What wine goes with hard cheese (Comté, Beaufort)?
917 wines to serve with hard cheesesWith a hard cheese, serve a full-bodied, mineral white such as a Chardonnay, or a fine red with supple tannins: Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo or Sangiovese. The more mature the wheel, the more intense the wine can be, right up to a tawny Port for an aged Comté.
Comté, Beaufort, Abondance, tomme or Manchego share a melting texture and aromas of hazelnut, butter and dried fruit. Our wines from Italy, Spain, South Africa and Portugal go with this cheeseboard just right. Our wine and cheese pairing guide also covers the other cheese families.
Revancha - Primera Revancha Malbec 2016
A Malbec with velvet tannins, from the best plots of the estate
Torres - Pago del Cielo Celeste Crianza 2020
An altitude red, where the vines and the sky form a magical connection
Doña Paula - Altitude Series 1350 2019
Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Casavecchia form a complex trio within the famous Gualtallary terroir
Doña Paula - Altitude Series 1100 2019
Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah come together to create this complex and balanced cuvée
Nickel & Nickel - C.C Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
A single-varietal Rutherford, blackcurrant and black berries, tannins polished by eighteen months in barrique.
Nickel & Nickel - John Sullenger Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
An Oakville Cabernet born on twelve hectares of clay-silt soils, eighteen months in French oak.
Twomey - Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2023
A high-end Pinot Noir from the famous Russian River Valley
En route - Pinot Noir Les Pommiers 2019
A magnificent Pinot Noir with a rich and silky texture
Staglin Family Vineyard - Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
The great vintage of Domaine Staglin
Staglin Family Vineyard - Salus Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
A Cabernet Sauvignon with great aromatic depth
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars - FAY 2020
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars has created a grandiose vintage, from a historic plot
Acústic Celler - Auditori 2016
A true local wine that expresses the quintessence of Grenache
Palacios Remondo - Plácet Valtomelloso 2018
A high-class white wine, made by master Álvaro Palacios
Wildeberg & JD Rossouw - Seascape Malbec 2020
A 100% Malbec from the coastal regions of South Africa
Shafer - One Point Five 2019
One of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in California
Paarl Heights - Shiraz 2019
A distinctive Syrah from the foothills of the Paarl mountain
De Martino - Tierra Alta Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
An expressive Cabernet Sauvignon with assertive varietal character
Quinta do Crasto - Flor de Crasto Blanc 2019
An aromatic and tasty white from the Douro Valley
Thomas Leithner - Zweigelt 2013
The estate that created Zweigelt, an iconic Austrian grape variety with peppery flavors.
Paso Primero - Paso Primero Tinto 2019
A blend from Northern Spain, with accents of red fruits and spices
Château de Dereszla - Tokaji Furmint sec 2019
A dry white wine typical of Hungary, lively and mineral
Which wine for which hard cheese?
Each hard cheese has its own character, from fruity Comté to crystalline Parmesan. Here are the pairings we recommend most often in the shop.
| Cheese | Wines to choose | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Young Comté fruity Comté, Abondance | Full-bodied Chardonnay, Piedmont white | The roundness of the white embraces the supple paste and its milky notes. |
| Aged Comté, summer Beaufort long-aged Comté, Beaufort Chalet d'Alpage | Oak-aged Chardonnay, tawny Port | Notes of toasted hazelnut and dried fruit answer each other from start to finish. |
| Tomme and Morbier Tomme de Savoie, Morbier, Saint-Nectaire | Supple Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo d'Alba | A fine, fresh red goes with the rind and its cellar and forest floor notes. |
| Cantal and Salers medium-aged Cantal, Salers, Laguiole | Tuscan Sangiovese (Chianti Rufina, Rosso di Montalcino) | The acidity of Sangiovese refreshes a dense, slightly tangy paste. |
| Sheep's milk cheeses Manchego, Ossau-Iraty, Idiazabal | Spanish Tempranillo, Grenache | The ripe fruit of the Spanish red extends the sweetness and nuttiness of sheep's milk. |
| Aged Mimolette and Gouda extra-aged Mimolette, aged Gouda | Tawny Port, Douro red based on Touriga Nacional | The caramelised character of the cheese calls for a wine with notes of dried fruit. |
| Parmesan and Pecorino Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, Pecorino | Nebbiolo, Aglianico del Vulture or Taurasi | The fine tannins and liveliness of the Italian red answer the salt and the crystals. |
| Melted cheese raclette, Savoyard fondue, tartiflette | Fresh, mineral Chardonnay, lively white | Hot cheese calls for freshness to keep every bite light. |
For a board mixing several hard cheeses, a full-bodied Chardonnay bridges the young wheels and the most mature ones.
White first, then red
Our take: with a Comté or a Beaufort, white wine often wins over red. The richness of the paste and its brown butter aromas find a natural echo in a full-bodied Chardonnay, from Burgundy or South Africa. White keeps the palate fresh and lets the cheese express itself fully.
Red becomes a lovely option when it plays on finesse. A Nebbiolo from Piedmont, like those from 460 Casina Bric, or a Tuscan Sangiovese from Fattoria di Basciano brings acidity and silky tannins, perfect with a tomme or Parmesan. To finish with an aged Comté, try a tawny Port from Quinta do Vallado: its notes of walnut and caramel extend those of the cheese with a lovely sweetness.
Three pairings to try
Alpine Beaufort and South African Chardonnay. The tension of the wine highlights the floral notes of summer milk.
Manchego and Tempranillo. Two Spanish classics that share ripe fruit and hazelnut.
Aged Mimolette and tawny Port. A caramel and dried fruit duo, ideal at the end of a meal.
The Wine Wanderer Team
Your questions about wine and hard cheeses
What red wine goes with Comté?
With Comté, choose a fine, fresh red: Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo or Sangiovese. Their silky tannins respect the melting texture of the cheese and their acidity balances its richness. Keep more structured reds for long-aged Comtés, whose hazelnut and forest floor aromas can take more substance.
White or red wine with hard cheese?
White wine pairs most easily with hard cheeses. A full-bodied Chardonnay or an aromatic Italian white answers the richness and buttery notes. Red also works when it stays light and supple, like a Pinot Noir. For a mixed board, a white bridges all the cheeses.
What wine goes with Beaufort?
Beaufort calls for a rich, mineral white, such as an oak-aged Chardonnay. This floral, slightly fruity Alpine cheese loves wines that combine roundness and freshness. A well-aged summer Beaufort also takes a supple Pinot Noir or, at the end of the meal, a white Port served chilled.
What wine goes with a hard cheese board?
For a hard cheese board, plan two bottles: a full-bodied white and a fine red. Chardonnay goes with young Comté, Abondance and tomme. A Nebbiolo or a Tempranillo takes over with Manchego, Cantal or Parmesan. Serve the cheeses from mildest to most mature, and the wines in the same order.
At what temperature should wine be served with Comté?
Serve white wine between 10 and 12 °C and red between 15 and 17 °C with Comté. Also take the cheese out of the fridge an hour beforehand: at room temperature, it releases all its aromas and the pairing gains in harmony. A tawny Port is best slightly chilled, at around 14 °C.
What wine goes with Parmesan or Manchego?
With Parmesan, a lively Italian red such as Nebbiolo or Aglianico works wonders; with Manchego, prefer a Spanish Tempranillo. In both cases, the acidity of the wine answers the salt and the small crystals of these aged cheeses. An aged Parmesan also goes very well with a tawny Port.