Whether you are planning a dinner party or a date night, wine and cheese is classy and elegant to serve! Pairing wine and cheese will mean a delicious and successful night. I have a few suggestions for best pairings of simple and affordable wines and cheeses.
Wine and cheese spread can be the center of your date night or served before or after the meal.
We had a date night the other night to celebrate the end of my school semester. I realized we have never had a wine and cheese spread. I always wanted to have a wine and cheese night and I’ve been doing some research for a while.
I got a beautiful new serving trey and I wanted to show it off. This was just the perfect way to display my new trey and have a wonderful night. The night was great and so was the spread!
So let me introduce this new serving trey first! This is actually a beautiful Carve and Serve station from Nambé.
It’s the sort of versatile classic that everyone should have around holidays. The moat design around the edge makes this ideal for carving up juicy meats of all kinds. The polished wood and Nambé alloy handle design adds elegance to any classy night. Don’t confine it to dinner, though. This is a gorgeous serving trey, so load it with fresh French bread and an array of fruits and cheeses and don’t forget the wine!
I’m in love with how elegant and sophisticated this Carve and Serve station is. Don’t be fooled by it’s elegance, this station is high quality made of a durable and thick wood and solid, beautifully crafted alloy.
Let’s talk wine…
Wine and cheese is a classic combination and there is a reason for that. It’s delicious if paired right! This is why I’m putting my long research into this simple breakdown for you! I chose to show simple and affordable options. If you are a wine condenser, this would be way too simple for you…
There are a number of considerations when it comes to choosing wine and cheese, such as texture, acidity, fat, and tannin. Tannins are derived from the skins, stems, and seeds of the grapes used to produce the wine. They are usually dominant in younger wines and ease up in ages wines.
Harder types of cheese can handle more tannic wines and creamy cheeses, such as Brie, would be better with wines that have more acidity, like a Chardonnay. If you like sweet wines, blue cheese is your best bet.
To give your cheese trey a little more flavor, try experimenting with drizzling some honey over cheese.
*Note, these are suggestions, you can be rebellious and try your own pairings!
By Cheese:
Aged Chedder– Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel
Blue Cheese – Port, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Sweet Wine Blends
Brie– Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Sparkling Wine and Champagne
Gouda – Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Rose
Gruyere– Beaujolais, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz
Parmigiano Reggiano – Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti, Merlot, Prosecco, Red Blends
Monterey Jack – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
By Wine:
Cabernet Sauvignon – Cheddar, Colby, Blue, Gorgonzola, Gouda, Parmesan, Blue cheese, Roquefort
Chardonnay – Brie, Goat cheese, Gouda, Gruyere, Parmesan, Provolone
Merlot – Brie, Cheddar, Gorgonzola, Gouda, Gruyere, Jarlsberg, Parmesan
Pinot Noir– Brie, Feta, Gruyere, Monterey Jack, Muenster, Swiss, Gouda
Port– Blue, Gorgonzola
Riesling– Brie, Blue, Colby, Edam, Gouda, Monterey Jack
Sauvignon Blanc– Asiago, Brie, Cheddar, Feta, goat cheese, Gruyere, Parmesan
Zinfandel– Asiago, Blue, Feta, goat cheese, Gouda, Gruyere, Muenster
Beaujolais– Brie, goat cheese
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I will be sharing this recipe at the wonderful parties in my party tab + Weekend Potluck, and Rattlebridge Farm. Swing by and link up your own projects!
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Disclosure: I’ve received this Carve & Serve Station from Nambe at no charge, all the opinions and photographs are my own. I was not compensated for this post!
Malbec Cheese Pairing says
Thank you so much for sharing this! I will definitely try it next time. Wine and cheese pairing is simply awesome and I have mentioned this in my blog too.
Cindy Howell says
Thank you so much for sharing this! Now I’ll actually know what I”m doing the next time I attempt to offer guests wine and cheese. 🙂
Cindy from Superheroes and Teacups
lyuba says
🙂 You are most welcome! Thank you for a sweet comment!
Gloria // Simply Gloria says
This is absolute genius. I’ve been wanting to do a wine and cheese party later after the new year. But, had no idea what went with what. Love this post! Pinned AND bookmarked.
lyuba says
Wait no more! Do it 🙂
Thank you for a sweet comment and sharing love!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats says
Love this! Super helpful. Can’t wait to try this the next time hubbie and I do a date night in with appetizers and wine. 🙂
lyuba says
Awww, you definitely should, it’s so romantic 🙂
Thank you!
Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says
Saving this post for when I’m not preggers and I can have a wine & cheese party! Woo hoo!
lyuba says
You can celebrate with a platter 🙂 🙂
Thank you, Cathy!
Jelli says
Thanks for this list. My husband and I attend a wine tasting almost every year around this time and enjoy it a lot, but we aren’t very savvy on what goes with what. Personally, I think I could down Riesling with almost anything. Thanks so much for giving me some cheese and wine guidance, Lyuba.
lyuba says
Haha, too funny 🙂
Thank you, Jelli! I am yet to go to a wine tasting here and I live 30 minutes away from a winery. Although, when we were in Sonoma, the wine tasting tour was awesome!
Renee @ Two in the Kitchen says
I could eat wine, cheese and grapes for dinner!! Nice post! I love the tray!!!!
lyuba says
It turned out to be our dinner and we really enjoyed it 😉
Thank you, Renee!
Linderhof says
We enjoy ending a dinner party with wine and cheese! But I should remember to do that, too, when it’s just us!
lyuba says
Definitely! Thank you 🙂
Jenna says
What a beautiful tray! I want to host a wine and cheese party this winter, thanks for the pairings!
lyuba says
Thank you, Jenna! So happy to help!