Blue Cheese pairs best with sweet wines with a hint of nuttiness such as Sauternes, Tawny Port, Sherry, Tokaji, and Moscato d’Asti. Prosecco, Zinfandel, Amarone, and late harvest or dessert wines are also excellent with Blue Cheese, whether it is Roquefort, Stilton or Gorgonzola. Sweet wines pair up best as they contrast the salty flavours of Blue Cheese while complementing the cheese’s nutty flavours.
The stronger the cheese, the more flavourful or more intense the wine should be. Thus, a mild blue cheese like Cornish Blue would be excellent with the fruity, earthy but light Pinot Noir. Meanwhile, the heavy punch of a Barolo is fully capable of exchanging blows with a pungent and strong Gorgonzola cheese.
For all of these pairings, we are assuming you are eating the cheese after dinner where dessert wines and strongly flavoured wines are appropriate. If you are eating Blue Cheese as an appetizer, or part of a meal, you don’t want to go with sweet dessert style whites, or heavy reds. Beer may be more appropriate, or a crisp but slightly bubbly Prosecco. Regardless, we give you lots of options in the blue cheese and wine pairing charts below.
Best wine with Blue Cheese
Type | Varietal | Food | Rating (out of 5) |
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Sweet Wine | Vouvray Moelleux | Blue Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Gewürztraminer Vendange Tardive | Blue Cheese |
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Other | Mead | Blue Cheese |
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Sherry | Sherry, Palo Cortado | Blue Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Sauternes | Blue Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Château d'Yquem | Blue Cheese |
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White Wine | Corton-Charlemagne, blanc | Blue Cheese |
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White Wine | Auxey-Duresses, White | Blue Cheese |
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Port | Tawny Port | Blue Cheese |
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Beer | Wheatwine | Blue Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Trockenbeerenauslese Riesling | Blue Cheese |
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Red Wine | Zinfandel | Blue Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Montlouis sur Loire - Sweet White | Blue Cheese |
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Fortified Wine | Malmsey Madeira | Blue Cheese |
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Red Wine | Merlot | Blue Cheese |
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White Wine | Muscat, Dry | Blue Cheese |
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Sparkling Wine | Moscato d'Asti | Blue Cheese |
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Port | Vintage Port | Blue Cheese |
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Sherry | Sherry | Blue Cheese |
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Beer | Rauchbier | Blue Cheese |
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Red Wine | Pinotage, South Africa | Blue Cheese |
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Red Wine | Malbec | Blue Cheese |
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Red Wine | Brunello di Montalcino (DOCG) | Blue Cheese |
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Sake | Sake | Blue Cheese |
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Beer | Red IPA | Blue Cheese |
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Beer | Black IPA | Blue Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Banyuls Rouge AOC | Blue Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Ice Wine | Blue Cheese |
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Sparkling Wine | Sparkling Wine | Blue Cheese |
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Red Wine | Valpolicella Ripasso | Blue Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Sauternes | Danish Blue Cheese |
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Red Wine | Amarone | Danish Blue Cheese |
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Beer | Stout | Danish Blue Cheese |
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Port | Port | Danish Blue Cheese |
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Red Wine | Cabernet Sauvignon | Danish Blue Cheese |
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Port | Tawny Port | Bayley Hazen Blue Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Banyuls Rouge AOC | Bayley Hazen Blue Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Muscat de Rivesaltes | Bayley Hazen Blue Cheese |
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Port | Vintage Port | Dates Stuffed with Blue Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Sauternes | Pears Stuffed with Blue Cheese |
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White Wine | Aligoté | Blue Cheese Dip |
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Sweet Wine | Cadillac | Blue Cheese Dip |
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Sparkling Wine | Champagne | Blue Cheese Dip |
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Type | Varietal | Food |
What is the difference between Stilton, Roquefort, and Gorgonzola blue cheese?
Roquefort is a French Blue Cheese made from sheep milk and tends to be sharp in flavour. Stilton is British Blue Cheese and is made from cow’s milk and is crumbly. Finally, Gorgonzola is an Italian Blue Cheese and is made from cow’s milk. Gorgonzola might be labelled dolce, which means mild or piccante, which is stronger and sharper in flavour. You aren’t limited to these three styles of Blue Cheese, and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of producers across the world.
