It is no longer a secret that cheese and wine go perfectly together and that, paired correctly, they enrich each other's flavors. In fact, serving a cheese platter alongside a few glasses of wine has become a habit for gourmets.

However, with current options becoming increasingly numerous for both cheeses and wines, the decisions on how to pair them can be overwhelming. That is why we have researched and created an easy-to-understand guide to provide you with a starting point for pairing your favorite cheeses with different types of wine. Read it below!

Brie Cheese

Brie cheese is a creamy, soft, and aromatic cheese of French origin. It has a white, slightly glossy color, and on the outside, it is covered with a layer of white, edible mold (which can be consumed). The cheese's aging period is approximately 45 days, and when ready for consumption, it has a slightly spicy aroma.

Brie cheese needs a wine that pairs well with its distinct flavors, but at the same time is subtle enough not to overpower them. Suitable varieties for this type of creamy cheese are:

• Cabernet Franc
• Pinot Noir
• Pinot Blanc
• Chardonnay
• Merlot
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Riesling

Parmesan Cheese

Parmesan is an Italian cheese with a hard and slightly crumbly texture. It has a yellowish color and is covered with a yellowish-white rind. Parmesan is usually made from cow's milk and can have an aging period of between 1 and 4 years. The taste of this cheese differs depending on its aging period; the "older" it is, the spicier and more crumbly it becomes.

Regarding pairing Parmesan with wines, the perfect blend of flavors is with tannic varieties, which very effectively soften the salty and hard taste of this cheese. Suitable wines for this type of hard cheese are:

• Chianti
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Chardonnay
• Merlot
• Sangiovese
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Shiraz/Syrah

Cheddar Cheese

Cheddar is an aged cheese of English origin. It has a yellow color, a dense and hard texture, and a slightly bitter and sharp taste. Cheddar cheese is usually made from cow's milk and has an aging period of up to 18 months, and the older it is, the more intense its taste becomes.

Cheddar cheese needs a tannic wine to soften its intensity a little, giving it a more "mellow" flavor. Suitable varieties for this type of cheese are:

• Malbec
• Cabernet Franc
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Pinot Gris
• Rioja
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Shiraz/Syrah

Feta and Telemea Cheese

Feta is a soft cheese of Greek origin that is preserved, just like Romanian Telemea, in brine. Both Feta and Telemea have a white color, a salty and acidic taste, and a dense, creamy, and crumbly texture.

The soft and creamy consistency and the salty taste of Feta and Telemea cheeses go very well with a balanced and light wine. Suitable varieties for these types of salty cheese are:

• Pinot Noir
• Pinot Blanc
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Beaujolais
• Zinfandel

Blue Cheese

Blue cheese is an aged cheese with a hard texture and a harsh, intense taste—sometimes salty, sometimes slightly sharp—and a strong smell. It can be made from cow, goat, or sheep milk and contains Penicillium cultures. It is aged in temperature-controlled spaces (usually low), such as caves.

Blue cheese needs an aromatic and dense wine that offers a perfect "foil" to soften its intense flavor. Suitable wines for this type of hard cheese are:

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Port
• Dessert Wine
• Riesling
• Sangiovese
• Zinfandel

A cheese platter, along with a few glasses of wine, is a great choice whether you are planning an event, a tasting, or simply want a relaxing evening for two or with friends. Keep our recommendations in mind and enjoy the flavors of these two foods just as you deserve.