Explore PA Wine Land Book 2021 - 107

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ALPINE STYLE
Alpine-style Cheese pairs
well with Chardonnay
Alpine-style cheeses such as gruyere
and Comté are beloved for their notes
of toasted oats and brown butter.
Often these wedges also boast a subtle
sweetness that is downright addictive.
" If it's a cheese that's a little bit leaner
or mountain-style cheese, I want to go
with lusher, rounder wine, " says Sue
Miller, cheesemaker at Birchrun Hills
Farm. " I'll choose something a little bit
softer and with more body. " And oakaged
Chardonnay, with its matching
undercurrents of almond and butter, is a
marvelous option.
GOAT CHEESE
Goat Cheese pairs well
with Sauvignon Blanc
and Gruner Veltliner
Goat cheeses are beloved for their
grassy funk, citric pucker, and earthy
aroma. Choose a wine that will underline
those flavors. Reach for Grüner Veltliner,
an acidic white with citrus notes that
will help the cheese's character shine
while cutting the richness. Crisp, vegetal
Sauvignon Blanc is another obvious choice.
SHEEPS MILK
AGED CHEDDAR
Sheep's Milk Cheese pairs
well with Lemberger
While the most famous iteration of this
style is probably Manchego, firm, slightly
funky sheep's milk cheeses are made
around the world. The pleasures of
these wheels come less from the texture
and more from a complex combination
of earthiness and sweetness - which
is where this wine pairing comes in.
Choose Lemberger, an acidic red
with dark-fruit flavors to amplify the
subtleties of the cheese.
Aged Cheddar pairs
well with Petit Verdot
Here's an occasion to employ rule
number one. Aged cheddar, with
its powerful bite and lactic tang, is
certainly an intense cheese. Pair this
classic with a bold red wine such
as Petit Verdot. This tannic, acidic
varietal boasts flavors such as tart
blueberry and plum along with notes
of leather. It's up to the task of going
toe-to-toe with cheddar.
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BLUE CHEESE
Blue Cheese pairs well with
port style wine or Pinot Noir
As the maker of a beloved blue cheese,
Miller is passionate about its versatility. " I
used to always use port as my standby, "
she recalls. " Because tawny port and
blue cheese on a winter night - it
doesn't get any better. But I think there's
so much more to experience with blue
cheese and wine. I love blue cheese
with a Pinot Noir. I love it with an off-dry
Riesling. And I would be remiss not to
try a fruit-forward rosé with blue cheese,
too. " Port does remain the classic
companion with blue cheese: The dance
of sweetness, creaminess, and stink is
iconic. But sometimes a lighter option can
bring out different elements in the cheese.
WASHED RIND
Washed Rind Cheese pairs
well with Gewürtztraminer
These stinky gems demand wines with
both high acidity and a little sweetness.
For example, Birchrun Hills' entrant
into the genre, Red Cat, is rich and
meaty. Try a floral, off-dry white such
as Gewürztraminer to cut through that
savoriness or a strawberry-nosed rosé
with a tannic backbone.
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