Daily Dish the Fork Lift blog
Make me a Match: Part 2
Expert Wine & Cheese Pairings
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Who’s ready for seconds, thirds and fourths of wine and cheese? Following up on Part 1 of the series, we talked to the wine and cheese teams at five more of our stores to find out their perfect pairings. Give these delicious duos a try, or talk to your local wine steward and cheesemonger for even more inspiration!
Who’s ready for seconds, thirds and fourths of wine and cheese? Following up on Part 1 of the series, we talked to the wine and cheese teams at five more of our stores to find out their perfect pairings. Give these delicious duos a try, or talk to your local wine steward and cheesemonger for even more inspiration!
Point Reyes Quinta + Tilth Zinfandel
Recommended by our Vacaville wine and cheese team
Enjoy some local love with this perfect pairing! Tilth is a new-to-us company from Santa Rosa, while Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese is just about 35 miles down the road. This mild zinfandel is bursting with flavors of raspberry, cranberry and blueberry that complement this soft-ripened, silky-smooth, herbaceous cheese wrapped in spruce bark with bay leaves embedded in its bloomy rind.
Ossau-Iraty + Lindemans Framboise Lambic
Recommended by our Davis (Covell Blvd.) wine and cheese team
Very fun and bright, this raspberry beer from Belgium has notes of fresh-picked berries with a sweet and tart flavor profile. This funky, grassy, semi-soft sheep’s milk cheese takes on notes of toasted bread when contrasted by the sweetness of the beer. This yummy pairing would be beautiful for brunch with some caramel chocolates, candied pecans and buttery croissants.
Solera Andanzas 6-Month Manchego + Muriel Reserva 2015 Rioja
Recommended by our Elk Grove wine and cheese team
The sweet, nutty and sharp flavor of this deliciously aged Manchego cheese sits beautifully on the palate with the steadfast, vibrant, soul-beating, robust body of this wine. Together, these two will leave you with a nutty, refined, complex bouquet of tantalizing flavors. Round out this dynamic duo with a delicious array of charcuterie, such as sweet, fresh figs or fig spread, buttery-sweet and meaty olives, flavorful sun-dried tomatoes, crunchy almonds, crusty bread and the silky saltiness of Prosciutto di Parma. Enjoy all year long alone or with a small gathering of friends. Salud!
Vermont Creamery Coupole + Schug 2019 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Recommended by our Novato wine and cheese team
The best cheese to pair with this pinot noir is an amazing aged goat cheese. They complement each other beautifully, making a perfect duo for any special event. To add a little more pizzazz, enjoy with a rustic French baguette from our bakery and some sweet and spicy jam—a great combo for a guaranteed good time!
Cowgirl Creamery Red Hawk + Grolsch Premium Lager
Recommended by our Woodland wine and cheese team
This organic, triple-cream washed-rind cheese is made locally in small batches with milk from a dairy in West Marin. Its robust, savory and salt-forward flavors go great with a light, refreshing, wheaty beer like this lager made by a brewery dating back to 1615.
Hungry for more? Check out Part 1 of the series, and look out for Part 3 coming soon!
Selection may vary by store.