Wine and Cheese Pairings - A Guide

Wine and cheese is one of those pairings that just works. It has done for centuries, from French farmhouse tables to modern dinner parties and there is genuine science behind why the two taste so good together. But with hundreds of cheeses and thousands of wines to choose from, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming.

This guide makes it simple. We'll explain why the pairing works, give you three easy principles to follow and then walk through the best wine matches for every major type of cheese. 

Why Do Wine and Cheese Go So Well Together?

The answer is chemistry. Cheese is rich in fat and wine is naturally acidic. When you eat them together, the fat in the cheese coats your palate and softens the tannins in the wine. At the same time, the wine's acidity cuts through the richness of the cheese, refreshing your mouth and making you ready for the next bite.

This is why the pairing feels so balanced. The cheese takes the edge off the wine and the wine stops the cheese from feeling too heavy. The French have understood this instinctively for centuries, traditionally serving cheese towards the end of a meal once the wine is already flowing. The cheese rounds out the wine and the wine makes the cheese taste even better.

Three Simple Principles for Pairing Wine and Cheese

You don't need to be a sommelier to pair wine and cheese well. These three principles cover the majority of situations:

1. Match the intensity. Bold cheeses need bold wines. Delicate cheeses need lighter wines. A punchy aged cheddar can stand up to a full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, but a gentle fresh goat's cheese would be completely overwhelmed by the same wine. Think of it as volume - you want the cheese and the wine at roughly the same level.

2. Complement or contrast. You can go two ways. Complementary pairings match similar qualities: a creamy Brie with a smooth, lightly oaked Chardonnay, for example. Contrasting pairings play opposites against each other: salty Stilton with sweet Port, or tangy feta with a crisp, acidic Sauvignon Blanc. Both approaches work. It comes down to what you enjoy.

3. If in doubt, match the region. Cheese and wine from the same country or region almost always pair well together. Manchego with Rioja, Comté with Burgundy, Parmesan with Chianti. Centuries of local food culture have already done the pairing work for you.

Wine and Cheese Pairings by Cheese Type

Hard Cheeses (Cheddar, Red Leicester, Parmesan etc.)

Hard cheeses are the easiest to pair because they work with almost everything. Their bold, concentrated flavours, firm texture and low moisture content mean they can handle big wines without being overpowered.

Best red wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja, Malbec, Shiraz. Full bodied reds with good tannins are a natural match for mature cheddar and Red Leicester. The tannins bind with the fat in the cheese, softening the wine and bringing out the nutty, savoury notes in the cheese.

Best white wines: Oaked Chardonnay, Viognier. The richness and weight of an oaked Chardonnay matches the intensity of a good cheddar surprisingly well. This is an underrated pairing. If you haven't tried cheddar with Chardonnay, it's worth experimenting.

Also works with Sherry, Port, and medium-bodied reds like Tempranillo.

Our cheese wedges include varieties like mature cheddar, Red Leicester, and Smoky Oak that pair brilliantly with red wine. The vacuum sealed 100g portions are ideal for a wine and cheese evening - you can open several varieties without committing to full blocks.

Soft Cheeses (Brie, Camembert, Goat's Cheese)

Soft cheeses are creamy, delicate, and often subtly flavoured. They need wines that complement their richness without steamrolling the flavour.

Best white wines: Chardonnay, Champagne, Chenin Blanc. Sparkling wines are particularly brilliant with Brie and Camembert. The bubbles cut through the creaminess and refresh the palate. This is one of the best kept secrets in cheese pairing - Champagne and Brie is a genuinely world class combination.

Best red wines: Pinot Noir, Beaujolais. Light bodied reds with low tannins work well because they don't overpower the cheese. Pinot Noir's red fruit character pairs beautifully with the buttery richness of Brie.

For goat's cheese: Sauvignon Blanc is the classic match. Its crisp acidity and herbal, citrus notes are a perfect foil for goat's cheese's tangy earthiness. A dry Provencal rose also works well, especially in summer.

Blue Cheeses (Stilton, Roquefort, Gorgonzola)

Blue cheese is where pairing gets more adventurous. The bold, salty, tangy flavours of blue cheese need a wine that can match their intensity without clashing.

