Grazing tables nowadays have been gathering a trend on how incredibly convenient and perfect it is in hosting parties for the holiday season. And a good grazing table is a marvelously stunning buffet, where the food is artfully arrayed, yet guests can still easily pick and eat at all the finger food. A perfect and beautiful grazing table should have a balanced set of ingredients that can serve as a full meal. It follows an order of using fresh, seasonal, local produce complete with a wide assortment of colors, flavors, and textures.
In general, your grazing table should have a platter of charcuterie or cured meat such as prosciutto, salami, cured sausages or chorizo, lomo de cerdo, bacon, and jowl for the nourishing protein for that needed fullness. Add some Seasonal fresh fruits that are sliced accordingly, a broad range of cheeses, fresh, dry, or toasted nuts for savory taste, crackers, bread, charcoal-grilled vegetables, pickles, and dips of your choice. You may also include some tarts or chocolate-dipped fruits for some added sweetness to the mix.
And since it’s the holiday season, wines are always a good addition and welcomed on such occasions. However, finding the perfect wine that would complement your cheese and meal involves chemistry in getting that perfect combination. Yet you don’t need to become a wine connoisseur or a cheese savant to get that lovely pairing to get your guests into the mood for some wine and cheese toasting in your parties.
We have compiled some classic cheese and wine combinations that will always bring joy to any food enthusiast.
Soft Cheese and Wine Pairing
- Brie and Champagne
- Camembert and Chardonnay
- The thick and creamy white-rinded cheese like brie and camembert requires a glass of bubbly, sharp, and highly acidic sparkling champagne to cut through the fat.
- Chèvre or Goat cheese and Sauvignon Blanc
- The soft, spreadable, and earthy tart cheese demands the high acidity, citrus, and mineral-infused Sauvignon Blanc to cut the heaviness most goat cheeses have.
Medium-firm Cheese and Wine Pairing
- Gruyere and Pinot Noir
- The nuttiness and aroma in this firm yet soft gruyere compliments well with the fruity and dry Pinot Noir without overpowering each other’s flavor.
- Raclette and Riesling
- The mellow aroma, nutty and buttery smooth cheese blends harmoniously with the high acidity, subtle, and stone fruit flavors found in Riesling.
- Edam and Malbec
- Both are rich in aroma and flavors that compliment too well that almost everyone can enjoy and love.
Hard Cheese and Wine Pairing
- Aged Cheddar and Cabernet Sauvignon
- Gouda and Merlot
- Parmigiano Reggiano and Montepulciano
- These hard, prominent, and bolder tasting cheeses match well with a bold and dry-tasting wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
So what is your wine and cheese pairing preference? Let us know in the comments below!