At Willow & Hall, we enjoy the occasional glass of wine and a cheese board to share. That’s why, we want to introduce you to our Hampton Village neighbour: The Cheese & Wine Company. Their shop and tasting room is a two minute walk from our Cosy Showroom and sells a wide range of delicacies, the perfect accompaniment for your appointment with us.
This week, we quizzed Steve Parker (the founder) on what makes the perfect wine and cheese pairing, something we thought you'd be interested in… He explained that whilst there are endless combinations, there are a few simple principles which will ensure the best pairings.
You should aim to match or contrast the flavour profiles (as below) of the cheese and the wine - match or contrast, but don’t clash!
Acidity: Pairing the acidity levels of the cheese and the wine gives a great combination. The pairing of Goat’s Cheese and Sauvignon Blanc, both of which have crisp acidity, is a great example.
Fruitiness: Pairing the fruitiness of the cheese and wine works very well, for example, a light fruity Beaujolais is ideal with a fruity alpine cheese like Gruyere or Comte. Pungent fruity cheeses such as Epoisses or Langres match well with aromatic, fruity wines such as Gewürztraminer or Riesling.
Complexity: Strong, complex cheeses like mature Cheddar work well with full-bodied red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon.
Nutty: Nutty, deep, sweet cheeses such as Aged Gouda match well with deep full-bodied wines like Shiraz or Grenache.
Next week, we’ll be sharing some more of Steve’s "top tips" as well as some of our own when it comes to furniture!
To book an appointment at the Cosy Showroom (or an excuse to then visit Steve and indulge), call us on 0845 163 5949 any time Monday-Saturday between 9-5.30 or visit our website to browse our products.