Wine and cheese matching

There’s no right or wrong when matching wine and cheese but there are guidelines.

Match by intensity of flavour. Big, intense wines generally go well with cheeses that have strong characteristics and light, fruitier wines generally match well with creamier, mellow cheeses.

Give these combinations a go:

• Cabernet goes well with camembert, sharp cheddar, aged gouda, gorgonzola and Danish blue.
• Merlot teams well with camembert, romano, parmesan, gouda and gorgonzola.
• Pinot noirs are suited to feta, gruyere, swiss and edam cheeses.
• Shiraz/syrahs are more intense so suit sharp, aged cheddar, gouda and milder blues.
• Up for a taste sensation? Experiment with stinky Roquefort or stilton and a tawny or vintage port.

Matching wine and cheese by region isn’t failsafe, but it’s a good rule of thumb. So, if you’re drinking an Italian red, pair it with an Italian cheese like parmesan or gorgonzola. If you’re drinking a French white, choose a French cheese like camembert.