HARVEST WINE & CHEESE PAIRINGS
A Guide from Vanderpump Wines
One of the best entertaining staples during the harvest months is an incredible cheese board...and, if you know how to pair the cheeses correctly, they can be the perfect way to express the flavors of your wines and make for an incredible evening. Here are some tips for creating a stunning smorgasbord and choosing the correct cheese to complement your wines! Tips & Tricks for a Beautiful Board
Rosé
Vanderpump Rosé is a classic Provence rosé, with a nose of red currant, pepper, and light citrus. On the palate, it has a touch of strawberry, tangerine, and peach in a dry, classic style.
Vanderpump Rosé pairs incredibly well with fresh cheeses, where the mild creaminess will complement the delicate strawberry notes in the wine. The acidity of the rosé will whisk the creaminess right off your tongue so that you can immediately indulge in another bite without your taste buds being overpowered. Try mild cheeses such as Burrata or fresh mozzarella, delicate salty cheese like feta, and raw-milk Alpine cheeses such as Comté.
What else to add to your board? Rosé is a great wine to pair with almost anything, but it’s also the perfect way to experiment with other flavors. Dying to try a truffle goat cheese or truffled almonds? Rosé is your pairing partner! Similarly, rosé is a great way to pair some lighter, saltier meats like prosciutto.
What to avoid? Avoid cheeses that will completely overpower the wine—extremely aged or rind-washed cheeses. Save those for the Cabernet course!
Chardonnay
Vanderpump Chardonnay has beautiful notes of citrus, pear, and crisp apple, which are lined with floral notes and hints of brioche and toast.
Vanderpump Chardonnay pairs incredibly well with mild cheeses that won’t overpower its delicate flavors. One of the best pairings is Camembert—the buttery texture blends perfectly with the creamy, soft finish of chardonnay. French Camembert is delicious, but any work well! Also, try Robiola or Brie for a beautiful buttery finish.
Other cheese pairings that complement chardonnay are high acid cheeses such as fresh goat cheeses; cheeses like Humboldt Fog will have your taste buds tingling!
What else to add to your board? Lightly toasted salty elements can pair nicely with a toasted brioche finish—try some toasted pine nuts, lightly grilled artisan breads, or slightly nutty crackers!
What to avoid? Avoid cheeses that will compete with this wine—you want to bring out the flavors, not strangle them! Avoid rind-washed cheeses, pungent cheeses, overly aged cheeses, etc.
Cabernet
Vanderpump Cabernet is complex with dark fruit flavors such as blueberry, rich plum, and red raspberry. The lush tannins give it a long elegant finish, perfect for pairing with a rich and delicious cheese board.
Semi-hard and aged cow’s milk cheeses are the way to go—the nuttiness and rich flavors pair perfectly but don’t overpower the wine. Think aged cheddar—the fattiness of the cheese will work perfectly with the tannins in the cabernet for a bold complement. Gruyère is also delicious!
This is also the time to experiment with some earthy flavors in your cheese! Cheeses with dried herbs in the rind or truffles can add a delicious element to your cheese board and will bring out the berries in the wine.
What else to add to your board? This is where you can have some fun! Try adding thick, beautiful grilled breads and smoky meats like salami. Herbed crackers will bring out the flavors of the cabernet beautifully, and this is definitely the time to indulge in some mild Castelvetrano olives!
What to avoid? Skip the young, fresh cheeses—things such as soft goat cheeses are high-acid cheeses that will only serve to bring out the alcohol in the wine, not the flavors! Also, save the Camemberts and Bries for your chardonnay—they might bring out some bitter notes in your cab.
Find Vanderpump Wines at www.VanderpumpWines.com Pandora Vanderpump Sabo is a Certified Specialist of Wine and Culinary Consultant
Features Contributor Pandora Vanderpump Sabo
Photographers Betsy Newman & Nikki Ryan
