wine& food pairing

[quijote]

Mmm, wine and cheese. One of my favorite indulgences is a tart goat cheese paired with a delicious Sauvignon Blanc. It's the acidic principle at work, but the combo is also sort of like pairing luscious, pungent fruit (in the SB) with the rich cheese. It's sort of like having cheesecake, but better.

Another favorite indulgence is Manchego cheese with a tempranillo- or grenache-based wine. The nutty, grainy texture of the cheese stands up well to the hearty and demanding wine.

Yet another indulgence--I have way too many, I guess--is a fatty, smooth, silky, buttery cheese like Edel de Cleron or ripe Brie with a slightly oaked Chardonnay (though I prefer unoaked in general). Mmmm.

And then there's the occasional Wisconsin indulgence: cheddar cheese with Lakefront beer. It's not wine, but it's a thick drink for meaty cheeses.