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Wine and Cheese Pairing Tips for Summer Entertaining
Special To The Truth
Summer is a time for
picnics, festive garden gatherings and poolside parties. For
hot days and warm evening entertaining, keep things cool by
creating a delicious, yet easy-to-prepare spread of wines,
cheeses, fresh fruits and nuts.
Choosing cheeses to go
with your favorite wines does not need to be difficult.
Start by thinking of each component of the wine and cheese
as a complementary or contrasting flavor, considering the
texture, sweetness and flavor intensity of each. Experiment
by tasting each on its own to get a sense of its
characteristics. Then, see how they taste when combined. You
can do this on your own while planning your event or make it
a fun activity with your guests.
As part of their
hospitality program, the culinary team at St. Francis Winery
& Vineyards in Sonoma County, CA looks to local cheese
producers for interesting choices to pair with their
certified sustainable wines. To help hosts recreate the
winery experience at home, here are a few pairing tips for
preparing summer spreads that feature some of the best wines
and cheeses of Sonoma County:
Pair wines and cheeses of
equal flavor intensity. Bold wines can overwhelm some
cheeses. One pairing example of balanced flavor intensity is
Laura Chenel Goat Brie paired with St. Francis Sonoma County
Chardonnay 2016 (SRP $16.99). The goat brie is delicious for
summer, with a light creamy quality that carries notes of
grass and nuts and has a clean lemony finish. The Chardonnay
has delicate aromas and flavors of green apple, juicy pear
and melon. The combination is a bright, crisp wine that
nicely matches the cheese’s flavors and weight.
Pair bold reds with aged
cheeses. Aged cheeses are richer in flavor. This aspect of
their character counteracts the tannins of a bold red wine,
making for a delicious pairing. Consider serving Vella Dry
Monterey Jack, an aged cheese similar to Parmigiano with a
sweet flavor reminiscent of butterscotch, with Sonoma Valley
Merlot 2015 (SRP $20.99). The expressive Merlot, with aromas
and flavors of red cherry, plum, espresso bean and savory
spices, complements the cheese beautifully. The aged Dry
Monterey Jack cheese highlights the smooth texture of the
Merlot wine.
Add an array of fresh
fruits to your spread. After assembling the cheese board,
add color and texture with fresh fruits of the summer
season. Strawberries, cherries, grapes, raspberries and figs
are festive choices. For an added cool factor, put frozen
green grapes in your glass of Chardonnay to keep it chilled
without diluting the flavor.
With these pairing tips,
you are sure to have an entertaining and delicious cheese
and wine filled gathering.
Courtesy StatePoint
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