Wine goes with everything, but wine and cheese are made for one another. Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits offers some ideas for hosting a tasting party that is both educational and great fun.
Jacques Scott Wine & Spirits is the leading retailer of premium beer, wine and liquor in the Cayman Islands. Visit our five convenient liquor store locations on Grand Cayman. Or order everything you need from our online store, including mixers and soft drinks, and have us deliver it FREE to your home, office, vacation villa, resort hotel, or anywhere else in Grand Cayman. If we receive your order before 3:00 pm, we’ll deliver it the same day (Monday through Saturday).
Buying the Cheese
There are many great cheeses in the world, and it can be a bit daunting to decide which ones to serve. In Camana Bay on Grand Cayman, consider a visit to Bay Market, which offers a variety of gourmet, specialty, and organic items, as well as the largest gourmet cheese selection on Island.
The best wine and cheese parties offer a variety of cheeses and show off how they pair with different wines. Cheese are typically classified based on moisture level, region of origin, the type of milk used, and whether it has a rind or mold (e.g., camembert and bleu cheese). Plan to serve three to five cheeses from each category, and estimate two to three ounces of each cheese per guest.
Buying the Wine
A good rule of thumb is that mild cheeses pair well with medium to heavily bodied reds, and stronger cheeses pair well with crisp, light whites. Here are a few of our favorite wine and cheese pairings:
Bleu Cheese: Robust reds and sweet dessert wines are good matches for bleu cheese because they balance out the pungent salty qualities of the cheese. Try Sheffield Cellars Tawny Port from California.
Brie: Brie needs a wine that will go well with its distinct flavors while remaining light enough not to overwhelm them. Pinot Noir is a great choice. Try Bread & Butter Pinot Noir from California.
Camembert: Fresh and soft cheeses love crisp whites, champagne and sparkling wines, and light-bodied reds with low tannins. Try Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial from Champagne, France.
Cheddar: A chocolatey Malbec helps balance out the aggressive sharpness in aged cheddar. Try Layer Cake Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina.
Goat Cheese: Pair Chèvre and other goats milk cheeses with Sauvignon Blanc. Try Babich Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand.
Gouda: The low acid content and semi-sweetness of a good Riesling will bring out the best flavor in this Dutch cheese. Try Blue Fish Riesling from Germany.
Manchego: This Spanish cheese is made in the same region that produces the delicious Spanish wines called Rioja and Tempranillo, which perfectly complement the cheese. Try Marques de Riscal Reserva from Rioja, Spain.
Monterey Jack: This classic American cheese calls for a light, fruity wine, such as Merlot. Try Oyster Bay Merlot from Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.
Mozzarella: This soft, slightly sweet cheese pairs well with the acidity of Pinot Grigio. Try Jermann Pinot Grigio from Italy.
Parmesan: This is a heavy cheese, and the sweet, heavy fruit overtones, high acid and tannins of Prosecco match beautifully. Try Cavit Lunetta Prosecco from Italy.
Visit Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits for more cheese and wine party ideas and all the beverages you need on Grand Cayman.
