Cheese And Wine Suggestions From Experts To Host A Legendary Wine Tasting Night

All good wine tasting nights should start with popping a bottle of sparkling. Sparkling wine is a classic pairing for the soft, creamy texture and indulgent, slightly sweet flavors of brie.

Pick up this wine and cheese here:

• Brie Cheese (affordable)
• Sparkling Wine (affordable)
• Brut (expensive)

Expert Wine Pick: Chandon California Brut ($24)

Sauvignon Blanc's crisp flavors and zippy acidity are ideally suited to soft, fresh and tangy cheeses such as goat cheese - a classic, go-to pairing for this popular white wine.

Pick up this wine and cheese here:

• Goat Cheese (affordable)
• Sauvignon Blanc (affordable)

Expert Wine Pick: Drops of Jupiter Sauvignon Blanc ($20)

The light-bodied, dry and slightly earthy style of Pinot Grigio makes this Italian varietal a great match for fresh, mild-flavored Italian cheeses like Mozzarella or Italian ricotta.

Pick up this wine and cheese here:

• Mozzarella Cheese (affordable)
• Pinot Grigio (affordable)

Expert Wine Pick: Smoking Loon Pinot Grigio ($10)

Chardonnay's combination of rich texture, oak flavors and mild acidity pair seamlessly with the weighty, full-bodied and buttery qualities of triple cream cow's milk cheese.

Pick up this wine and cheese here:

• Triple Cream Cow's Milk Cheese (expensive)
• Chardonnay (affordable)

Expert Wine Pick: Simple Life Chardonnay ($13)

The nutty and mushroom nuances of Gruyere are a natural match for the earthy undertones of Pinot Noir. Gruyere is classic fondue cheese. To really impress guests on your next wine tasting night, melt it down and serve with fresh strawberries to highlight the red fruit characteristics also commonly associated with this popular red wine.

Pick up this wine and cheese here:

• Gruyere (affordable)
• Pinot Noir (affordable)

Expert Wine Pick: The Crusher Pinot Noir ($14)

The signature robust style and sweet, jammy fruitiness of Zinfandel is a perfect foil for the pungent, salty flavors of classic blue cheeses like Roquefort, Stilton or Gorgonzola.

Pick up this wine and cheese here:

• Zinfandel (affordable)
• Roquefort (affordable)
• Stilton (affordable)
• Gorgonzola (affordable)

Expert Wine Pick: Smoking Loon Old Vine Zinfandel ($10)

Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with firm, salty cheeses that match the intensity of the wine and have been allowed to mature and develop in flavor. Pair up with aged hard cheeses such as Parmigiano-Reggiano or cheddar.

Pick up this wine and cheese here:

• Cabernet Sauvignon (affordable)
• Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano (affordable)

Expert Wine Pick: B Side Cabernet Sauvignon ($20)

Gouda is another popular one for a cheese platter and tends to be on the mild side. Pairing this cheese with wine is relatively easy because it will go well with just about any wine varietal. However, when matched with a Viognier or a Sémillon, it can really enhance the aromatic Viognier with notes of apricots, orange blossom, and honey and bring out a richness in the Sémillon. These are two more obscure varietals but they're definitely worth trying!

Pick up this wine and cheese here:

• Gouda Cheese (affordable)
• Viognier (affordable)
• Sémillon (affordable)

Cheddar is a very common cheese that usually sits somewhere in the middle of the cheese-strength spectrum but that doesn't mean it doesn't have more to offer! Pair Mild Cheddar with a crisp Chardonnay or Roussanne.

Both of these wines can be quite full-bodied without overpowering the mildness of the cheese. Strong Cheddar can be paired with Pinot Noirs or Petite Sirahs with great results. Pinots tend to be more fruit-forward and Petite Sirahs are often described as peppery, both of which will bring the most out of the Strong Cheddar.

Pick up this wine and cheese here:

• Cheddar Cheese (affordable)
• Mild - Chardonnay (affordable)
• Mild - Roussanne (affordable)
• Strong - Pinot Noir (affordable)
• Strong - Petite Sirah (affordable)

Brie Cheese is wonderfully full-flavored and deserves a pairing that is equally indulgent. Young Brie Cheese is best paired with a white wine such as a Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. The Sauvignon Blanc can bring a bright acidity and even notes of tropical fruits, whereas the Chardonnay oftentimes are more delicate and buttery, which would complement the Young Brie perfectly. Aged Brie is best paired with red wines, such as an Albariño or Zinfandel. The Albariño grape comes from Northwestern Spain and is very aromatic with inherent tartness while the Zinfandel has blackberry aromas and flavors with a full body. Both of these bring out the richness of the Aged Brie.

Pick up this wine and cheese here:

• Brie Cheese (affordable)
• (young) Sauvignon Blanc (affordable)
• Chardonnay (affordable)
• (aged) Albariño (affordable)
• Zinfandel (affordable)