- Sips & Tips
Wine and Cheese Pairings
Need easy wine and cheese pairings for cosy nights in and feasts with friends? Follow this guide to pairing Coles Finest cheese with great-value wines.
Everyone knows wine and cheese are always a winner – a well-presented cheese board gives so much reward for so little effort. And, with quality international cheeses available in the Coles Finest range, you don’t need to make a special trip to a deli to find the perfect pairings for your favourite wines.
When pairing cheese and wine at home, you’re aiming to enhance the flavour of both – the acidity and fruitiness of wine cuts through the richness and saltiness of cheese to create balance and harmony. But which cheese goes well with which wine, and how should you serve them? Try our top picks for the best wine and cheese pairings, plus some handy entertaining tips for celebrating National Wine and Cheese Day with friends.
Tasmanian goat’s cheese with sparkling pinot noir
Smooth, sharp and just a little sour, Coles Finest Tasmanian Goat’s Cheese is marinated in olive oil, garlic, thyme and pink peppercorns. While sauvignon blanc is generally the go-to pairing for goat’s cheese, its earthy flavours also make it a tasty match for a light-bodied red. If you’ve ever enjoyed the combo of goat’s cheese and berry jam, you’ll know where we’re going with this – a juicy, berry-forward pinot noir – but take things up a notch and make it sparkling. Aromatic with a delicate pink blush, Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot Noir bursts with ripe red fruit flavours and makes a lively celebratory drop, as well as a welcome dinner buddy. Try serving it with zucchini and goat’s cheese tartlets, or put together a platter with hazelnuts, pistachios, grapes, apple and dried apricots.
Spanish manchego with sauvignon blanc
Delicate, crumbly and imbued with a lingering sweetness, Coles Finest Spanish 12 Month Aged Manchego has a distinct nuttiness that matches well with a medium-bodied white wine. A Tasmanian cool climate wine, Beyond the Wilderness Sauvignon Blanc has tropical aromas and a vibrant citrus and wildflower finish that cuts through the richness of the cheese. Embrace the Spanish theme by serving cheese tapas style, with thin slices of Serrano ham, marinated olives and crusty bread. To take this pairing into the kitchen, try grating manchego onto baked vegetable dishes or pasta, or use it in the filling for stuffed pumpkin – the sauvignon blanc will balance the gentle sweetness of this hearty winter dish.
British smoked cheddar with cabernet sauvignon
If you’re a fan of artisanal aged cheddar, you’ll love handcrafted Coles Finest British Oak Smoked Cheddar. Aged over oak chips and matured for depth of flavour, this smoky, characterful cheese calls for a robust red, and where better to look than bold Barossa cabernet. The sharp bite of the cheddar will complement the deep flavours of blackcurrant and blackberry in Winton Road Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon, while also balancing out the tannins for a match made in culinary heaven. To serve? Keep it simple with sliced apple, grapes and chutney. Got leftover cheese? Bake cranberry and cheddar mini garlic breads, or grate into cauliflower soup or mushroom lasagne for a delicious, deeply cheesy flavour.
Swiss gruyere with pinot noir
Crowd-pleasing pinot noir is the perfect drop for a National Wine and Cheese Day get-together. A lighter style pinot noir makes the right match for sweet and salty Coles Finest Swiss 12 Month Aged Gruyere – matching the complexity is key to making sure neither the wine or the cheese will be overwhelmed. Our top pick? James Busby Yarra Valley Pinot Noir took out gold in the International Wine Challenge 2022. With fragrant aromas of strawberry and dark cherry, and a hint of black forest fruits and herbs on the palate, the wine will enhance the delicate flavours of the gruyere. Looking for comfort food for a cosy night in? This cheese bakes beautifully and adds depth and creaminess to dishes like a classic quiche Lorraine, stuffed jacket potatoes or a triple cheese soufflé to impress alongside your bottle of red.
