Engagement Cheers: Wine and Cheese Pairings

This was a special weekend for my family, as my brother Jonathan was proposing to his girlfriend Kate. It has been amazing to see them grow and support one another in life, and I am very excited for them to be starting this new chapter. After my brother proposed, he brought Kate over to Gauthier Vineyard, in which she was surprised to be surrounded by all her family and friends. While I was helping set up the last bit of decorations before the party began, I noticed that there were three wines being served and a huge spread of cheeses. I figured, why not do a wine and cheese pairing blog while celebrating the happy couple!

 

Here are the details on the party refreshments I ate:

     The Alcohol
-        Wine 1 = Sauvignon Blanc
-        Wine 2 = Chardonnay
-        Wine 3 = Cabernet Sauvignon

    The Cheese
-          Cheese 1 = Sharp Cheddar
-          Cheese 2 = Havarti
-          Cheese 3 = Brie

Now that I’ve covered the spread, let’s jump into how the wine and cheese truly paired together.

 

Wine #1: Sauvignon Blanc

Variety of Grape = Sauvignon Blanc
Region & Country of Origin = Mt. Jackson, Virginia (U.S.)
Vintage Year = 2022
Price = $26/Bottle
Specific Flavors = Winery mentions green and herbaceous flavors with distinctive notes of apple and pear with a light finish
Wine Folly Pairing Recs = Chevre, crottin, morbier, and goat cheese

 
My Review = By itself, this wine was bright and crips, with notes of green apple and citrus. I liked how this wine was light and acidic, a perfect drink for a spring/summer evening. [3/ 5]

-        Pairing w/ Cheese 1 = The tangy creaminess of the cheddar cut the crisp acidity of the      wine, creating a balanced and yummy pairing
-        Pairing w/ Cheese 2 = The soft mild flavors of the havarti did not mix well, causing the two flavors to clash, making the wine taste tannic and even more acidic
-        Pairing w/ Cheese 3 = The wine’s acidity provided a good contrast between the rich, buttery texture of the brie, creating a good pair

Pairing Summary (best to worst) = Sharp Cheddar (1) > Brie (3) > Havarti (2)

Wine #2: Chardonnay

Variety of Grape = Chardonnay
Region & Country of Origin = Mt. Jackson, Virginia (U.S.)
Vintage Year = 2022
Price = $32/Bottle
Specific Flavors = Winery mentions this is a brut style sparkler with notes of green apple and pear
Wine Folly Pairing Recs = Brie, epoisses, gruyere, and triple cream cheeses

My Review = On it’s own, this wine was super bubbly and dry, making it difficult to pull out flavor notes. I was able to pick out lemon and potentially green apple, but overall it just tasted like a seltzer instead of a wine [1/5]

-         -       Pairing w/ Cheese 1 = The wine contrasted greatly with the tangy notes from the cheddar, leaving the mouth feeling gross and full of acidic, bold flavors

-        -       Pairing w/ Cheese 2 = The smooth, creamy texture of the havarti were lifted by the crisp acidity of the wine, while the fruity notes were complemented by the mild, buttery flavors coming from the cheese

-        -       Pairing w/ Cheese 3 = The extreme creaminess of the brie worked best with the dry, bubbliness of the wine, with the buttery brie being a great counterpoint for the citrus and pear notes

Pairing Summary = Brie (3) > Havarti (2) > Sharp Cheddar (1)

 

Wine #3: Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety of Grape = Chardonnay
Region & Country of Origin = Mt. Jackson, Virginia (U.S.)
Vintage Year = 2019
Price = $30/Bottle
Specific Flavors = Winery notes flavors of black currant and green bell pepper with a very structured tannin finish
Wine Folly Pairing Recs = Cheddar, gouda, and aged cow cheeses

My Review = On it’s own, this wine tasted deep and complex. It had notes of dark fruits including blackberries and plum, with high tannin levels leading to a lingering vanilla finish [3/ 5]

-        -        Pairing w/ Cheese 1 = Cheddar’s sharpness proved to be a rich pairing with the wine, as the sharpness was able to round out the tannins while the dark fruit flavors enhanced the savory notes from the cheese

-        -       Pairing w/ Cheese 2 = The tannins in the wine were again smoothed out by the creaminess of the havarti, however, the mildness of the cheese did not change or improve the flavor profile with the addition of the wine

-        -       Pairing w/ Cheese 3 = The more earth, spicy notes of the wine became more noticeable with the mild, tangy profile of the brie, while it’s creaminess was able to lessen the tannic structure

Pairing Summary = Sharp Cheddar (1) > Brie (3) -> Havarti (2)

I enjoyed being able to do this activity while being surrounded by so many friends and family. It was a little more difficult to pay attention and take notes than I expected when I was constantly socializing, but I am grateful that I was able to write enough down to do the assignment! At the end of the day, couldn’t be more happy to be gaining a sister (welcome to the Wangler family Kate!!!)