09/02/2025
September is California Wine Month! What better way to celebrate than with California wines paired with your favorite cheeses. Whether it’s an easy weeknight girl dinner with a glass of crisp sauvignon blanc or an epic weekend gathering of friends for a tasting with a cheeseboard the size of your coffee table and a California wine to match every bite, cheers to good company, great wine, and our favorite Golden State harvest!
Not sure if you should slice into that brie when you open your favorite Pinot Noir? Do it! There are no hard and fast “rules” for pairing wine and cheese, but here are some pairing guidelines that will really highlight flavors:
☁️ Fresh cheeses like goat chèvre + light, crisp Sauvignon Blanc
🧈 Bloomy rind cheeses like brie + buttery Chardonnay
🍷 Semi-firm cheeses like young cheddar and Monterey Jack + light-bodied fruity reds like gamay and pinot noir
🧀 Aged cheeses like vintage cheddar and gouda, and Parmigiano Reggiano are great for showcasing full-bodied white wines like viognier and the “annes,” marsanne and rousanne.
🍯 Washed-rind cheeses, which are full-fragranced cheeses best balanced with light-bodied wines with subtle honeyed or floral aromatics, like an off-dry white
Blue cheeses with sweeter wines to balance out the intensity, like late harvest riesling and semillon
🥂🍾 Of course, as I always say, when in doubt, get the bubbles out. California sparkling wine goes with everything!
More ways to celebrate California Wine Month:
🍾 pick up a bottle of California wine while shopping, or order from a winery online
🍽️ choose a glass of California wine when dining out
🚙 go visit a winery or tasting room
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