Murray's Beverage Pairing Guide
Wine and cheese. Beer and cheese. Bourbon and cheese. Tequila and cheese. Whiskey and cheese. Cocktails and cheese. Whatever you're drinking, we've got a cheese that pairs beautifully with it. Here are some general rules to creating delicious combinations.
CHARDONNAY
This wine is all over the map—literally! Its flavor varies widely depending on where and how it’s made.
Old World Chardonnay
Crisp and minerally, with flavors of apple and roasted pear.
Pair with
Fresh or bloomy rind cheeses, like Délice de Bourgogne or Vermont Creamery Bijou.
New World Chardonnay
Richly buttery and oaky, with heavy notes of vanilla, brown butter, and tropical fruit. New World chardonnay refers to wines from the United States and warmer climates.
Pair with
Slightly stronger cheeses like sweet Tickler Cheddar or a mild washed rind cheese like Taleggio
Oxidized Chardonnay
When Chardonnay is intentionally exposed to air, it is oxidized. Common in the Jura mountain region, this wine is almost sherry-like with spicy, nutty flavors
Pair with
Play up the bolder flavors with a more complex or funky cheese. Almost any Alpine cheese, like Comté, or an earthy aged goat cheese, like Chevrot, make a great match.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Full-bodied with no shortage of flavor. This grape is grown in almost every climate, which means lots of diversity across bottles.
Old World Cabernet
Earthy with aromas of leather, hay, and dark dried fruits. Sometimes a hint of eucalyptus or violet.
Pair with
Cheese with flavor that can stand up to this big wine. Alpine style cheeses like Comte or Challerhocker and some sweeter blues like Bleu d’Auvergne would make a good match.
CHENIN BLANC
Crisp and acidic with light minerality. You may smell stone fruit, apples, pear, quince, and even some fresh herbs.
CHIANTI
Chianti is named for a region in Italy and is made from a blend of grapes, mostly sangiovese. This dry, medium-bodied wine has a distinct herbal quality—think rosemary and oregano—with flavors of dried plums and cherries.
MALBEC
This rustic wine is inky and dark, full-bodied with plenty of tannins. Fruity flavors of plums and berries are contrasted by spice and leather.
MERLOT
A smooth and medium-bodied wine with a more rounded flavor than other reds. Dark fruits are present but with minimal tannins and no noticeable spice.
PINOT GRIGIO
A lighter, crisper white wine. Tends to be refreshing and fruity, with aromas of stone fruit, peach, quince, and lemon
Pair with
Creamy goat or mixed milk cheeses with a crisp acidic element. La Tur or Brunet are great alongside the fruit-tart flavors of the wine.
