How to Pair Red Wine With Cheese

Conventional wisdom maintains that white wine pairs better with cheese than red. There's certainly some validity to that statement, but with the right kind of red wine and cheese, this can be done to elegant effect, as I recently learned at a seminar taught by experts Laura Werlin and Naomi Smith at the Artisan Cheese Festival.

Much of the issue with pairing red wine with cheese comes down to tannins (the bitter, mouth-drying component present in red wine, tea, coffee, and some fruits like acai), which are notably absent from white wine. When selecting wines, choose a red with integrated tannins - think smooth and velvety, rather than rough and harsh. Wines grown in a cooler climate - think Oregon, Washington State, or Sonoma versus Napa - and particular milder, lighter-bodied wines like Pinot Noir or a restrained Cabernet Sauvignon are a safer bet. Look for a wine with an alcohol content of 14 percent or less when pairing with cheese, as these wines are less likely to overpower their cheesy companions.

Keep reading to learn what cheeses are generally most compatible with red wine.

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