Believe it or not, it’s been a big year for Joe and me. In January I quit my job to work from home full-time; at the end of May we made our way to Mexico with our closest family and friends to get married; we’ve been traveling basically nonstop, including two European cruises; and, most recently, we purchased our first home. As you can imagine, it’s also been a very stressful year, but I’m definitely not complaining because it’s been full of things to celebrate.
Speaking of celebrating
(like my segue there?)
One of the things we’re most excited about with our new home is how amazing it’s going to be for entertaining. We absolutely love to have people over, but our last apartment was far from the ideal place to do it. The kitchen was tiny and separated from everything, there was barely enough room for a bar table in the dining area, and both the finishes and lighting left much to be desired. As it’s completely the opposite where we are now, it’s probably not surprising that I started planning our housewarming party the minute our offer was accepted.
We may or may not have a wine and cheese problem
I can’t remember the last time we had a get-together—or even a quiet week at home, for that matter—that didn’t feature at least three cheeses and a few different wines. To be honest, though, we weren’t the most ‘posh’ about it. Usually, it just meant grabbing whatever wine sounded good in the moment and whatever cheeses we could find in the $5 cheese bin at our local store. Not that there’s anything wrong with this. And, don’t get me wrong, we’ve never been mad about any kind of either. However, I figured the new, snazzy location was a good reason to up our game a little. So, I’ve been spending my time putting together a list of some perfect French wine and cheese pairings. I’ll obviously be sharing what I’ve put together with my guests once we’re all settled, but why don’t I go ahead and share with you now 😉
Wine and cheese & fromage et vin
(here we go!)
Wine #1: George Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages 2015 $9.99-$12.99
Type: Gamay
Overview: Light-bodied, floral, subtly earthy, cousin to Pinot Noir
Best Cheeses: Chèvre, Comté, Monterey Jack, Brie, Farmer’s Cheese, Neuchatel, Saint-Nectare, Swiss Raclette, Swiss, Gruyere
Cheese of Choice: Saint André $19.99/lb
Overview: Rich, triple cream, salty tang
Wine #2: Georges Duboeuf Pouilly-Fuissé 2015 $24.99-34.99
Type: Pouilly-Fuissé
Overview: Roasted almonds, peach and pear, flinty mineralogy, long-lasting finish
Best Cheeses: Epoisses, Triple-Cream Cheeses, Délice de Bourgogne, Brie, Gruyere, Creamy blue
Cheese of Choice: Saint Agur $22.99/lb
Overview: Blue cheese, buttery, rich
Wine #3: Légende Rouge $17.99
Type: Red Bordeaux
Overview: Rich, smooth, fruity, red currant, raspberry, discreet oak, mature tannins, deep color
Best Cheeses: Grana Padano, Manchego, Pepper Jack, Ossau Iraty, Asiago, Swiss Cheese, Comté, Rich Goat, Basque Cheeses, Provolone
Cheese of Choice: Ile de France Plain Goat Cheese $5.99
Overview: Dense, rich, fresh aroma, tangy, slightly salty
Wine #4: Légende Blanc
Type: White Bordeaux
Overview: Grapefruit, lime, passionfruit, aromatic, exotic notes
Best Cheeses: Cheddar, Havarti, Bodied Brie, Monterey Jack, Muenster, Gouda, and Swiss
Cheese of Choice: Ile de France Brie
Overview: Milky, buttery, mushroom, hazelnut
Where to buy
George Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages 2015 – Wegman’s, Wine.com, PJS Liquor, Beacon Wine & Liquor
Georges Duboeuf Pouilly-Fuissé 2015 – Wegman’s, Wine.com, PJS Liquor, Beacon Wine & Liquor
Légende Rouge – map here
Légende Blanc – map here
Saint André – Whole Foods, TJ, Harris Teeter, Publix, Winn-Dixie
Saint Agur – Whole Foods, TJ, Harris Teeter, Publix, Winn-Dixie
Ile de France Plain Goat Cheese – Harris Teeter, Publix, Shoprite, Albertson, HEB
Ile de France Brie – Harris Teeter, Publix, Shoprite, Albertson
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