Perfect Wine & Cheese Pairings

It's hard to go wrong when you've got a glass of wine in one hand and cheese in the other. Try these basic guidelines to wine and cheese pairings:

Try not to pair a strong wine with a mild cheese. If one of the flavor profiles dominates the other, the taste experience will not be favorable.
Don't overanalyze. Everyone has their own taste preferences, so offer at least one white wine and one red wine and let your guests decide.
Soft cheese pairs well with sparkling wine or white wine that’s light on oak flavor, such as Chardonnay.
Sharp cheese or aged cheese—six months or older—are best served with full-bodied wine to compliment the bold flavors.


Hard Cheeses: Parmigiano Reggiano Pecorino Aged Manchego		Pairs well with: Cabernet Savignon Zinfandel Pinot Noir

Semi-Hard Cheeses: Cheddar Gouda Baby Swiss		Pairs well with: Pinot Noir Pinot Gris Sauvignon Blanc

Semi-Soft Cheeses: Havarti Fresh Mozzarella Jarlsberg		Pairs well with: Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Pinot Noir Zinfandel

Soft Cheeses: Brie Boursin		Pairs well with: Champagne Riesling Merlot

Goat Cheeses : Chevre Pave Rave de Provence		Pairs well with: Pinot Grigio Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay

Blue Cheese & Brie: Gorgonzola Roquefort Stilton		Pairs well with: Zinfandel Chardonnay Merlot Riesling

Looks like you're up for a party!

Be sure to check out our hundreds of cheese varieties at your H-E-B Cheese Shop and take a look at our guide to create your own cheese board. Or you can leave the work to us and let our H-E-B Cheese Specialists create a custom cheese board for you!

Shop our expanded online wine selection—find wines from around the world.