Wine and Cheese Pairing

The six cheeses (taste described without wine):
-Bel Gioiso Mozzarella: One of my favorite cheeses, very plain, soft texture
- Hennings Mango Fire Cheddar: My favorite, had the smell of mango but a spicy after taste
- Jarlsberg: Smooth, creamy and smelled like milk
-BellaVitano Merlot: pungent smell, creamy at the end, really tasted like a merlot
-Muenster: Had a distinct smell
-Van Kaas Gouda: Smoky, full and creamy

Wines: 
- Pinot Grigio: One the nose I got citrus flavors, it was sharp and acidic
-Pinot Noir: On the nose I got blackcherry and burnt leather. I got hints of burnt leather and smooth cherry. The finish was smooth and velvety.
-Rheinhessen: One of my favorite wines! on the nose I got hints of ginger, flower, lemon, citrus and honey. The taste was smooth, citrus and a touch of acidity in the finish.
-Riesling: On the nose I got honey and flowers. It has a sweet but tart taste. Overall it was a great wine!
-Sauvingon Blanc: One the nose I go lemon, grass and citrus flavors. The taste of the wine was grassy, green, leafs and mineral. It was sharp and acidic.

 Pairings: 
-Pinot Grigio and the Gouda: The Gouda is smoky and full. It really cuts the acidity of the wine leaving a lemony after taste. This was the first paring that we did and it worked the best! I was pleasantly surprised by how much both the wine and the cheese influence each other!
-Pinot Noir and the Cheddar: This paring did not work as well. The cheese was spicier then regular cheddar. The cheddar and bits of mango that made it sweet. Overall the wine overpowered the cheddar.
-  Rheinhessen and Munster: This was probably one of the worst parings. The wine had the cheese smell funny. Both by itself was a good pair. However, together it did not work.
-Rheinhessen and Jarlsberg: This was an okay paring. The flavors complimented each other nicely. However, I am not a fan of Jarlsberg, so I did not enjoy this paring as much as others did.
- Reiesling and Merlot Cheese: The cheese is sharp, pungent and creamy. It pairs well with the Riesling because it was sweet but tart and cut the strong flavors of the cheese. This was the second best paring that we had.
-Sauvingnon Blanc and Mozzarella: The mozzarella is not strong enough to be paired with the Sauvingnon Blanc. The lemon, citrus and grass flavors of the wine overpower the mozzarella. This was not a good paring.  


Overall, this was a great learning experience. I did not realize that wine had such an effect on the taste of cheese! This has changed my perception of wine and cheese. Both of which I did not really like before this class! However, I have learned to enjoy and indulge in both!

Jon and I enjoying our wine and cheese parings!

Tasting- Valle Reale D'abruzzo Rose

Name: Valle Reale
Variety: D'abruzzo Rose 
Region: ?
Country: 
Year: 2011
Price: 7.95 

Winery Review: Cerasuolo, which means 'cherry red' in Italian, is a voluptuous and powerful rosé version of the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC wine.  Made entirely from Montepulciano, the grapes are grown on hillside estate vineyards, where they benefit from a high altitude and an excellent microclimate.
Tasting Notes
Generous aromas of strawberry jam and wild herbs.  This wine is medium-bodied and fresh, with layers of fruit flavors and a lingering finish.

Personal Review: This wine was a light pink color. On the nose I got hints of strawberry and raspberries. The wine had a little bit of a bite to it. The finis was acidic. I did not enjoy this wine very much, it was to dry for my liking. I did not pair this wine with food.  

Tasting- Hacienda Gewurztraminer

Name: Hacienda 
Variety:  Gewurztraminer 
Region: California
Country: U.S. 
Year: 2009
Price: $ 4.95 

Winery Review: This beguiling Gewurztraminer has a stunning bouquet of apricot, pear, and banana. The unctuous dry palate is nicely balanced with bracing acidity. The wine pairs beautifully with seafood, grilled spicy sausage, as well as a nice ripe blue cheese such as gargonzola. Serve chilled.

Personal Review: This wine is a straw yellow color. On the nose I got the smell of petrol. This was an interesting nose for me because I was not used to it. The taste of the wine was like apple juice. Overall, I enjoyed this wine. I did not pair it with food. 

Tasting-Juliet Primo Amore

Name: Primo Amore 
Variety:  Juliet
Region: ? 
Country:  Italy 
Year:?
Price: $ 5.95 

Winery Review: " Primo Amore Juliet is a fresh and crisp wine made up a blend of Garganega and Moscato grapes. With lots of small bubbles and a low, 7.5% alcohol level, this would be a great pre-dinner sipper. Where it would really shine, however, it as a dessert wine. There were nice aromas of apples and flowers that drew you into the glass. Flavors of pear, apple, and peach kept this wine from becoming too sweet. Think of this as a perfect partner to fruit-based desserts, simple biscuits, or on its own. At under $8, this is a very good QPR choice for  any day." 

Personal Review:  On the nose I got hints of walnuts and lemon. On the palate I got a fruit bomb. Overall, this wine was smooth and light acidity. It was semi-sweet. I really enjoyed this wine. I did not pair it with food.  

Tasting- Robert Hall Orange Muscat

Name: Robert Hall
Variety: Orange Muscat  
Region: Paso Robles 
Country: U.S, California 
Year: 2010 
Price: $ 11.95 

Winery Review: A vivid yellow-gold in color, this wine entertains the senses with fresh citrus and orange blossom aromas with a touch of sweet ginger spice echoed by bright, sweet tropical fruit flavors. Medium-bodied, the Orange Muscat features a balancing crisp acidity that brightens the finish. Pair with spicy cuisine, as an accompaniment to dessert or as an aperitif. 3.2% residual sugar.

Personal Review: This wine was a straw yellow color. On the nose I got hints of citrus fruits, mostly orange. In the mid palate there was hints of acidity. The finish of the wine was a mix of orange peel and acidity. Overall, I enjoyed this wine because of the hints of orange. I did not pair this wine with food.   

Tasting- Basserman Riesling

Name: Basserman
Variety: Reisling
Region: ?
Country: Germany 
Year:2009
Price:$30 - $13.95 

Winery Review: Dry, fresh and fruit-driven easy drinking typical Pfalz Riesling with a good minerality and fine fruit aromas

Personal Review: This wine was a light yellow color. On the nose I got hints of lemon, apple and peach. This wine was a mix of sweet and tart. Overall, it was light and refreshing. The finish was smooth. This wine was not very acidic. I enjoyed this wine very much. I did not pair it with food.