Best Wine with Stilton Cheese
Type | Varietal | Food | Rating (out of 5) |
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Port | Vintage Port | Stilton Cheese |
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Port | Tawny Port | Stilton Cheese |
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Beer | Barley Wine | Stilton Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Tokaji, Hungary | Stilton Cheese |
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Red Wine | Barolo | Stilton Cheese |
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Beer | British Strong Ale | Stilton Cheese |
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Beer | Old Ale | Stilton Cheese |
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Other | Mead | Stilton Cheese |
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Fortified Wine | Malmsey Madeira | Stilton Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Quarts de Chaume | Stilton Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Beerenauslese Riesling | Stilton Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Riesling, Late Harvest | Stilton Cheese |
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Sherry | Sherry | Stilton Cheese |
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R Wine Brand | Apothic Red Wine | Stilton Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Ice Wine | Stilton Cheese |
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Sherry | Sherry - Pedro Ximenez Montilla-Moriles | Stilton Cheese |
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Beer Brand | Traquair Jacobite Ale | Stilton Cheese |
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Red Wine | Barbaresco DOCG | Stilton Cheese |
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Beer | Belgian Beer | Stilton Cheese |
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Beer | India Pale Ale - IPA | Stilton Cheese |
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Red Wine | Amarone | Stilton Cheese |
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Beer | Russian Imperial Stout | Stilton Cheese |
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Beer | Sahti | Stilton Cheese |
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Red Wine | Rhone, Red Wine | Stilton Cheese |
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Red Wine | Zinfandel | Stilton Cheese |
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Red Wine | Bordeaux AOC Red | Stilton Cheese |
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Red Wine | Cahors | Stilton Cheese |
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Tea | Tea, Lapsang Souchong, Wuyi, China | Stilton Cheese |
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Beer | Vienna Lager | Stilton Cheese |
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Type | Varietal | Food |
Tawny Port and Stilton Cheese
A Tawny Port 10 years or older, or a Vintage Port are dreamy with Stilton Blue Cheese. The nutty flavours of the port complement the pungent and nutty quality of the Stilton Cheese. Meanwhile the fruity sweetness and sticky texture of port contrasts the sharp and salty flavours of the cheese.
Vintage Port doesn’t get produced every year and is often aged for decades before being enjoyed. So if you have a special bottle that you’re willing to open, make sure you have Stilton or another strong blue cheese on hand. Tawny is much more affordable, as is a Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port, making these styles of Port more ideal with casual and impromptu after-dinner affairs.
Tokaji Aszú & Roquefort Cheese
Tokaji Aszú is a white dessert wine from Hungary that features sweet flavours of apricot, orange peel, raisins, vanilla, toffee and nuts. The sweet flavours of Tokaji are excellent with Blue Cheese as they hold up to the strong flavours as well as contrast the salty and pungent notes of the Roquefort cheese. Tokaji and Roquefort Cheese is best enjoyed after dinner where this wine will invigorate your senses and lift your spirits.
Best Wine with Roquefort Cheese
Type | Varietal | Food | Rating (out of 5) |
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Sweet Wine | Château d'Yquem | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Sauternes | Roquefort Cheese |
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Red Wine | Bordeaux AOC Red | Roquefort Cheese |
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Port | Tawny Port | Roquefort Cheese |
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Other | Mead | Roquefort Cheese |
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Port | Vintage Port | Roquefort Cheese |
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Beer | British Strong Ale | Roquefort Cheese |
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Beer | Old Ale | Roquefort Cheese |
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Port | Ruby Port | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Monbazillac | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Quarts de Chaume | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Gewürztraminer Vendange Tardive | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Riesling, Late Harvest | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Jurançon, Sweet AOC | Roquefort Cheese |
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Beer | Russian Imperial Stout | Roquefort Cheese |
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Red Wine | Rioja Crianza | Roquefort Cheese |
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Fortified Wine | Marsala, Sweet | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Bonnezeaux | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Tokaji, Hungary | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Beerenauslese Riesling | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Eiswein | Roquefort Cheese |
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White Wine | Eichberg Grand Cru - Pinot Gris | Roquefort Cheese |
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Red Wine | Amarone | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sherry | Pedro Ximenez Sherry | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sherry | Sherry, Oloroso | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Late Harvest Wines | Roquefort Cheese |
