A pairing that's been around since ancient Greece, cheese and wine is a perfect match. The Greeks used ti grate their cheese directly into their wine glass! Cheese and wine is appropriate to have in any season or ocassion, and it's fast, festive and fun. Grab a few blocks of cheese at the store and you have an instant appetizer. How easy is that?



There are so many cheeses out there that the wine and cheese pairing decisions can be overwhelming. Check out our handy Cheese Wheel. It's a very cool tool found at MatchMyWine.com under perfect pairings on the left side. Click the article about Cheese and Wine Pairing.

Don't get frozen in indecision as to which cheese to server with what wine. Not to worry. There isn't a wrong way but there are ways that help the experience be more enjoyable. The principles that you follow for any food and wine pairing are good to follow for wine and cheese pairings. Making it fun and interactive is what it's all about.

Here are a few specific cheese and wine pairing guidelines:

- You can pair cheese with either red wine or white wine, depending on the cheese you serve.

- Young, mild, and milky cheeses such as fresh goat cheese work better with light, fruity delicate wines such as Sauvignon Blanc. My favorite is the Goat Cheese Crostini Recipe on MatchMyWine.com.

- Usually hard cheeses are better with red wine, and soft cheeses are better with white wine.

-The more pungent the cheese, the sweeter the wine needs to be. Baked Brie and Champagne would work really well. My favorite champagne is from J Vineyards.

- Assertive, strong-flavored cheeses go with young, robust red wines such as a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Bordeaux wine.

- Blue cheeses such as Roquefort and Stilton would work great with Ports. The salty flavor of the cheese balances the sweetness of the port. What better way to end an evening that cheese and port?

- Pair cheese and wine produced in the same region. They are from the same type of soil and will have similar flavors.

- A Mozzarella cheese and Zinfandel wine would be a great pairing; the cheese mellows out the Zinfandel wine, and the wine makes the cheese taste richer.

- Acidic cheese goes with Sauvignon Blanc wines. The acidity in goat cheese gives matches perfectly with the crisp acidity of most Sauvignon Blanc wines.

- Do you have a wide variety of cheeses? Go with fruity and sweet white wines. They work better with a wider range of cheeses.

Velveeta and Boones Farm? Boxed white with Kraft American? Who knows and who cares. I sure don't. But give me a goat cheese crostini and a glass of Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc and I'm good to go!

Remember, it's all about the experience. Food and wine pairing is not meant to be stressful. Have fun with it and experiment. You'll find great experiences and memories when you do.