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Royal Crest

Cheese & Wine

Wine makes a wonderful accompaniment to cheese, but which to choose? Here’s the Paxton & Whitfield light guide to pairing the perfect cheese and wine.

Which cheese goes with which wine?

Firstly, the good news. There are so many cheeses to choose, and so many wines, that you don’t need to feel restricted. If you find a wine you love, there will be a selection of cheeses to suit. If you find a cheese you love, there will be a selection of wines to try. If, like us, you generally enjoy all cheeses, and generally enjoy all wines, even better – welcome to a wonderful world of exploration!

Red, white or sparkling?

Most people automatically pair a red wine with cheese. However, red, white and sparkling wines all make good accompaniments. All you need to bear in mind is that a delicately flavoured cheese will work best with a similarly delicately flavoured wine. Conversely, an older, more mature cheese is best enjoyed with a fuller-bodied wine.

As a guide, you should also try to:

  • Pair salty cheese with sweet wine.
  • Contrast rich, creamy cheeses with sparkling wine or Champagne.
  • Match cheeses and wines which come from the same region, like Alsace Gewurztraminer and Munster.

Use the table below to choose wines which work with your favourite cheese types.  But our main advice is to try lots of different cheese and wine pairings to find out which you personally enjoy the most.  Feel free to share your recommendations with other cheese lovers over on our Facebook page!

Style of Cheese
Best served with
Most Dry White Wines
Muscadet, 
Loire Sauvignon (Sancerre), 
Chenin Blanc Dry (Vouvray), 
New World Sauvignon Blanc, 
Côtes de Duras White Wine
Light Reds
Red Loire (Chinon/Bourgeuil), 
Beaujolais, 
Côtes de Duras Red Wine
Other
Dry Cider
Fuller Whites
Côtes de Duras Blanc
White Burgundy (Pouilly Fuissé), 
Alsace Gewurztraminer, 
Viognier/Condrieu
Fruity Reds
Bordeaux, Côtes du Rhône,
Other
Real Ales or Tawny Port
Fuller Whites
Chardonnay, 
Maçon, 
White Burgundy
Medium Reds
Red Burgundy, 
Merlot Pomerol, 
Cabernet Sauvignon
Other
Medium cider
Soft Fuller Flavour
Brie de Meaux
Langres
Epoisses
Fuller Whites
Côtes de Duras Blanc
White Burgundy, 
Reisling, 
Viognier/Condrieu, 
Unoaked Chardonnay (Chablis), 
Puligny-Montrachet, 
Meursault
Characterful Reds
Douro, 
Syrah, 
Rioja
Fortified
White Port,
 Old Tawny Port
Vintage Port
Sweet Whites
Sauternes, 
Tokaji, 
Monbazillac
Fortified
Old Tawny Port
Vintage Port
Bual Madeira
Other
Sloe Gin
Dry Whites
Chablis, 
Loire Sauvignon (Sancerre), 
Gavi
Medium Reds
Pinot Noir, 
Beaujolais
Other
Somerset Brandy, 
Champagne
Fuller Whites
Côtes de Duras Blanc
White Burgundy, 
Alsace Gewurztraminer, 
Viognier-(Condrieu)
Medium Reds
Red Burgundy, 
Merlot, Pomerol, 
Cabernet Sauvignon, Medoc, 
Rioja
Other
Light Ales