What wine goes with hard cheese (Comté, Beaufort)?
906 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.
Acústic Celler - Montsant Blanc 2023
A Catalan vintage made from old vines aged 40 to 80 years old
Crystallum - The Agnes 2024
A pure, elegant and balanced Chardonnay which once again demonstrates the great class of South African wines.
Wittmann - 100 Hügel 2024
A biodynamic riesling full of lightness and freshness straight from Germany
Dorrance - Cuvée Anais 2023
A round and voluptuous Chardonnay that recalls what Burgundy does best!
Matías Riccitelli - Sobre Suelos Calcareos Malbec 2020
A Malbec reflecting the purity and expression of the Gualtallary terroir reveals freshness and purity
Cantina Cellaro - Luma Nero d'Avola 2024
A powerful Sicilian red wine with rich, spicy flavors
San Marzano - Primitivo di Manduria SUD 2023
A cuvée of fabulous structure and complexity, from the star region of Primitivo.
Ritual - Pinot Noir 2020
A vintage full of elegance and extreme finesse that we know from Burgundy Pinot Noirs.
Morra Gabriele - Memorie 2024
A Piedmontese wine full of freshness and character, where Nebbiolo and Freisa come together in a fruity, floral and delicately spicy expression.
L.A. Cetto - Nebbiolo Reserva Privada 2019
A great Italian grape variety grown in Mexico, what could be more exotic to discover this intense and spicy red wine.
Panos Sarris - Panochori Vieilles Vignes 2023
Robola, the other great white grape variety of the Greek islands
El Porvenir - Amauta Tannat 2024
A round and balanced wine, expressing the typicality of Tannat
Thymiopoulos - Terra Petra 2020
A harmonious blend of Greek red grape varieties, grown in the foothills of Mount Olympus
Birichino - Saint Georges Zinfandel 2024
A zinfandel from old vines over 90 years old, of incredible complexity and freshness!
Crystallum - Peter Max 2024
A wonderfully elegant and fragrant Pinot noir.
Cono Sur - Bicicleta Pinot Noir 2022
Specialist in Pinot Noir, the "Cono Sur" estate offers us a drinkable vintage of their own!
Matías Riccitelli - Old Vine From Patagonia Sémillon 2024
A great Sémillon from Patagonia!
Van Volxem - Schiefer Riesling 2023
A vintage that will work wonders on your summer meals and seafood platters!
Peregrine Estate - Pinot noir 2015
A Pinot Noir that combines purity and elegance, concentration and length.
460 Casina Bric - Barolo Comune di Barolo 2014
A powerful Barolo deeply imbued with its high altitude terroir
Valenciso - Valenciso Blanco 2021
A wine combining texture, balance, minerality and elegance.
Groot Constantia - Chardonnay 2021
A great Chardonnay regularly rewarded by international competitions
Crystallum - Cuvée Cinéma 2024
A haute couture Pinot Noir, with exceptional aromatic concentration rivaling the great wines of Burgundy.
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.