Some classics simply never go out of fashion. The same is true for classic cheese and wine pairings, which are the stars of the evening at our perennial "Les classiques" seminar. At our last seminar at the end of April, we paired the classic cheeses with the following wines:
- Chaource + Crémant du Jura 2014 brut nature zero dosage, Domaine Champ Divin
- Valençay + Saumur blanc 2015, Château de Villeneuve
- Comté Extra Vieux + Côtes du Rhône 2015 Les Claux, Domaine Usseglio
- Epoisses + Côtes de Brouilly "Les sept vignes", Château Thivin
- Roquefort + Madeira Malvasia, Barbeito
As you can see, in two out of five cases, the perfect combinations consist of a cheese plus a white wine. This may surprise some, but it is actually true that cheese often pairs better with white wine, as full-bodied red wines, especially those with pronounced tannins, can completely overshadow the cheese.
The red-washed Epoisses from Burgundy is a rare exception, and even our all-rounder, Comté, can stand up to it.
Even though we did not stick to this on this evening, all of you who are unsure are welcome to follow these general rules:
- Wine and cheese from the same region generally pair well together
- When in doubt, choose white wine – or Champagne!
We presented our classic favourites in a cosy and quite lively and cheerful atmosphere and immediately tasted them ourselves once again. Anaïs also shared interesting facts about the origin and characteristics of cheese and wine, adding small anecdotes and stories from the everyday lives of cheese and wine professionals. After around two hours, everyone was full and satisfied, and everyone had discovered their own favourite combination. Our surprise this time came at the finale: instead of serving a Sauternes with the Roquefort as usual – blue cheese and dessert wine is, by the way, considered one of the most classic pairings of all! – we tried a sweet Madeira wine this time. And lo and behold: it tasted fantastic! Between us, the Madeira also tasted wonderful with all the other cheeses – I tried it myself and can confidently expand the above-mentioned rule "When in doubt, Champagne" to "When in doubt, Champagne or Madeira".
Here are a few impressions of the evening:
And if you are sad that you missed the seminar: don't worry, we offer this classic three to four times a year – just remember to register in good time. You can find the current seminars on our website and you can also conveniently book directly online.
If you ever have an idea for a custom seminar that we do not offer: simply contact us – we are happy to hear your inspiration!
