Have you eaten lunch yet? If not, we apologize in advance! Today, we’re discussing a topic that truly never gets old (at least around here): Which Paso Robles wine to serve with which deliciously irresistible cheese? This may be the most ancient question in the entertainer’s book, but it truly is the most tasty to answer. In Paso Robles Wine Country, we’ve got the perfect wine for every meal of the day—including the all-mighty appetizer hour! Ready to get cheesy with us? Read on for 5 incredible Paso wine and cheese pairings sure to wow your dinner guests long before the dinner bell tolls!
Mourvedre and Manchego
Time to tango: Heady with dark cherry cola and touched with a dash of cream, smokey oak and tobacco notes, Anarchy Wines‘ 2019 The Agony & Ecstasy is a wild wine seeking an even bolder cheese to groove with! Our thoughts: Invite over your most compelling friends and serve this 100% Mourvedre offering with a side of Spanish manchego, known for its intense, zesty personality and irresistibly crumbly texture. You’ll soon understand why we do a little happy dance whenever this pair is around: The cheese’s rich and slightly salty finish completes mourvedre’s mix of briar patch black fruit, exotic spice, and black pepper punch. How’s that for picking up a few new dance moves?
Mapping & directions to the tasting room
Sauvignon Blanc and Gouda
Love at first sip: Fermented in stainless steel tanks, Hayseed and Housdon’s 2021 Vaya Con Gato Sauvignon Blanc smacks of Argentinan styles, where the varietal is referred to as “el gato.” Bright and crisp on the tongue with an firm, grassy aroma, this acidic white cries out for a rich, buttery cheese (like gorgeous gouda) to give it a little more heft. Pull out all the stops and serve up all the fat with a hunky, double cream gouda, if you dare. Now you have two halves represented in one pairing: one feminine and light, the other wholly satisfying and creamy. Intrigued by this romantic coupling? This brand new wine was just released at the Hayseed tasting garage on Valentine’s Day! Swoon.
Mapping & directions to the tasting room
California Red Blend and Aged Cheddar
The big cheese: There’s something so easy and endlessly appealing about pouring up a fruit-forward Paso Robles red blend, any time of year—and at literally any occasion! Ripe, round, juicy—you just know it’s going to go over like gangbusters, right? Enter: Locatelli’s 50/50 merlot and cabernet sauvignon blend, with lots of bold fruit plus blueberry, fig and sweet tobacco notes. A strong aged cheddar cheese is a no-brainer paired with the winery’s 2019 Estate Cielo Rosso, beloved for its soft yet substantial food-friendly tannins. While you might think a big wine and a big cheese might cancel each other out—in reality, they come together to play an even more enchanting symphony.
Mapping & directions to the tasting room
Chardonnay and Chèvre
Beauty and the Barnyard: Elevate snack time when you grab a bottle of Chateau Margene’s 2020 Chardonnay, cold fermented in stainless steel tanks and oozing with pure fruit appeal. An elegant wine with a juicy charm galore, this offering is best paired with a robust cheese that’s a little tangy, too. While “barnyard” isn’t normally a flavor you wouldn’t want anywhere near your wine, the right amount of gamey savoriness in your cheese will play nicely against a super clean white. Goat cheese can range from strong to mild to lightly sweet—so find the one that’s right for you. If you thought you didn’t like goat cheese, just keep exploring, darling! As we like to say, to each their own chèvre.
Mapping & directions to the tasting room
Viognier and Gorgonzola
Embrace the Blue: Viognier is totally dreamy when paired alongside buttery, creamy cheeses like a Délice de Bourgogne or a triple cream Brie, but we’re here to promote a more piquant companion. When sipping Rhone whites, Gorgonzola tops our list, with its exciting mix of creamy and sharp flavors that always seem to dazzle the palate. Crafted from one of the most respected vineyards in Paso Robles’ Willow Creek District, Crazy Woman Cellars’ Viognier delights the senses with aromas of banana, pear and vanilla followed by nutmeg and clove. Thanks to a splash of acid and a fruity perfume in the glass, this wine knows how to flirt with just about any old blue you throw at it!
Mapping & directions to the tasting room
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This blog is written by flavor fiend Hayley Cain. Follow her @flavorslo on Instagram or at astoldbyhayley.com.
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