Why Red Wine Doesn’t Pair Well with Every Cheese

There’s a common rule: cheese and red wine. But in practice, it doesn’t always work. The saltiness and high fat content of cheese can make the tannins in red wine taste even harsher. And delicate cheeses can easily get lost next to a powerful wine.

That’s why soft and creamy cheeses often pair better with white, sparkling, or sweet wines. The more intense the cheese, the fuller-bodied the wine can be.