What wine goes with blue cheese, from Roquefort to Fourme?
158 wines to serve with Roquefort and blue cheesesWith a blue cheese, choose a sweet or dessert wine: Tokaji, Port, late-harvest Riesling or Recioto. The sugar in the wine wraps around the salt and power of the blue, for an intense sweet and savoury pairing.
Roquefort, Fourme d'Ambert, Bleu d'Auvergne, Gorgonzola or Stilton find their partners here, from Hungary, Portugal, Germany, Italy and South Africa. For a milder blue, a rich dry white also works. Browse our dessert wines to plan the end of your meal.
Holdvölgy - Signature 2007
A botrytized wine combining density, brilliance and finesse, the signature of the precise know-how of the Holdvölgy estate
Holdvölgy - Hold and Hollo Sweet 2019
A wine that illustrates the modernity and finesse of Hungarian sweet wines
Château de la Roulerie - Coteaux du Layon Le P’tit Layon Blanc 2022
Peach, honey and honeysuckle, a tender Layon whose acidity keeps it far from heaviness.
Simcic Marjan - Opoka Cru Ribolla 2019
A cru Ribolla, deep and saline. Macerated texture meets a very clear-cut mineral freshness.
Luis Pato - Quinta do Ribeirinho Branco 2022
A rare white from Bairrada, taut and saline. Here Sercialinho reveals remarkable precision.
Dr Loosen - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese 2023
A magnificent Moselle Riesling, combining crystalline purity, controlled sweetness, and vibrant mineral energy.
Barbeito - Verdelho Old Reserve (med dry) NV
A medium-dry Verdelho Madeira of great precision, where saline tension balances a complex aromatic richness.
Axel Pauly - Lieserer Niederberg-Helden Riesling Kabinett 2022
A precise and crystalline Kabinett de Mosel, where the freshness of Riesling meets the indulgence of a gentle lightness.
Shafer - Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch 2022
A Chardonnay of rare elegance and captivating complexity...
Quinta do Vallado - Porto Tawny 30 ans
A 20 year old Tawny Port, complex, aromatic and long in the mouth.
Quinta de la Rosa - Vintage Porto 2020
Niepoort - Conciso Tinto 2013
A great Dão wine made from century-old vines!
Which wine for each blue cheese?
The saltier and sharper the blue, the sweeter the wine should be. Mild, creamy blues prefer a discreet sweetness.
| Cheese | Wines to choose | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Roquefort Roquefort, Bleu des Causses | Tokaji Aszú, Vin de Constance | The rich sweetness and lively acidity of the wine balance the salt of the sheep's milk. |
| Fourme d'Ambert Fourme d'Ambert, Fourme de Montbrison | Medium-sweet Riesling, white Port | This mild, creamy blue prefers a fresh wine with moderate sweetness. |
| Bleu d'Auvergne Bleu d'Auvergne, Bleu de Laqueuille | Tokaji Furmint, tawny Port | Notes of dried apricot and walnut go with a stronger paste. |
| Gorgonzola Gorgonzola Dolce, Gorgonzola Piccante | Recioto della Valpolicella, Malvasia delle Lipari Passito | Two Italian wines with candied fruit aromas for Lombardy's great blue. |
| Stilton Stilton, Blue Cheshire | LBV Port, Vintage Port | The English classic: the dark fruit and power of Port answer the aged blue. |
| Mountain blues Bleu de Gex, Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage | Rich Chardonnay, late-harvest Riesling | These milder blues go well with round whites or light sweetness. |
| Blue cheese in cooking Roquefort sauce, pear and Gorgonzola tart, walnut salad | Riesling, dry Furmint, Chardonnay | Hot and softened by cream, blue cheese pairs with an aromatic dry white. |
With a board of several blues, start with the mildest and finish with the Roquefort, served with the sweetest wine.
Sweetness, blue cheese's best ally
Our take: Roquefort deserves a great sweet wine. Hungarian Tokajis, made from Furmint, combine generous sweetness with dazzling acidity: the salt of the cheese softens and the wine gains in depth. Those from Château de Sárospatak or Royal Tokaji offer notes of apricot, honey and orange peel that extend the finish.
Port is the other great classic, especially with Stilton or a well-aged Bleu d'Auvergne. Quinta do Vallado offers the full range, from white Port to Vintage, by way of tawnies with walnut aromas. Think of South Africa too: the Grand Constance from Groot Constantia, the legendary sweet wine of the Cape, makes a sumptuous pairing with a Fourme or a Gorgonzola.
Three pairings to try
Roquefort and Tokaji Aszú. The ultimate sweet and savoury pairing, rich and vibrant.
Stilton and Vintage Port. The dark fruit of the Douro meets the power of the English blue.
Gorgonzola and Recioto della Valpolicella. An Italian duo with notes of candied cherry.
The Wine Wanderer Team
Your questions about wine and blue cheese
What wine goes with Roquefort?
With Roquefort, serve a sweet dessert wine: Tokaji Aszú, Vin de Constance or late-harvest Riesling. Their sweetness wraps around the salt and power of the sheep's milk, while their acidity keeps everything fresh. It is one of the most celebrated sweet and savoury pairings, ideal at the end of a meal with a slice of walnut bread.
Red or white wine with blue cheese?
White wine, sweet or luscious, works best with blue cheese. The salt and the blue veining call for sugar and acidity, two qualities typical of great sweet whites. For red, choose a fortified wine such as Port, or a sweet red such as Recioto, whose candied fruit balances the strength of the cheese.
What wine goes with Fourme d'Ambert?
Fourme d'Ambert pairs with a medium-sweet Riesling, a white Port or a sweet Furmint. Milder and creamier than Roquefort, it prefers fruity wines with moderate sweetness. A rich, lightly oaked Chardonnay also works very well, especially in a salad with walnuts and pears.
What wine goes with Gorgonzola?
For Gorgonzola, stay in Italy: a Recioto della Valpolicella or a Malvasia delle Lipari Passito. These sweet wines with aromas of cherry, apricot and fig answer the character of the Lombard blue. For a creamier Gorgonzola Dolce, a delicately sparkling Moscato d'Asti offers a fresh alternative.
At what temperature should sweet wine be served with cheese?
Serve a sweet wine well chilled, between 8 and 10 °C, with a blue cheese. This coolness highlights the acidity of the wine and makes the sweetness more elegant. Tawny Port is served a little warmer, at around 12 to 14 °C, and Vintage Port at around 16 °C. Take the blue cheese out of the fridge an hour before serving.
What wine goes with Roquefort sauce?
With meat or pasta in Roquefort sauce, choose a dry, aromatic white: Riesling, dry Furmint or Chardonnay. Once hot and melted into cream, the blue becomes milder. A lively white wine is then enough to balance the sauce. Keep the sweet wine for the cheeseboard.