Wine & Cheese: The Perfect Pairing

Wine and cheese, two of life's great pleasures and when combined, forge a partnership like no other. With so many different varieties of both, it can sometimes be a little overwhelming to ensure that you're pairing the best cheese with the most suitable wine. To celebrate the arrival of National Cheese Lovers Day on the 20th of January, we sit down with Chief Winemaker David Brocklehurst to match up a selection of the Knightor range with some of the finest cheese Cornwall has to offer! 

Knightor Vintage Cuvée 2013 & Extra Mature Cornish Gouda

Extra Mature Cornish Gouda or Cornish Vintage Gouda from the Cornish Gouda Company are the perfect match for our Vintage Cuvée. It may sound strange but believe me, the pairing is divine! The combination of nutty, salty rich Cornish Gouda with a sparkling that has been aged for several years works fantastically well. The dry crisp acidity cuts through the richness of flavour but also complements the savoury characters found in traditional method sparkling, particularly those that have been aged for five years or more.

Knightor Three Barrel Bacchus & Cornish Blue 

Sweet wines always work extremely well with blue cheese and certainly one of our favourites! The sweetness of our Three Barrel Bacchus (only three barrels made!) should pair nicely with the tangy, creaminess of the Cornish Cheese Company’s Cornish Blue, as well as helping to balance out the sharpness of the cheese. The flavours of the Cornish Blue may also bring out the fruity peach and red apple notes of the wine, enhancing the overall package. 

Knightor Bacchus 2019 & Boy Laity

Bacchus is often referred to as the English Sauvignon Blanc, which famously goes hand in hand with a classic soft cheese and our Bacchus 2019 is no different. Soft cheeses can include anything from brie to a simple cream cheese, however, we would recommend the Boy Laity from Curds & Croust. The light, aromatic flavours of the Bacchus help to balance out the richness and intensity of the Boy Laity Camembert, whilst the acidity of the wine will cut through the creaminess of the cheese.

Pinot Noir Rosé 2021 & Cornish Yarg

Considering the delicate flavours that make up Rosé, we think that the Yarg from the Cornish Cheese Company works as the perfect accompaniment. Yarg is a versatile cheese that could work with a number of different wines but with the fruity notes of the Knightor Pinot Noir Rosé, it creates an intriguing pairing. The creamy, yet crumbly nature of Cornish Yarg, complimented by an almost earthy taste due to the edible nettle exterior, enhances the hits of vanilla found in our Rosé wine - a combination for any occasion! 

Pinot Noir 2019 & Grey Goats Cheese 

Goats cheese and Pinot Noir is a match made in heaven! For this we pair the Knightor Pinot Noir 2019 with our favourite Polmarkyn Grey Goats cheese (available to buy via The Cornish Food Box Company), an ash coated variation created using unpasteurised goats milk. The light and fruity nature of our Pinot assists in cutting through the richness and tanginess of the cheese in a way that isn’t too overpowering. In addition, the gentle oak of the Pinot Noir is a real compliment for the creaminess of the cheese.