Tips for Serving Wine
- As a rule of thumb, plan on a half bottle of wine per person.
- White wines should be chilled for two hours (no longer) before being served. Red wines should be opened and allowed to breathe at room temperature for two hours before serving.
- If you’re serving several wines, start with the lighter whites, move through more robust reds and end with a port or sherry.
- If possible, use the correct stemware for each of the wines. The right glass does make a difference.
You could win one of three Balderson Gift Baskets valued at $70 each by submitting your favourite Canadian wine to pair with Balderson Vintners Cheddar for white wine or for red wine. Post in the comments below before December 20, 2016.
Pairing Balderson Vintners Cheddars and Wine
Some general guidelines for pairing Cheddars and wines…
- Serve the cheese at room temperature to bring out all of its special characteristics and flavours.
- Research the websites of your selected wineries to see if they offer specific food or cheese suggestions to pair with their specific wines.
- Cheeses with higher fat or moisture contents are better suited for lighter and white wines. Aged cheeses that develop stronger flavours and aromas as they mature are better suited for more robust wines.
- For a cheese plate, cheese board or wine pairing, select a variety of
cheeses that have range of texture, flavour and visual appeal and, if possible, select your variety from the same geographical region or country to give it a “terroir” appeal.
- Both the wine and cheese go well when served with crackers and toasted breads that have complementary fruit flavours such as raisins, dates, figs and other dried fruits. Avoid crackers that have salt or herbs added.
BALDERSON VINTNERS CHEDDAR FOR WHITE WINE
Age: 20 months.
Usage: Especially aged and graded to complement the subtler and sweeter flavours of most white wines. Creamier texture that breaks down quickly on the palatte. No lingering aftertaste.
BALDERSON VINTNERS CHEDDAR FOR RED WINE
Age: 40 months.
Usage: Especially aged and graded to complement the full bodied flavour and tannins of most red wines.
Mild Cheddars and Other Mild Cheeses
- BALDERSON MILD: a gentle, buttery cheese that would go well with a dry sparkling wine or a Sauvignon Blanc, unoaked Chardonnay or a dry Rosé. Avoid full-bodied reds with tannin or oak-aged Chardonnays whose flavour will overpower the cheese.
Medium to Old Cheddars and Other Aged Cheeses
- Try full reds like Beaujolais, Cabernet Sauvignon and Burgundy. Excellent white wine matches include Pinot Grigio and the new white Merlots.
Extra Old Cheddars
- Try full bodied, well-structured reds like Shiraz and Merlot.
- BALDERSON EXTRA OLD: a Cheddar aged for up to eighteen months takes on a lively bite that requires a well-structured red wine to balance its intensity of flavour. A Canadian Merlot with its ripe blueberry-blackberry flavour will fit the bill.
- BALDERSON ROYAL CANADIAN CHEDDAR:A great all round flavour favourite that complements and enhances most wine pairings.
- BALDERSON HERITAGE (3 YEAR/5 YEAR): a rich spectrum of nutty, salty, fruity flavours that linger on the palate, this cheese cries out for a full-bodied and rich red wine, port or dry sherry.
- BALDERSON SPREADABLE CHEDDAR: a spreadable Cheddar goes nicely with herbed or flavoured crackers, in particular cracked black pepper, or even hot flavours. But, as with all fine cheese, it’s always better to stay with the basics. Pairs well with most beverages.
