Wine and Goat Cheese are Made for Each Other

Goat cheese is an under-appreciated cheese in the United States. Goat cheese is a little tangier than cow's milk cheese and can bring any cheese spread up a notch. When it comes to pairing goat cheese and wine, there are several varieties that are easy to find and are perfect for livening up any wine and cheese party that you might be planning. Wine and goat cheese are made for each other.

I have to admit that when it comes to cheese, I love to shop at Whole Foods. The staff is knowledgeable and will always allow you to sample anything you are planning to buy. Go in and experiment, try a few goat cheese varieties to find the ones that fit your personal taste.

Like any good cow's milk cheese, goat's milk cheeses come in a variety of forms. They can be fresh or aged, crumbly or soft, strong-flavored or very subtle. Here are a few choices to satisfy any pallet.

Humboldt Fog from Cypress Grove has a blue vein running through it. It is a pasteurized goat cheese and has a very creamy texture. It is an aged cheese that comes in a wheel and has a crust. It is a cheese that is great for spreading on a cracker or slicing into a salad where you want a lot of flavor. It is pungent and tangy. Pair this cheese with some fresh seasonal fruit and white wine. A nice choice in a crisp white wine would be a 2009 Riesling from Seven Hills Vineyard in the Columbia Valley of Washington State. It has a fruity flavor with a touch of honey that is a good match for the tang of the Humboldt Fog cheese.

Capricho de Cabra is a fresh goat cheese from the Murcia region of Spain. It has a very creamy texture and a subtle taste. It hasn't been aged so there is no rind. It has a richness that can be attributed to the higher fat content. Because it has a lighter more delicate taste it needs to be paired with a wine that will not overpower it.

One nice choice in a red wine is a Pinot Noir from Monterey California. The 2006 Loredona Pinot Noir is an excellent choice to pair with this light Spanish cheese. The bottle of wine is inexpensive at $18.95.  According to Natalie MacLean of Nat Decants "The Loredona ("lady flower") shows classic Pinot Noir aromas, including cherry, cedar, plum, and earth. A fine choice. My note: A beguiling and silky pinot with lovely layers of ripe cherries and some cinnamon."

Rond du Cher is a French goat cheese that has been pasteurized. It has a fine ash coating. This is a dense cheese that has a nutty flavor as well as a complex combination of fruity notes. A little goes a long way with this delicious cheese.

It is strong enough to stand up to just about any wine but an Australian Shiraz. Yalumba Vineyard has a 150-year history of producing fine wines and they have several vintages of their Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon, which have the perfect combination of chocolaty overtones and subtle hazelnut flavor, the 2005 is especially well suited.

The combination of goat cheese and wine is a natural one. Combined with fresh fruits and crackers it makes the perfect beginning or end to any meal or party table.