National Cheese and Wine Day: Your guide to perfect cheese and wine pairings

Celebrated on July 25^th, National Cheese and Wine Day commemorates the ultimate and elegant pairings of two fan-favourites. The designated day is a great opportunity to learn about cheese and wine pairings and a chance to expand your own palate.

Wine is an astringent - it's slightly acidic and binds to salvia, which in turn makes your mouth dry. This is why it pairs so perfectly with cheese - the fatty texture and flavours coat your mouth and create a delightfully tasty experience.

Crafting scrumptious wine and cheese pairings is surprisingly easy once you know what to look for. Read on to find out how to make the very best combinations.

Say Cheese!

Soft Cheese

Pair soft cheeses, such as brie or camembert with a fruity red wine, such as a pinot noir or even something light like a rose. Similarly, you can pair sparkling wines with soft cheeses - champagne's high acid is perfect for the sharp taste and thick creamy texture of brie. A chardonnay also pairs well with camembert.

Hard Cheese

The easiest cheese to pair with wine are the hard cheeses, such as cheddar or Parmigiano-Reggiano or Comte. It's important that you don't overwhelm your palate - pair strong cheeses with strong wines, think either a cabernet sauvignon or an oaky chardonnay. Gruyere pairs perfectly with a pinot noir to bring out the nutty flavours of the cheese, whilst an aged cheddar is great with a cabernet sauvignon - the bold flavours match one another very respectfully.

Goat Cheese

A classic pairing for goat cheese is a sauvignon blanc or even a crisp rose. The citrus notes in a sauvignon blanc bring forth a nutty flavour in goat cheese as well.

Blue Cheese

Pair blue cheese - like Stilton, Gorgonzola or Roquefort - with sweet wines like Moscato. Try pairing aged port with Stilton or, for something a little more adventurous, a sweet sherry. Beenleigh Blue is a soft blue cheese and pairs very well with dessert ice wine.

'Stinky' Cheese

'Stinky' cheese (also known as washed-rind cheese) becomes more pungent as it matures - pair this with a crisp white wine over a red.

Melted Cheese

Fondue is a timeless party favourite - surprisingly, an aromatic or crisp white is the perfect fit for this popular dish.

Presentation Is Everything

Put your knowledge to the test and host a tasting of your own with friends and family. Serve your cheese on the elegant Maxwell & Williams Marc Martin Dusk Cheese Platter, which showcases Melbourne artist Marc Martin's artistic style of greenery, with small birds flittered throughout. For something a bit more opulent, couple this platter with the Laguiole Elite Pearl 3-Piece Cheese Knife Set, which takes its name from France's Laguiole region. The handcrafted piece is an ode to refined workmanship and subtle silhouettes, with handles made of coloured resin and blades of stainless steel. Similarly, the Laguiole Elite Multi Colour 3-Piece Cheese Knife Set can add a pop of colour to your evening.

When pairing your cheese with wine, impress your guests with the Krosno Harmony range. Perfect for entertaining, the range comes in the 6-Piece Flute Set, 6-Piece White Wine Set, 6-Piece Red Wine Set, as well as the 6-Piece Stemless Red Wine Set, which is an excellent alternative to traditional stemware. Each piece in the Harmony collection is crafted in Poland and offers perfect contemporary glassware for any occasion.

Go Forth and Enjoy July 25^th with Perfect Cheese and Wine Pairings

There are so many combinations of cheese and wine, so don't be afraid to experiment. Other ingredients can help with your pairings, such as nuts, olives, meats, fruit or crackers, as introducing a second ingredient can enhance your flavours. Serve your wine and cheese tasting after dessert or even after the main course as a palate cleanser.

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