Unexpected Pairings for National Wine and Cheese Day
By Becky Ellis
Ready to celebrate National Wine and Cheese Day?
Titillate your taste buds with unusual wine and cheese pairings on Saturday, July 25, 2020 – National Wine and Cheese Day! Wine and cheese with the addition of charcuterie and some crusty French bread make for a fabulous summer supper served al fresco on the patio. Cheese plates served with a favorite wine have become the “go to” with in-the-know hosts who want to serve easy appetizers on sultry summer evenings when it’s just too hot to be in the kitchen.
When celebrating on this special day don’t settle for just any wine and cheese. Think about whatever makes your mouth water and chances are there is the perfect wine that will pair with it.
Enjoy drinking Rosé all day? Pair a dry Italian rosé wine with Margherita pizza. The light crisp notes of the wine complement the fresh basil and tomato flavors along with the richness of the buffalo mozzarella cheese. Especially good with grilled anchovies on the pizza!
Love grilled cheese? Pair Cheese Dreams with your favorite Champagne or Prosecco. These mini toasted cheese sandwiches live up to their name – they are dreamy – melty cheddar cheese topped with crispy bacon.
Cheeseburger fan? Enjoy a bacon cheeseburger with Rioja (Spanish red wine). The tannins and acidity in the wine balance the smoky fattiness of the bacon.
Craving salty French Fries or potato chips? Pour some Champagne. Marilyn Monroe made the Champagne and potato chip pairing famous in the movie “Some Like It Hot”. Truffle Potato Chips are a very special treat when served with champagne.
Kid at heart? Cook up some creamy cheesy Mac and Cheese and a bottle of Pinor Noir.
Sweet tooth? Enjoy cheesecake with a big buttery Chardonnay or Sauternes with fruit-topped cheesecake. It’s also fun to pair chocolate with wine – Rosé Champagne with white chocolate, Cabernet Sauvignon with bittersweet chocolate, Gewürztraminer with milk chocolate.
Don’t forget the traditional pairings that have stood the test of time…brie with champagne, Stilton with port and chunks of Parmesan with Chianti Classico. Perhaps the only rule for wine and cheese pairings is that “there are no rules”. If you like it – try pairing it.
Looking for more fabulous wine and food pairings? “What to Drink with What you Eat” by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page is an excellent reference book including every food and wine that you can dream of.
Related Story. Best $10 wines. light
Does the idea of unique and tasty wine and cheese pairings intrigue you? What will you serve to celebrate National Wine and Cheese Day?