This heatmap shows the most recommended cheese pairings for each type of wine. These recommendations were found in several sites of cheese, and wine. Dishes were not included, only cheeses. Darker colors translate into more sites approving that pairing. Hover over the heatmap to see the number of approvals for each pairing.
Choosing what wine goes with your food is easier once you know what kind of wines are out there, and how they came to be.
Yes, the color is a good guide, but here is much more than color when it comes to choosing a wine. The following description is a starters guide to wine varieties. Most of the information comes from: Usual Wines and Primer.
The wines were represented and classified as follows:
| Wine Types | Names | |
 | Dry Wines | Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio |
 | Sweet Wines | Moscato, Riesling |
 | Rich Wines | Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Viognier |
 | Sparking Wines | Champagne, Prosecco, Cava |
 | Rose Wines | Dry Rose |
 | Light and Red Wines | Pinot Noir |
 | Medium Red Wines | Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet |
 | Bold Red Wines | Shiraz or Syrah, Malbec |
 | Dessert Red Wines | Sherry, Port |
Cheeses were classified according to Fundamentals of Cheese Science by Patrick F. Fox et. al. For more information on Cheese classification go to Types of Cheese Chart.
For the pairings, dishes or prepared food pairing sites were avoided. Also sites that give you hints or guides to pair wines and foods according to taste.
The summary was focused on specific names. Most common or referenced wines and cheeses are included.
There are many different kinds of wines that go with cheese but were not mentioned in this list. This list is definitely biased towards wines common in English speaking countries.
You can read more about cheese pairing. Amazon has Cheese & Wine: A Guide to Selecting, Pairing, and Enjoying. This is a thorough book on the topic. The author leads readers on an international tour of 70 cheeses, exploring the best wine pairings and serving suggestions.
When it comes to cheese and wine pairings, there are several classic combinations that work well together.
However, personal preferences can vary, so it's always good to experiment and find your own favorite pairings.
According to our review, these are the best wine and cheese pairings and counts:
Overall the most popular Wine to pair with is Chardonnay, on the other hand the most popular cheese to pair with is Brie.
If you want to learn about other pairings, go to meat and wine pairings!
Pair a sharp Cheddar cheese with a bold red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon. The rich flavors of the Cheddar complement the robust characteristics of this wine.
The delicate and creamy texture of Brie cheese complements the fruity and elegant characteristics of Pinot Noir.
Opt for a ripe and soft Brie cheese with a creamy and gooey texture. The richness and buttery flavor of the cheese will harmonize beautifully with the wine.
Bring the Brie to room temperature before serving, as it enhances its flavors and softens the texture.
Brie is a creamy and delicate cheese that pairs beautifully with a crisp white wine like Chardonnay.
The acidity and fruitiness of this wine provides a nice contrast to the buttery texture of the Brie.
Chardonnay and Gruyère can create a fantastic pairing, as the rich and nutty flavors of Gruyère cheese complement the buttery and oaky characteristics of Chardonnay.
Consider the style of Chardonnay: Chardonnay can range from unoaked, with vibrant fruit flavors, to oaked versions that exhibit buttery and vanilla notes.
Depending on the style, you can select a Gruyère that complements the wine's characteristics.
Take a bite of the Gruyère and let its nutty and slightly sweet flavors unfold on your palate.
Sip the Chardonnay and pay attention to how the wine interacts with the cheese. The creamy and rich texture of Gruyère, along with its subtle earthiness, pairs beautifully with the Chardonnay's fruitiness and balanced acidity.
Map of Goat Production in Europe
I never gave much thought to drinking wine. I never thought cheese and wine were a thing.
Then I spent a summer in Paris. Wine was cheap and everywhere. Cheese was not plain and came in all delicious stinky varieties.
I have to confess I did not learn their names, but learned to appreciate the flavors that wine brings to food.
The quarantine started and I could only think of things I could no longer do. One of the things I really missed was dining out. I wanted to have a fancy meal at a nice restaurant every night.
I then focused my desires and tribulations to fixing food at home. I started thinking about foods and meals I craved. Then I made the visualization about the Visual Classification of Cheese. I realized that it was not complete without mentioning cheese and wine pairings.
I started looking for information and made quite a fun diagram about it. But the more I got into it and looked at it, I realized it did not make much sense. I realized that descriptive pairings made little sense.
Acid, sweet, soft, strong, fruity.... I could not tell which was which. Then Pinot Noir seemed to go with everything. Something was wrong.
I then decided to look at other sites. Maybe there was better pairings out there. I realized, that they all give different information. I understand it can be a science but also it is also very subjective to who's tasting.
I decided the best way to graph pairings was to tally the number recommended pairings. This way I could get the most recommended pairing for each cheese and wine.
Do you know which county has the most breweries per capita? Breweries per capita and Locations Map, can show you where.
If you see a worthy list send it to me. I will be pleased to add it to this graph. It will make it even more complete! Message me to Facebook at Databayou!
The list of reference sites are:
Made by Luz K. Molina with D3.js.
