Keep the Warm Vibes Going with These Delectable Summer Wine and Cheese Pairings

As the weather moves from scorching hot to delightfully cool, leaves begin to shake loose from the vice-like grip of branches. With this shift in season from summer to autumn, making memories over some delectable wine and mouthwatering cheese boards is one of our favorite pastimes. For your next leisurely and cozy night in, we have some wine and cheese pairing recommendations sure to impress. 

Enhancing Both Your Wine and Cheese
A classic pairing for a reason, wine and cheese fit together perfectly. Cheese is full of fats and proteins, softening the sharp edges of our wines. Tannin, and some acids found in wine, can be perceived as softer after the lusciousness of a mouthful of cheese. The two work in tandem to balance each other out, the wine making the cheese seem lighter and easier to consume more of. 

Crackers are also helpful to have on hand when enjoying cheese and wine, as they can help to reset your palate if you need a break from the same flavor profile. Plain crackers will go well with softer and more delicate wine and cheeses, while snacks with some nuttiness and excessive seeds will need more tannin and bold flavors to stand up to them. 

No matter what style of premium wine you have ready to go, there is an artisanal cheese that will complement it flawlessly.

Brie
Made from cows, this cheese comes from France, with a chewy rind and a molten center of buttery goodness.

Matched up with our soft Brie we have Alexana’s Estate Riesling. Riesling with a touch of age on it is a perfect pair for this slightly nutty cheese. Grown in the Dundee Hills AVA in Oregon with Biodynamics introduced at the winery, this wine is a true crowd pleaser. There is no residual sweetness to this wine, but notes of honeysuckle and lemon bring out the delicate flavors of our Brie.

Ricotta
A fun food to whip or spread, this cheese is made originally from a mixture of sheep, goat, cow, and buffalo milk, as a byproduct of other cheese production. This pillowy and fluffy morsel is often found seasoned, and can easily have fruits or savory components mixed in.

Paired with this we have Amavi Cellars’ Cabernet Franc Rosé. Hailing from Walla Walla, Washington, this delicate but succulent wine is made with sustainable farming practices. Lean and refreshing, this wine would complement the subtle flavors of this versatile cheese. Try it spread on some toast for the ultimate experience.

Mozzerella
Made most famous from its debut as the “pizza cheese”, this gorgeous silky cheese is traditionally made with buffalo’s milk in Italy. 

Paired with this classic cheese is Authentique Wine Cellar’s Leisure Barrel Aged Pinot Gris. A luscious and elegant style of Pinot Gris, this Biodynamically grown wine from Oregon is a serious dynamic duo with our lovable mozzarella. Notes of peach and apricot are floated to the forefront of the wine with bites of this velvety cheese.

Aged Cheddar
This easy-to-find cheese comes with a multitude of age possibilities, as well as in white or yellow. Originating in England, this beloved cheese is now produced globally.

Matched up with our Cheddar we have Terratorium’s Cabernet Franc from Alexander Valley. Generous tannin works to cut through the heaviness of your Cheddar. With a little age on it, the nuttiness from the cheese will work with the herbaceous notes of the wine to elevate your cheese and wine experience.

Comté
Classically this cheese is produced in Eastern France, boarding Switzerland. Created with unpasteurized cow's milk, this rich and creamy cheese has a slight tang to it, and a ton of umami.

Paired with this selection is Trical Syrah, an exceptional wine that is showing nicely even with the hot weather. Grown in a cooler climate, this Syrah has bracing acidity to round out the intense creaminess of the Comté. Dark fruited with moderate tannin, this wine is the perfect entertaining beverage.