WINE and CHEESE!! ....IS THERE ANYTHING BETTER?..When did this wine and cheese party fad begin? In the early 90's I believe. Did you ever go to a gathering where the cheese actually matched the wines? Not likely. At most of these affairs you would see the inevitable trays with cheese slices dutifully arranged with the requisite number of olives and other eye catching condiments. Of course then we became more sophisticated and experts from around the world made recommendtions on what cheese really goes well with a particular wine or the other way around what wine should you serve with that exquisite cheese you carefully selected at your favourite cheese shop. For me that would be Carmen's place on Foul Bay road in Victoria.
Back inOctober of 2005 a distinguished goup of foodies and wine tasters were brought together by Marjorie King at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland BC. The results were published in no less a distinguished scientific publication than the Journal of Food Quality.So there it was.
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/press/pressitem.asp?ref=535 Now we can go forward, confident in the knowledge that experts are giving us the scientific information we so much needed before making those critical wine and cheese purchases. I was thrilled to find out there was a cheese and wine heaven. But wait... whats this?
Another proclamation by another distinguished panel What are we to do now? Don't know about you but I sure love it when I do get that wine and cheese match that is a delight to the palate. Port and Stilton? Of course its a winner. Recently I tasted a Blue Gouda that was just divine with the 2001 Tradizione del Nonno Primitivo di Manturia. It is a huge, robust and fruity wine with a velvety smooth finish. At 16% alcohol it has a Port like quality. Bring on the roasts, game and pastas but especially the blue gouda. Have you tried a BC Icewine with Camenbert? There are lots of good combinations. France produces oustanding cheeses and they go extremely well with the local wines. Do you have a favourite cheese and wine combination? If you want to share it with us let us know.