Wine & Cheese Pairing

 Wines:

• Moscato : Wine Folly describes Moscato (AKA Muscat) as having notes of mandarin orange, honey, lychee, peach skin, and white flowers. It also says that it pairs well with charcuterie and soft/pungent cheeses. (https://winefolly.com/newsletter/what-is-moscato-wine/) 

• Merlot : Wine Folly describes Merlot as having notes of cherry, plum, chocolate, bay leaf, and vanilla. It also says that it pairs well with aged goat cheese. (https://winefolly.com/grapes/merlot/)

• Champagne : Wine Folly describes Champagne as having notes of citrus, yellow apple, cream, almond, and toast. It also says that anything salty pairs well with this kind of wine. (https://winefolly.com/wines/champagne/)

Cheeses:

• Mozzarella

• Pepper Jack

• Extra Sharp Cheddar

I chose these 3 cheeses because I am familiar with them as well as I am with the tastes of the wines I chose. Mozzarella is very light and tastes fantastic when paired with just about anything in my opinion. Pepperjack is a light cheese too, but I think the spice will add a kick when paired with the wines. The sharp cheddar tbh could be a hit or miss, but I eat this all the time and I had some on hand so we will see what happens when it mingles with the wines. 

The Moscato is very sweet and makes the sides of my tongue light up with its acidity component. I get the floral taste Wine Folly talks about and definitely the honey. I think this wine pairs well the best with the mozzarella cheese. Since this wine is sweet, it’s best to balance out that component with a soft mozzarella. The pepper jack also pairs well with this wine. The spiciness of the cheese balances out the sweet of the wine and together they create a beautifully smooth combination on my palette. 

The Merlot goes GREAT with the sharp cheddar I picked. The bold taste of the cheddar really showcases the smooth, jammy, cherry taste of the merlot and brings it right out on the talent show stage. 

The Champagne goes really well with the sharp cheddar and mozzarella. I think you really can't go wrong when pairing mozzarella with any wine, it’s so light and fatty that it really enhances the notes of the wine you pair it with. The cheddar, being a bit salty, balances out the sweetness and tartness of the sparkling wine here. I should have had some prosciutto or some sort of meat on hand to go with this combo, I think that would have really made the experience. As for the mozzarella, again, the light, creamy texture and taste enables the sweetness of the wine to shine through.