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Red Wine | Châteauneuf du Pape, Red | Roquefort Cheese |
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Fortified Wine | Malmsey Madeira | Roquefort Cheese |
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Beer | Chimay | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Muscat de Rivesaltes | Roquefort Cheese |
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Beer | Belgian Beer | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Barsac | Roquefort Cheese |
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White Wine | Alsatian Riesling | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sherry | Sherry, Sweet | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Banyuls Rouge AOC | Roquefort Cheese |
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Red Wine | Ribera del Duero - Crianza | Roquefort Cheese |
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Red Wine | Burgundy, Red | Roquefort Cheese |
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White Wine | Burgundy, White | Roquefort Cheese |
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Red Wine | Cabernet Sauvignon | Roquefort Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Ice Wine | Roquefort Cheese |
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Red Wine | Zinfandel | Roquefort Cheese |
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Red Wine | Madiran AOC | Roquefort Cheese |
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Red Wine | Rhone, Red Wine | Roquefort Cheese |
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White Wine | Meursault | Roquefort Cheese |
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Red Wine | Tannat | Roquefort Cheese |
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White Wine | Coteaux du Layon Sweet White Wine | Roquefort Cheese |
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Red Wine | Fitou, Red | Roquefort Cheese |
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White Wine | Off Dry Riesling | Roquefort Cheese Mousse |
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White Wine | Weisser Riesling - South Africa | Roquefort Cheese Mousse |
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White Wine | Chardonnay | Steak with Roquefort Sauce |
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Red Wine | Pinot Noir | Steak with Roquefort Sauce |
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White Wine | Semillon | Steak with Roquefort Sauce |
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Type | Varietal | Food |
Sauternes & Roquefort Cheese
Sauternes is the go-to wine with Roquefort Cheese as both the cheese and wine hail from France. Produced in Bordeaux, Sauternes is world famous and features complex layers of honeycomb, apricot, caramel, spice and tropical fruit. Sauternes is a decadent wine and its complex flavours are further enhanced by the saltiness of the Roquefort cheese. Meanwhile the lush flavours of the wine tame the pungent flavours of the cheese, balancing out the sweet and salty duel where only your taste buds are the winner.
Best Wine with Gorgonzola Cheese
Type | Varietal | Food | Rating (out of 5) |
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Red Wine | Barolo | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Vin Santo | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Beer | British Strong Ale | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Beer | Old Ale | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Other | Mead | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Sparkling Wine | Prosecco | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Fortified Wine | Marsala, Sweet | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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White Wine | Vacqueyras - White | Gorgonzola Gnocchi |
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Port | Vintage Port | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Port | Tawny Port | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Sauternes | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Château d'Yquem | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Red Wine | Barbaresco DOCG | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Red Wine | Valpolicella Classico / Rosso | Risotto with Gorgonzola |
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Red Wine | Amarone | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Beer | Russian Imperial Stout | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Sparkling Wine | Sparkling Wine | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Sweet Wine | Late Harvest Wines | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Sherry | Sherry | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Red Wine | Barbera (DOC) | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Red Wine | Zinfandel | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Red Wine | Malbec | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Red Wine | Gigondas | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Red Wine | Brunello di Montalcino (DOCG) | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Red Wine | Chianti Classico, Riserva DOCG | Gorgonzola Cheese |
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Type | Varietal | Food |
Off-Dry Prosecco & Mild Gorgonzola Cheese
An Off-Dry Prosecco, (labelled extra-dry) has a kiss of sweetness that softens the salty punch of the pungent Gorgonzola cheese, which balances out this pairing. Prosecco, while citrusy and clean in flavour, also has a nutty almond vibe that meshes well with the nutty Gorgonzola cheese.
Piccante Gorgonzola & Vin Santo
Vin Santo is an Italian dessert wine that has rich flavours of raisin, honey, nutmeg and caramel. The sweeter flavours of Vin Santo calm down the bold and pungent flavours of Gorgonzola cheese, as well as providing refreshment against the saltiness. This contrast of sweet and salty makes for an excellent after-dinner treat. If you are enjoying a platter of Gorgonzola with a variety of other cheese, almonds, dried fruits and figs, enjoy this heavenly combination of Vin Santo and food, as good times like this don’t roll around too often!