A California Winery Blog

I recently came across a helpful video on Winespectator that presents an explanation on two cheeses that pair nicely with Cabernet Sauvignon. In the video, Harvey Steiman (Editor at Large, Wine Spectator), speaks generally about pairing red wines with cheeses. and then more specifically goes into two cheeses that pair particularly well with a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. These two cheeses are Ossau Iraty (France) and Piave Vecchio (Northern Italy).

“Reds can be tricky with cheese, but they have a certain affinity for some of them,” claims Steiman. It’s best to choose firm, mellow cheeses with lower acidity. The best red wines to pair with cheese should have lots of ripe fruit flavor and lower tannins, which can be made more astringent with the saltiness of cheese. Lower acidity in cheese can soften the tannins in wine. Wines can have tannin, they just need to be “integrated and polished.” Wine Spectator video

These educational snipets on Wine Spectator’s website are great because of the depth of information that they provide in three minute or so periods. They don’t go into too much detail, but have the ability to tap into a vast range of subjects in a substantial manner.

Another recommended video for cheese lovers is posted right now. It is about buying cheese in a cheese shop.

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery