The 2022 Holiday editions of The Pairing are here! If you need cheese and wine for your holiday traditions, we've made it as easy as possible. Featuring three holiday cheeses that are only available this time of year, each pairing is balanced, crowd-pleasing and so stinking good. Come pick them up while supplies lasts.
Domaine Lapierre Morgon + Rush Creek Reserve: If you know, you know. A wine with a cult following and a cheese that people wait for all year? Of course they make the perfect pair. If you're looking for a table centerpiece, or just looking for something special to bring to a holiday gathering, this is it.
The Cheese: Rush Creek Reserve Raw Cow - 2 months Dodgeville, Wisconsin
The Wine: Domaine Lapierre Morgon Gamay Beaujolais, France
Why it works: Hailing from a prestigious winery with a devout following, this bold and well-balanced Beaujolais is perfect for Rush Creek Reserve. The wine handles the meaty, smokey notes that come from the spruce bark surrounding the Rush Creek. With just enough body, the wine offers some relief from the richness of the cheese, while still enhancing the creamy quality that makes this cheese so good.
Maison Gilliard 'Les Murettes' + Brabander Reserve: This year's batch of Brabander Reserve is one of the best we've ever had. We've paired it with a really cool wine from Switzerland, that's sure to be a new favorite. This pairing is so playful and fun, we can only describe it as a party.
The Cheese: Brabander Reserve Pasteurized Goat - 18 months Brabant, The Netherlands
The Wine: Maison Gilliard 'Les Murettes' Fendant Valais, Switzerland
Why it works: This super playful pairing is a party to enjoy. Lesser-known, this Swiss wine is bright and acidic, mellowing the sweetness of the extra-aged goat gouda without diminishing what makes the cheese so fun to eat. The crunchy, crystally texture of the gouda is well balanced against the body of the wine, making you want to go back for more and more.
Drew Family Cellars 'Bahl Briney Vineyard' Chardonnay + Comte Sagesse: Yes, Chardonnay for the holidays. So bright, so graceful, and so good together. If you like your cheese buttery and nutty, and your wine delicious and drinkable, you have to give this pairing a try. We're obsessed.
The Cheese: Comté Sagesse Raw Cow - 24 months Jura, France
The Wine: Drew Family Cellars 'Bahl Briney Vineyard'Chardonnay Anderson Valley, California
Why it works: This light, graceful Chardonnay enhances the complexity in this extra-aged Comté by highlighting the nutty, savory qualities of the cheese. The wine also provides a citrusy, acidic finish against the rich and buttery nature of this famous Alpine cheese.