Cheese and wine have always been classic pairings but there is of course more to pairing the two than simply grabbing a few singles of American cheese and just any bottle of wine. The following is a more detailed guide to pairing wine with different cheeses and which wines pair best with specific types of cheese.

Snacks and dishes made with blue cheese often pair well with more desert-like wines such as those offering sweet and fruity notes. Sauternes wines tend to pair the best with blue cheese dishes, especially the 2003 Chateau Lamourette. This white wine pairs well because of its melon notes and caramel body.

When picking a wine to pair with blue cheese you should look for description words such as fruit (apple, melon, peach, etc…), honey and/or caramel. For stronger tasting blue cheese such as Stilton cheese, a Port is often recommended. [Read more...]

The hamburger is an American favorite and often an easy option for dinner, but with the right wine pairing you can bring a bit of sophistication and great taste to this traditional meal.

Because most burgers are made with beef it is the toppings that may have the biggest impact on which wine pairs the best.  However, whether you go with the classic cheddar cheese or a more creative topping, how the bigger is cooked is vitally important.  An overdone burger can dilute your pallet with a burnt taste while an undercooked burger can become overridden with the complexity of wine. [Read more...]

It’s summertime, baby, and grilling season is upon us. But while this can be a great time to pair wines with grilled meats what about those vegetarian wine lovers?  The art of grilling has advanced to include many vegetarian dishes and there are some great wines that pair well for those who have a diet that is based on veggies and fruits. [Read more...]

So I was logged into Facebook last night and one of my friends chats me and asks me for a quick pairing. Having been in the mood for sweets, I cycled quickly through mental images of the fridge and pantry and thought… whole wheat bagels, whipped cream cheese and a nice, liberal spoonful of Nutella. [Read more...]

Next to the BBQ grill, my electric countertop panini grill is king.

I’m not a big appliance guy. I don’t really use the microwave, prefer a J.A. Henckels to a food processor, and don’t even know how to turn on that 40 lb mixing bowl on the bottom shelf.

But my $25 panini grill, that’s gourmet. I can make some of the most fabulous carb-wrapped meals this side of the Mississippi with a square foot of counter space and an electrical outlet. [Read more...]