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.
Georg Lunzer - Golser Rheinriesling Trockenbeerenauslese 1999
A sublime Austrian sweet wine, which has retained all its freshness and developed incredible complexity over time
Bruno Landauer - Vendange Tardive Pinot Blanc Ruster Spätlese 2023
A superb late harvest of Chardonnay
Blandy's - Madère Malmsey 5 ans
A rich, full and spicy fortified Madeira wine from one of the most historic houses on the island.
Tarapacá - Late Harvest 2023
A very nice late harvest from a blend of 5 white grape varieties!
Santa Rita - Pewen Carmenere 2020
The noble and intense expression of Chilean Carménère
Quinta do Vallado - Porto Tawny 20 ans
A 20 year old Tawny Port, complex, aromatic and long in the mouth.
Torelli - Canelli Moscato d'Asti "San Gròd" 2025
A fresh, delicious Moscato d'Asti from organically grown vineyards
Château de Sárospatak - Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2002
A great sweet Tokaji with a unique and confidential vintage
Villiera - Rhine Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2005
A selection of noble Riesling grains made only once in the history of the estate
Quinta de la Rosa - La Rosa 2022
A rich, long and complex Douro wine
Zeni - Recioto della Valpolicella Classico "Vigne Alte" 2022
A Recioto della Valpolicella combining freshness and aromatic concentration
Far Niente - Chardonnay 2023
A rich, elegant and beautifully balanced Chardonnay
Quinta de la Rosa - La Rosa Branco 2025
Creation - Viognier 2024
Cool-climate Viognier, apricot and white flowers on an unctuous palate.
Duckhorn - Chardonnay 2021
A rich and suave Chardonnay from the cool corners of Napa Valley
Klein Constantia - Vin de Constance 2021
A wine that embodies history, patience, and the absolute quest for perfection
Chambers Rosewood - Old Vine Muscadelle
A superb fortified Muscadelle, produced from century-old vines and aged using the Solera method.
Chambers Rosewood - Old Vine Muscat
A superb fortified Muscat, produced from century-old vines and aged using the Solera method.
Château de Sárospatak - Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2010
A splendid Tokaji with incredible complexity and balance.
Fonseca - Porto Bin 27
The flagship Port from Fonseca: rich, delicious and with intense notes of black fruits
Buitenverwachting - Vin de Constantia "1769" 2015
A sweet wine with splendid intensity and balance
Montecrocetta - Recioto di Gambellara "Passitaia" 2005
A Recioto di Gambellara of great richness, where concentration is balanced by remarkable freshness
Herdade Do Mouchao - Dom Rafael 2019
Made from foot-crushed grapes, this cuvée embodies intensity, complexity and pleasure!
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.