Wine and cheese: give me a better combo I dare you! Who doesn’t love a good wine and cheese night, and wishes they could do it every night if they could? While these nights are loved by all, there is a general misconception that it is an indulgent “bad habit”. But we are here to inform you that this in fact is not true.
A study led by researchers at Iowa State University and published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease looked at “how diet is associated with long-term cognitive trajectories” by analyzing data collected from 1,787 British adults, ages 46 to 77. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire filling out their intake of certain foods such as fresh fruit, salad, oily fish, beer, cider, wines and cheeses. After undertaking the questionnaire, they were required to take a “Fluid Intelligence Test” to assess how quickly they can think on the spot, while taking into account all the different food and alcohol which the participants consumed in the time span of 4 years, and through follow up tests for another 4 years after that. Cheese was discovered to be one of the most effective food to prevent against decline in brain function as participants got older, and that daily red wine intake (moderately of course) actually boosts brain functions.
Now with this new found magnificent discovery, we bet you’re already planning out your next wine and cheese night. Need some help choosing the menu? Well, consider this your primer of best wine and cheese pairings. Afterall, the right pairing can take your wine and cheese night to the next level.
Pinot Noir and Gruyere: The vibrant red berry fruit of a Pinot Noir is a wonderful pairing to the nutty flavors in a medium firm cheese like Gruyere. Their complexities and aromas are the perfect balance, where one will not overpower the other.
Champagne and Brie: A soft textured, fatty cheese like Brie, needs an acidic and sharp wine like Champagne to cut through the fat. Traditionally made sparkling wines add a bit of toastiness to this pairing.
Malbec and Edam: The velvety fruity nature of the Malbec works wonders with the nutty flavors in the Edam. Both are flavorful and aromatic without overpowering one another.
Aged Port and Blue Stilton: Port being a full bodied, sweet wine with bold notes, needs a strong cheese that can match that essence. Blue Stilton is the best pairing as it is pungent, and has a complex character, which works wonders with an older and sweeter port.
Chianti Classico and Pecorino: Chianti is a tannic red, which pairs great with a hard aged Pecorino. The secondary notes of the Chianti bring out the herbal flavors in the cheese.
Riesling and Raclette: Raclette blends incredibly with the high acidity and stone fruit notes in a Riesling, which go well with the smooth buttery nature of a Raclette. The Riesling brings out the nutty notes in the cheese.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Aged Cheddar: A bold cheese like cheddar, requires a strong wine that can balance it out. The fattiness of an, aged cheddar needs a tannic wine to go alongside it like a Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sauvignon Blanc and Goat Cheese: The citrus notes of the Sauvignon Blanc, bring out a nutty herbal flavour in the cheese, and its acidity also cuts through the heaviness of the goat cheese.
Rose and Havarti: The crisp red fruits and minerality in a rose and the mellowness of the Havarti complement each other very well, without overpowering one another.
So, go ahead and choose your menu and enjoy a great wine and cheese night knowing you’re aiding your cognitive functions!