Best sweet wines: Port, Sauternes, late harvest Riesling, Tokaji. The classic rule for blue cheese is to pair it with something sweet. The sweetness balances the salt and funk of the cheese, creating a contrast that's greater than the sum of its parts. Stilton and Port is the quintessential British pairing for good reason.

Also works with: Full bodied reds like Syrah/Shiraz or Amarone can hold their own against milder blues like young Gorgonzola. Sparkling wine (Champagne or Cava) also works surprisingly well, cutting through the richness with acidity and bubbles.

Our Port & Cheese Deluxe Hamper pairs a quality Port with a selection of cheeses including vintage truckles and is designed specifically for this classic combination.

Semi-Hard Cheeses (Gouda, Gruyère, Emmental, Comté)

Semi-hard cheeses tend to be nutty, slightly sweet, and versatile. They sit comfortably in the middle ground, which makes them easy to pair.

Best red wines: Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cru Beaujolais, Tempranillo. Medium-bodied reds are the sweet spot here. Merlot's smooth, fruit-forward character works particularly well with Gruyère and Comté.

Best white wines: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner. Aromatic whites bring out the nutty, slightly caramelised flavours in aged Gouda and Comte.

Regional match: Aged Gouda with a Rhone red, Comte with a white Burgundy, Emmental with a Swiss Chasselas.

Fresh Cheeses (Mozzarella, Ricotta, Feta)

Fresh cheeses are mild, tangy, and high in moisture. They need light, refreshing wines that won't overwhelm their delicate flavours.

Best white wines: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, Muscadet. Crisp, dry, unoaked whites are the natural partners here. A Pinot Grigio with buffalo mozzarella and tomato is a classic combination for a reason.

Best sparkling wines: Prosecco, Cava, or a dry Crémant. The lightness and acidity of sparkling wine pairs beautifully with fresh cheeses, especially as part of an antipasti spread.

For feta: Sauvignon Blanc or a dry rosé. Feta's saltiness calls for something with good acidity to balance it.

Our Cheese & Prosecco Gift Box pairs a bottle of Prosecco with a selection of cheeses - a great match for lighter cheese styles and a ready made gift for wine and cheese lovers.

Quick Reference Wine and Cheese Pairing Chart

Use this at-a-glance chart when you're standing in the wine aisle wondering what to grab.

Best Wine for a Cheese Board

The challenge with a cheese board is that it typically includes several cheeses with very different flavour profiles. Finding a single wine that works with everything is tricky, but there are some reliably good options:

Best all-rounder red: A medium-bodied, mellow red. Rioja Reserva, Cotes du Rhone, or an Argentinian Malbec. These have enough body for hard cheeses but aren't so tannic that they clash with softer varieties.

Best all-rounder white: An off-dry Riesling or a lightly oaked Chardonnay. The touch of sweetness in a Riesling helps bridge the gap between mild and strong cheeses.

Best sparkling: Champagne or quality Cava. Sparkling wine is arguably the most versatile cheese partner of all. The acidity and effervescence cut through rich cheeses, the lightness works with delicate ones, and the celebratory feel matches the occasion.

If your board includes a strong blue cheese, consider having a small glass of Port or sweet wine alongside the main bottle. This avoids the compromise of trying to find one wine that covers everything.

For a board that's already paired with wine, our Red Wine & Cheese Gift Box includes a bottle of red with cheeses, crackers, and chutney. Everything you need for a ready-made cheese and wine evening. For a full selection, browse our hampers with alcohol.

Red Wine vs White Wine with Cheese

Most people instinctively reach for red wine with cheese, and that's a perfectly good instinct. Red wine's tannins interact beautifully with the fat in hard and aged cheeses, creating that smooth, balanced mouthfeel that makes the pairing so satisfying.

But white wine and sparkling wine are arguably more versatile overall. White wine's higher acidity makes it a cleaner partner for creamy and soft cheeses. Sparkling wine works with almost everything. And sweet whites are the undisputed best match for blue cheese.

The honest answer is that the best wine for cheese is whichever wine you enjoy drinking. These guidelines are a starting point, not a rulebook. If you love Merlot with Brie, there's no pairing police who'll stop you. The principles of matching intensity and complementing or contrasting flavours will steer you right most of the time, but personal preference always wins.