Historical records indicate British wine merchants often repeated the adage “buy on an apple and sell on cheese.” In other words, if a wine tastes good with a sweet, acidic apple, it is likely to taste well with many cheeses. From this bit of history we can assume that merchants and diners have long been taking into account the unique way wines and cheeses work together to complement one another.Similar to the “white wine with fish and red wine with meat” theory is the traditional idea of pairing strong wines with strong cheeses. Full-bodied wines are often paired with strong, flavorful cheese. It is widely believed among wine historians that this concept originated in the early winemaking days in France.
It is also recorded and noticeable hundreds of years back, that wine and cheese from the same region have been served together for generations. In fact, historians have noted an obvious correlation between the geographical origins of wines and cheese when it comes to historical pairings.
This makes plenty of sense: Many cheese and wine varietals have grown up together, oftentimes on the same farm or within a small village. Passed down from generation to generation, these pairings continue to exist centuries later.
Alsace wine route
French Wine & Cheese Regions
The French Brie region, for instance, has long been noted for its Brie cheese production, as well as many tannic wine varietals, such as Beaujolais. This is one of the most popular wine and cheese pairings, and has been for centuries.
Italian Wine & Cheese Regions
Italy, another major wine and cheese producer, boasts a rich wine and cheese pairing history with strong ties to regionalism. For instance, Italian Asiago cheese is often recommended alongside Italian Chianti or Brunello, which originated near the same region.
Here are some more delicious cheese and wine pairings and tips:
Hard Cheeses (Comté, Emmental, Grana Padano, Gruyère, Manchego (sheep), Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino (sheep):
Try a rich, dry white wine or a light to medium-bodied red wine, as their tannins and weight will work well with the structure of the cheese. For the easiest cheese match with your wine, look for one that is relatively young and relatively hard – not too much strength or age.
Soft Cheeses (Brie, Camembert, Neufchâtel, St-Marcellin, Vacherin):
Be careful here, as many of these cheeses have big personalities, especially as they age. Wines that have good acidity to cut through the high fat content of these wines would work well.
Blue Cheese (Bleu d’Auvergne, Bleu des Causses, Cabrales, Gorgonzola, Stilton, Roquefort):
The classic match is sweet wine. It works particularly well if the cheese is creamy. With Stilton, for example, you get the complement from the creamy texture of the cheese and structure of the wine, as well as the contrast from the salty and sweet.
Goat/Sheep Cheese (Goat: Crottin de Chavignol, Picodon, Ragstone, Tymsboro, Valençay; Sheep: Azeitão, Ossau-Iraty, Roncal, Serra de Estrela):
The classic pairing is Crottin de Chavignol with Sancerre. Feel free to break the rules here, as long as you stick with a fresh wine with lively acidity. Avoid very mature sheep or goat cheeses as they can be very strong.
Join us at the Rose Garden Hotel Yangon to experience hobnob wines in the relaxed setting with friends and families at our Veranda Bar on 20.09.2018:
- Montagne Noire Viognier Blanc V12
- Chapoutier Petite Ruche Rouge “Crozes-Hermitage”
- Chapoutier Ciboise Luberon Rouge
- Michele Chiarlo Albarossa Monferrato
- Springfield Estate Wild Yeast Chardonnay
- Devaux Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne
We will have over 30 international cheeses including raclette, scraped fresh from the grill, freshly baked bread, and some wonderful cured meats, along with groovy tunes from the sax & piano.
Rose Garden’s Wine & Cheese Soiree – renowned as Yangon’s best wine and cheese event.
Please book in advance, the pre-booking price is US$ 22:00 net and it will be US$ 26 net on the door. Tickets are available for sale online or at our reception.
Contact the Rose Garden Hotel Yangon on +95 1 371992 or by email info@theroseyangon.com
