3 Experts Share Their Favourite Cheese & Wine Pairings
Paddy Plunkett, head of sourcing at Natoora recommends
Comté 14 Months, From £7.50 | Marcel Petite & Cava Reserva Brut DO 2019, £25.45 | Agustí Torelló Mat
Comté is a king of cheese and one of my favourite varieities – especially during the festive season. In the UK, we too often leave cheese until the end of a meal. I prefer to enjoy comté as an aperitif, ideally with an elegant glass of something cold and fizzy, like this cava. The Agustí Torelló Reserva has a great structure, clean palette and cuts through the richness of this cheese. Also, like many cavas, it’s good value for money.
Available at PROVISIONSLONDON.CO.UK & VINISSIMUS.CO.UK
Vacherin Mont D'Or Cheese, £13 | M&S & Arbois Savagnin 2019, £20.83 | Fruitière Vinicole D'Arbois
Vacherin is a seasonal cheese I only get to eat a few times a year, which always heightens the excitement. It has lots of different flavours rolled into one – I love the sweet nutty notes on the edges where the cheese comes into contact with its spruce belt. For a cheese like this from the Jura, it must be paired with wine from the same region. Established in 1906, this Arbois Chardonnay is from one of the oldest co-operatives in France. Expect attractive stone fruits and white flowers, supported by citrus notes and a juicy core. This combination is perfect with a crusty baguette from Alma bakery and a jar of cornichons.
Available at OCADO.COM & VINATIS.CO.UK
Colston Bassett Stilton, From £11.05 | Neal’s Yard Dairy & Cuvee Jean, £9.99 (was £12.99) | Chateau Jolys
Colston Bassett Stilton is one of the very best cheeses in the world. The Neal’s Yard Dairy recipe that we buy at Natoora uses traditional rennet which gives it extra depth and body. I’d pair this with the late harvest Jurançon moelleux, which is made from gros and petit manseng grapes. It’s full of exotic fruit flavours and balanced with beautiful acidity. It also has a rich body and loads of acidity to cut through a strong cheese. Serve it with a little quince paste.
Available at NEALSYARDDAIRY.CO.UK & WAITROSECELLAR.COM
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Pip Dawes, co-founder of Marlo Wine recommends
Comté 12+ Months, £21 | Marcel Petite & 2022 Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir, £18.50 | Errazuriz
My top pick for a festive cheeseboard is comté, a semi-hard cheese from near the Swiss border in France. Typically mild, with notes of roasted hazelnuts and caramelised butter, it’s delicious melted into a tart or with crackers. Every so often, you might encounter a zing from tiny crystals formed by amino acids during the ageing process – the older the cheese, the tangier and more pronounced these crystals become. Traditionally crafted in village dairies or fruitières, its flavour reflects the local terroir.
If you’ve ever overlooked Chilean wines, this pinot noir is one not to miss. Perfectly with aged cheeses, it has a vibrant flavour profile with aromas of raspberries, cherries and violets, a subtle hint of spice and beautifully refined tannins. This bottle is testament to the amazing wines being produced in Chile and the meticulous craftsmanship of winemaker Eduardo Chadwick, whose passion for terroir comes through in every bottle. Serve both with sliced ripe pears and sourdough – and for an extra treat, comté goes wonderfully with a slice of Christmas cake.
Available at FINECHEESE.CO.UK & MARLO.WINE
Ragstone, £13.30 | Neal’s Yard Dairy & 2022 Moscato d'Asti, £17.99 | Ceretto
One of Neal’s Yard Dairy’s earliest creations was Ragstone, a goat’s cheese inspired by the French classic that features a distinctive white rind. Named after Ragstone Ridge in Sevenoaks, this cheese offers an irresistibly creamy, fudgy texture with a tangy, lemon-y finish. A staple in our home, Ragstone is perfect on a cheeseboard or as a standalone starter. I’d pair it with Ceretto's Moscato d'Asti DOCG from Piedmont. The wine balances sweetness and freshness with a light, lively effervescence. Its aroma features white peach, apricot, citrus and subtle floral notes. With a smooth, aromatic finish, it's an easy-drinking wine that's perfect as an aperitif or paired with goat’s cheese or fruit-based desserts.
Available at NEALSYARDDAIRY.CO.UK & MARLO.WINE
Barkham Blue, From £13 | Paxton & Whitfield & 2020 Riesling, £20 | Wittmann
Like the perfect glass of wine, Barkham Blue offers depth and complexity without ever being harsh or overpowering. A semi-soft cheese made from golden, buttery Guernsey milk and vegetarian rennet, it’s as visually striking as it is delicious, with its distinctive ammonite shape and natural grey-blue rind. This cheese has a creamy texture with a subtle sweetness, perfectly balanced by tangy undertones.
Enjoy it with a bottle of riesling, like this wine produced by the family-owned Weingut Wittmann, who have been winegrowers in Westhofen since the 17th century. This 2020 vintage is organic and biodynamic, with aromas of stone fruits and delicate florals, complemented by a chalky minerality that lingers on the finish. The vibrant acidity cuts through the creaminess of Barkham Blue, while a touch of residual sugar balances the bitterness of the cheese. Enjoy it with sea salt and rosemary biscuits, truffle honey and a bowl of nuts.
Available at PAXTONANDWHITFIELD.COM & MARLO.WINE
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Wine expert Federico Lleonart recommends
Cheddar, From £8.20 | Montgomery & Rioja Gran Reserva, £17 | Campo Viejo
Montgomery cheddar is one of my favourite cheese varieties, with its grassy aromas that offset the fruity mellow rich taste that lingers gently on the tongue. It’s a very sophisticated, traditional cheese which is perfect for the festive period. I would pair this with the Campo Viejo Gran Reserva, a beautifully aged wine with dark fruit, spice and hints of chocolate. It goes well with other hard or semi-hard cheeses, like aged parmesan, which has had ample time to develop depth of flavour and provide a rich umami character. It’s also delicious with roast ham.
Available at LAFROMAGERIE.CO.UK & SAINSBURYS.CO.UK
Brie, From £9.25 | De Meaux & Rioja Reserva, £11) | Campo Viejo
Brie has a soft velvety texture with a tender bloomy rind. The taste is complex, rounded and soothing, with notes ranging from mushroom to cauliflower to sauteed cabbage and leek. Brie is fairly versatile but goes particularly well with smooth red wines. The Campo Viejo Reserva has a refined mouthfeel, with aromas that elegantly blend ripe dark and red fruits, alongside hints of vanilla, sweet spice, and toasted notes from its ageing. Both the wine and brie go wonderfully alongside roast turkey – perfect for Boxing Day sandwiches.
Available at LAFROMAGERIE.CO.UK & SAINSBURYS.CO.UK
Chabichou, From £8.15 | Poitou-Charentes & Sauvignon Blanc, £10 | Stoneleigh
Chabichou is a soft, tangy French goat's cheese with a slightly nutty and earthy flavour. The texture is smooth, yet quite close-textured. Produced traditionally with a lovely aromatic rind. It can be eaten young and fresh; however, it reaches its ideal state – sweeter and crumblier – as it matures and dries out. A cheese like this is perfect with a great sauvignon blanc. This crisp, vibrant and tropical white is a great partner for goat’s cheese, as the wine’s floral notes complement the nutty flavours and cut through its saltiness. It’s great with vegan nut roasts, too.
Available at LAFROMAGERIE.CO.UK & SAINSBURYS.CO.UK
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