossible.
(Image courtesy of Image by Hansuan Fabregas and Pixabay)
