There are a few ways to answer what cheese goes with Riesling. The best food pairings – including cheese– consider the type of wine. For example, there’s a significant wine pairing difference between dry Rieslings and sweet Rieslings. Let’s find out about the variety of cheeses that match Riesling’s rich flavors.
Dry Rieslings Cheese Pairing
Drier Rieslings have relatively low sugar content, so the perfect pairing must reflect that. To make the most of your cheese pairing adventure, experiment with the following to find the ideal pairing. Dry Riesling is known for its ample acidity, so the cheese we choose must be mindful of that fact.
Semi-hard cheese is your best bet to enjoy with a dry glass of Riesling. Take a look at the following options:
- Asiago
- Colby
- Monterey Jack
- Semi-hard Swiss cheese
- Muenster
- Havarti
- Cheddar cheese
By the way, you might also want to know should Riesling be chilled. Generally, it is wise to chill every kind of white wine, including Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, and sparkling wine.
Sweeter Rieslings Cheese Pairing
Whether you like semi-sweet Riesling, late Harvest Riesling, or other sweeter Rieslings, these wines also pair well with a wide range of cheese. Look at these fantastic cheeses for your next wine and cheese party.
- Aged Gouda
- Gorgonzola
- Feta
- Parmesan
What About Goat Cheese?
You might be wondering how goat cheeses fit into the picture. It’s an excellent food to include on a cheese board. This type of cheese is not an ideal pairing for Riesling. Instead, pick up a bottle of Chenin Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc. The herbal flavors (and citrus notes!) of these wines effectively complete the earthy notes of goat cheese.
How Wine Enthusiasts Find The Perfect Wine Cheese Pairing For You
The food cheese pairing suggestions outlined above are typically considered ideal. Your perfect pairing preference might be different. For example, you might prefer sheep milk cheese exclusively or like cheese on the side of spicy food.
To try a wider variety of cheeses and wines in place, invite a few friends over. Ask them for their favorite answers to what cheese goes with Riesling. Try various wines, including Australian Rieslings, German Rieslings, and Canadian Rieslings, for the best results. With multiple guests, it is easier to put together a plate of cheeses so you can explore different options.
The best way to find the cheese-wine pairing that works for you is to experiment. Try a range of foods like salty food, Asian food, and Indian food with your favorite wines. For more ideas on bringing wine and cheese together, see this guide to what cheese with Chardonnay.
How Does Riesling Wine Taste?
Understanding the Riesling flavor profile is the key that unlocks these wines further. Riesling wines vary considerably. A dry Riesling has just a bit of sweetness, while an off-dry Riesling has much more sugar content. Here are tasting notes on a few different bottles to show what Riesling wine tastes like.
Cave Spring Riesling VQA
I’m Canadian, so I’m going to start with a Canadian Riesling wine from Ontario. This 11% alcohol content wine offers refreshing acidity, fruit notes of pear, and secondary notes of nuts and mushrooms.
Siegrist Leinsweiler Riesling Eigensinn VDP Ortswein
This German Riesling wine has 12.5% alcohol content. This wine is noted for its minerality, which is an excellent contrast to a sweeter wine.
Single Wheel Riesling
This off-dry Riesling from New York State has 12.4% and higher sugar content (i.e., 16 grams per liter). The wine offers mouth-watering acidity and a long finish.
Wagner Dry Riesling
Produced in New York, this dry Riesling wine has 12.3% alcohol content. The wine has earned a 90-point score from Wine Enthusiast. The wine’s fruit flavors include apple and peach, balanced by the wine’s acidity.
What Cheese Goes With Riesling Conclusion
The combination of flavors offered by wine and cheese makes them a fantastic combination. The aromas in wine can be delightfully combined with aromatic cheeses. Riesling wine paired with cheese is one of the best ways to enjoy this wine. Inviting friends over for a Riesling and cheese party is a fun way to try multiple types of wine.
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