Chardonnay is one of the popular wines in the world. With this, cheese enthusiasts will also be happy to know that it often pairs well with cheese. The combination of high acidity and rich texture makes Chardonnay a cheese-friendly wine. It has styles from fresh and fruity to oaky and buttery.
When pairing cheese with Chardonnay, the rule is to match more oaky bottles with bolder cheeses, such as blues and washed rinds. For lean and fruity Chardonnay, you can choose cheeses that have buttery, fruity, or nutty flavors. If you are looking into serving Chardonnay at your upcoming party or gathering with family and friends, and you are looking for the best cheeses to pair, you’re in the right place. Today, we are giving you a list of the best cheese to pair with Chardonnay.
1. Camembert
Camembert is a moist, soft, creamy, and surface-ripened cheese that is made from cow’s milk. It has a buttery texture that is lovely when paired with the creamy and soft texture of Chardonnay. French Camembert really pairs well with Chardonnay, and as well as versions made in the United States, like Mt. Townsend Creamery’s Cirrus and Nancy’s Valley Camembert. But if you are in search of an even creamier cheese, then you can opt for triple-creams, too.
2. Garrotxa
Garrotxa, pronounced as Ga-ro-cha, is a Spanish cheese made from goat’s milk. It is a big hit with individuals who claim that they do not like goat cheese. So, if you have the same issue, no worries as you might also like it.
This cheese is aged a few months. It is a semi-firm cheese that has a buttery, nutty, and earthy flavor. Pairing it with Chardonnay will bring out its creaminess and will draw out even more of its nutty and buttery flavors. If you are into goat cheese, you can also pair Chardonnay with fresh and creamy goat cheese.
3. Tête de Moine
This is a stinky cheese that is not as over-the-top as other wash rind cheeses have the potential to be. It is a raw cow’s milk cheese that originated from Switzerland. It has a semi-hard texture that should be thinly sliced so that it will melt in your mouth. It is a big and bold cheese, but it also has a sweet and fruity side that goes down easy with a sip of Chardonnay. You can try it with both light and fruity, and as well as with big and buttery Chardonnays.
If you are serving a bottle of big and bold Chardonnay, but you are not into stinky wash rind cheese, then you can opt for a wedge of sharp cheddar instead. It’s because English Cheddar can also pair well with an oaky Chardonnay.
4. Shropshire Blue
Shropshire Blue is one of the styles of blue cheese that can be paired well with Chardonnay. It has a fudgy texture and sweet and salty flavor that is perfect for a big and buttery Chardonnay. You can easily find this cheese in a cheese shop by looking for the bright orange cheese with vibrant blue veins running through it.
If you do not like Shropshire Blue, you can also go for English Stilton, Harborne Blue, or Vermont-made Bayley Hazen Blue, which can all pair well with Chardonnay, too.
5. Fontina D’Aosta
Fontina D’Aosta is a classic Italian cheese that is made in the Aosta Valley since the 12th century. It has a grassy and floral flavor that can be lovely when paired with Chardonnay. Also, a good Chardonnay will be able to bring out the fruity and nutty flavors in a wedge of this cheese, making it an interesting and worthy pairing.
When buying one, you need to make sure that the label says Fontina D’Aosta and not just Fontina. It’s because the latter is usually pasteurized, rubbery, and bland, which can leave you disappointed.
Conclusion
These are the best cheeses that you can pair with Chardonnay. An ideal Chardonnay cheese pairing can arrive with many different companions. It just depends on what combinations will appeal most to you. With that, you can gather your family or friends and try a few styles and vintages of Chardonnay and cheese, and create your own tasting.