Brie is one of the most famous cheeses this world has ever seen. From baked brie with cranberry, apricot preserves, or cranberries to brie wrapped in puff pastry, everybody is obsessed with brie cheese.
However, the best brie is served with a glass of wine.
Brie has a mildly chalky texture. When cooked, brie melts beautifully. Brie cheese has a robust buttery flavor and gooey texture that cannot be served with any wine. You need to choose the perfect wine based on the flavor of the brie cheese.
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Tips for Pairing Wine and Brie
Brie is a delicate soft cheese. It is made in the Brie Region of France hence the name Brie cheese.
Brie cheese is produced from cow’s or sheep’s milk. However, brie made from cow’s milk is more popular.
Even though brie has a mild flavor, it still has several complex layers of flavor. For example, brie has a mild nutty, sweet, yet tangy flavor.
However, the brie’s flavor can change or become more pronounced as the cheese matures, creating a versatile flavor.
First, you must consider whether the wine will contrast or complement the cheese without overpowering the brie.
The complex flavors allow brie to be paired with several different types of wine. However, the wine you serve with the brie will affect its flavor.
Since brie’s texture and flavor change as it matures, an aged brie needs an intense wine. In contrast, a young brie has a milder flavor, so it works best with light-bodied crisp wines.
Generally speaking, brie pairs well with white wines. White wines have lower tannic activity and its more acidic. The wine’s acidity helps cut through the creaminess of the Brie cheese.
You can also serve Brie cheese with sparkling wine or red wine. However, if you serve red wine with brie cheese, choose a light-bodied red wine with a fruity flavor. Full-bodied red wines have higher amounts of tannins.
Usually, the high tannic activity works well with aged cheeses, but in the case of brie cheese, it will overshadow the mild flavor of the Brie cheese. The bitter tannins can also give the brie cheese a chalky metallic flavor.
Lastly, consider how you are serving the brie. Is it a part of a charcuterie board or another dish, or is baked brie the main dish? If the brie cheese is a part of the meal, you need to consider how the other ingredients will pair with the wine you intend to serve it with.
Does Brie Pair With Rosé?
Yes, brie cheese pairs well with rose. The light, fruity flavor of rose wine enhances the brie cheese. Rose wines such as Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsault pair perfectly with brie cheese.
Is Moscato Good With Brie?
Yes, Moscato cheese works well with brie cheese. Moscato works wonders for soft cheeses. Moscato’s bright, fruity flavors provide a nice contrast to the cheese without overpowering its mild flavor.
What Wine Pairs With Brie?
Brie is a mildly flavored soft-ripened cheese. While you can technically serve any wine with Brie cheese, if you want the best brie experience, you need to choose your wine pairing carefully.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir and Brie go hand in hand. The mild flavors of the cheese are enhanced beautifully by Pinot Noir’s smooth viscosity.
This red wine has bright acidity and is light-medium-bodied. Pinot Noir is loaded with earthy mushroom, cherry, and raspberry flavors. When aged in French oak Pinot Noir has delicate flavors of vanilla and baking spice.
Pinot Noir pairs well with baked brie. The fruity flavors provide a nice contrast, and French oaked pinot noir adds a warm spicy flavor which takes the cheese to the next level.
Merlot
Merlot is the perfect option if you are new to drinking wine but still want to enjoy a glass of wine with your brie. Merlot can have intense flavors. However, the trick is to select a Merlot with low tannic activity.
A vintage wine with low tannin levels will pair perfectly with brie. The strong fruity aroma and flavor will cut through the rich fatty flavor of aged brie.
Champagne
Champagne is the ideal option if you want to serve this French cheese with French wine. Champagne elevates Brie cheese in a way that no other wine can.
Champagne is known for its acidity and bubbly texture, which adds a beautiful contrast to the creamy, rich texture of young brie cheese. Additionally, Champagne acidity helps cleanse the palette. Overall, the refreshing bubbles enhance the cheese, whether it is cooked or served sliced.
Unoaked Chardonnay
Chardonnay is an acidic wine, so it pairs perfectly with brie cheese. Chardonnay cuts through fatty flavors and adds a refreshing crip burst that cleanses the palette.
However, make sure you choose an unoaked Chardonnay. Unoaked Chardonnay works for a brie and cracker platter or a salad with pear and brie cheese.
Do not serve brie cheese with oaked Chardonnay. The acidity and strong flavors of the Chardonnay will decimate the brie’s flavor.
Riesling
Riesling is a famous German sparkling wine. Its flavor is similar to unoaked Chardonnay.
However, Riesling can cut through the creamy, fatty texture of the brie cheese. You can pair a Brut or Extra Riesling with brie cheese if you want a sharp contrast with the brie cheese. However, off-dry Riesling infuses an extra layer of sweetness that enhances the brie’s mildly sweet, nutty flavor.
Final Thoughts
Brie cheese is one of the fanciest cheeses you will ever see. Whether it is baked or cooked, brie cheese has a mild nutty flavor and creamy texture. However, brie cheese is best enjoyed with a glass of wine.
You can now have a brie and wine-tasting test with all of the wines mentioned on this list. You can even experiment once you have tested a few brie and wine pairings.
As long as the wine’s flavor does not overpower the delicate flavor of the brie cheese, you will have the perfect pairing.