I had one of those sublime wine and cheese pairing moments recently when served Pleasant Ridge Reserve alpine-style cow’s milk cheese with an absolutely lovely Washington State Syrah. Here’s the skinny:
Pleasant Ridge Reserve is made by the Uplands Cheese Company in Wisconsin. The company’s cows are reportedly happily grazing away on ridgetop grasses and fresh [...]

Oh, this is dangerous stuff — goes down way too easily, especially on one of these cold, grey winter nights. The slight headache I was sporting this morning was thanks to some entirely unprofessional overindulgence in this wine last night. But I couldn’t help myself… Paired with dollops of a double-cream Brie de Paris and [...]

I have recently been in the throws of a full-blown Vouvray obsession. It all started with a particularly pretty example of this classic Chenin Blanc — some would say Chenin at its finest — and evolved into night after night of weighing the pros and cons of various chevres and blue cheeses paired with various [...]

This is shaping up to be a summer-of-Feta for me… Seems every year some one ingredient captures my summer mood and holds it for the season — some years it’s cantaloupe, or tomatoes, or mint. This year, Feta.
Apparently, in the EU, the term “Feta” is legally protected and can only be used for cheese made [...]

Here’s an easy first course wine & cheese pairing that takes advantage of the winter pears still in the markets. If so inclined, you can up the amount of greens you include and make it a salad course. Chardonnay works well here — especially a New World version with tropical flavors that are balanced with a bit [...]

A very helpful salesperson at a local cheese counter suggested this cheese, and I will definitely be buying it again. The Ford Farm Coastal Mature Cheddar offers those little crystals — like an aged Parmesan or Gouda — that you either love or hate. I happen to love them, or maybe I just love the [...]

This delicious Italian red wine is one that I wrote up earlier this week — when I tasted it, it was with this cheese pairing.
Mazzei 2006 Morellino di Scansano Belguardo Bronzone ($32). The name’s a mouthful, and so is this wine — concentrated, silky, deeply colored. Intense black cherry and berry fruit is laced with [...]