Wine Pairings with Aged cheeses

Aged cheeses, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino, Grana Padano and Castelmagno, have an intense flavour and a compact structure. Pairing them with the right wine should bring out their savouriness and aromatic complexity. Let's discover the best wines to pair with aged cheeses.

Characteristics of Aged Cheeses and General Pairings

The choice of wine depends on several factors:

• Degree of ageing: very well-aged cheeses call for more structured, complex wines.
• Structure and salinity: aged cheeses have a bold and often savoury taste, so they go well with tannic wines or passito.
• Method of consumption: on their own or with honey and preserves can affect the pairing.

Best Food and Wine Pairings for Aged Cheeses

Recommended Structured Red Wines

• Barolo DOCG – Perfect with Parmigiano Reggiano and mature Pecorino, thanks to its tannins and its complexity.
• Brunello di Montalcino DOCG – Ideal with Grana Padano and Castelmagno, for its structure and spicy notes.
• Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG – Excellent with very mature, full-flavoured cheeses.

Recommended White Wines

• Verdicchio Riserva DOCG – Perfect with medium-aged Pecorino, thanks to its minerality and acidity.
• Burgundy Chardonnay – Excellent with aged cheeses served with honey and nuts.

Recommended Sweet and Passito Wines

• Vin Santo del Chianti DOC – Ideal for Parmigiano with honey or walnuts.
• Marsala Vergine DOC – Perfect with mature Pecorino and matured blue cheeses.
• Sauternes – Excellent with very mature, savoury cheeses.

Mistakes to Avoid in Pairing

Avoid light, unstructured wines, which would not stand up to the aromatic intensity of aged cheeses. Watch out for overly acidic wines if the cheese is particularly savoury, since they could throw the flavours out of balance. Avoid wines that are too aromatic (e.g. Gewürztraminer) which would mask the complexity of aged cheeses.

Specific Pairings for Some Famous Cheeses

Parmigiano Reggiano aged 36 months → Barolo, Vin Santo Aged Pecorino Sardo → Brunello di Montalcino, Marsala Vergine Grana Padano Riserva → Amarone della Valpolicella, Chardonnay Borgogna Castelmagno DOP → Sauternes, Verdicchio Riserva