When it comes to iconic and timeless pairings, wine and cheese rank right up there with bread and butter or peanut butter and jelly. Wine is traditionally considered a drink best paired with food, with countless varieties — Georgia alone has 500 indigenous grape species — ranging in sweetness, body, acidity, tannins, and flavor profile. Properly pairing wine with food enhances the flavors of both, elevating the dining experience.

Why Does Wine Pair Well with Cheese?

Wine and cheese have been served together for thousands of years for several reasons, with many originating from the same regions. In fact, wine and cheese share several key characteristics: both are fermented, can be made using a variety of methods and different grape or milk varieties, and many improve with age, often reflecting the unique terroir of the regions where they are produced. 

Then there’s the science behind it — wine and cheese have contrasting qualities that complement each other. The acidity and tannins in wine help cleanse the palate by cutting through the fat and protein in cheese, creating a balanced and enjoyable mouthfeel. 

Wine and Cheese Pairing Rules 

When it comes to the best wine pairing with cheese, there are a basic guidelines to keep in mind:

• Bold red wines pair well with aged cheeses like Cheddar, Gouda, and Manchego, as their high fat content helps balance out the high tannin levels in the wine. 
• Lighter wines, like white or rosé, pair well with mild, creamy cheeses such as Brie, Camembert, or fresh goat cheese, as their acidity and effervescence complement the cheeses’ delicate textures.
• Sparkling wines, with their high acidity levels and effervescence, go wonderfully with soft, creamy cheeses like Brie, Muenster, and Camembert.  
• Aim for equal intensity. This means that wines with a high alcohol content should be paired with intensely flavored cheeses, while wines with a lower ABV go well with more mild cheeses. 
• Funky, stinky cheese goes best with sweeter wine, balancing and mellowing each other out. Think of a port paired with Stilton, an intense, tangy, and at times pungent blue cheese from England.
• On the other hand, funkier, earthier natural wines, such as many amber varieties, pair best with hard cheeses that enhance the wine’s complexity. Consider cheeses like Gruyère, Comté, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. 
• An easy tip to find the best wine pairing with cheese is to look for products produced in the same region. For example, pair a Spanish Rioja or Albariño with Manchego, or a red Burgundy with Époisses de Bourgogne.

What Not to Do

• Avoid pairing tannic red wines, like Cabernets and Syrahs with soft cheeses, which can create an unpleasant mouthfeel.
• Don’t pair delicate wines with strong cheeses, as they risk overwhelming the wine’s more subtle flavors.

Does Georgian Wine Pair Well with Cheese? 

While Georgian wine might not yet have the name recognition of Italy, France, or Napa, it is steadily gaining attention for its unique character and rich history. Known as the birthplace of wine, the country’s winemaking traditions date back more than 8,000 years.

Traditionally, Georgian wine was made using qvevris, large clay vessels where grapes, including stems and skins, were fermented and stored without any intervention or additives. Today, Georgian winemakers continue to use this ancient method while also embracing more modern “European” techniques, such as fermenting in oak barrels or stainless steel tanks and incorporating controlled additives to refine flavors and stability. 

This, along with Georgia’s many unspoiled wine regions and microzones, each featuring unique weather and terroir, has resulted in a wide variety of high-quality wines that pair beautifully with cheese.

Ideal Georgian Wine and Cheese Pairings 

Saperavi

When it comes to Georgian red wine, Saperavi reigns supreme. It’s favored for boldness and complexity, featuring dark fruit flavors with undertones of tobacco and spice. Saperavi’s full body and tannic structure make it an ideal pairing for salt and nutty hard cheeses like aged Gouda, Parmesan, or Pecorino.

Try it today: Silk Road features a 2020 Saperavi ($14.99) as well as an oak-barrel aged 2016 Saperavi Reserve ($45). 

Kindzmarauli

Kindzmarauli, one of Georgia’s top semi-sweet wines, boasts flavors of cherries, blackberries, and currants, with subtle hints of vanilla. Its balanced sweetness is complemented by natural acidity, a smooth tannic structure, and lingering finish, making it an excellent match for aged sheep cheeses such as pecorino romano and manchego. The wine’s semi-sweet profile also complements the bold, salty, and tangy flavors of blue cheeses. 

Try it today: 2021 Kindzmarauli ($17.99).

Kisi & Khikvi

These wines are representative of the dry, crispy, acidic whites that Georgia is known for. When it comes to the best cheese pairing, consider young, tangy goat cheeses such as chèvre, or soft, creamy cheeses like Brie and Camembert.

Try it today: 2020 Kisi ($18.99) and 2017 Khikvi ($18.99).

Amber Qvevri

This special wine is produced by fermenting white grapes with their skins intact in a traditional qvevri, resulting in an earthy depth and vibrant acidity. Georgia’s amber wines pair best with aged, butty cheese like Gruyère or Parmesan that enhance the wine’s complex flavors.

Try it today: 2017 Rkatsiteli Qvevri ($25.99) and 2017 Kikvi Qvevri ($25.99).

Sparkling

Sparkling and semi-sparkling wines, which are decadent in their own right, often symbolizing special occasions and celebrations, go best with rich, creamy cheeses, which are complemented by the wine’s high acidity and bubbles. Think Brie, Camembert, Triple Cream, and Époisses de Bourgogne. 

Try it today: 2021 Extra Brut ($17.99), 2022 Rosé Sec ($17.99), and 2022 Amber Sec ($17.99). 

The Best Way to Enjoy Wine and Cheese 

When pairing wine and cheese, make sure both components are at their optimal temperatures. 

• Sparkling wines should be served ice-cold.
• Rosé, light to full-bodied white wines, and orange wines should be chilled
• Fuller-bodied white wines should be served slightly less chilled. 
• Light and medium-bodied red wines should be lightly chilled
• Full-bodied, bold reds should be served slightly below room temperature. 

Cheese, on the other hand, is best served at room temperature. Allow it to sit out for 30–60 minutes before serving to enhance its flavors and textures.

It is also important to use proper glassware to enhance a wine’s flavor and aroma. Red wines benefit from larger, rounder bowls with wide openings to allow the wine to “breathe” and soften tannins. White wines are best served in smaller, slightly narrower bowls to maintain crispness and acidity while preventing the wine from warming too quickly. Sparkling wines are ideally served in narrow, tall flute glasses to preserve their bubbles. 

Prior to opening, wine bottles should be stored on their side in a dark, cool environment. Once a bottle of wine is opened, the amount of time it remains good varies by type. 

Explore Georgian wine and cheese pairings today

The most important thing to remember when it comes to the best wine and cheese pairings is to have fun and experiment. Try something new, and pair that funky French cheese you’ve been curious about with a bottle of amber qvevri wine — there are no strict rules. Ultimately, wine and cheese are meant to be savored, and even if a combination doesn’t work perfectly, you’re still enjoying great flavors.

Silk Road Wines, a Florida-based, veteran-owned wine importer, offers a curated selection of Georgian wines perfect for pairing with your favorite cheeses.