Wine + Beer Pairings for Goat Cheese
Here are a few suggested pairings from our Head Cheesemaker Veronica Pedraza so everyone can enjoy cheese like a pro.
Excerpted from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
April 26, 2022
Sunny Ridge
Sunny Ridge is washed in New Glarus New Belgian Red Ale
Wine pairing: “I think this is the only cheese we make that can stand up to red wine. Red wines tend to overwhelm delicate goat cheeses, but I think Sunny Ridge pairs nicely with a lighter-bodied red like Jean-Paul Dubost - Beaujolais-Lantignié.
Beer pairing: “I like New Glarus Brewing's Kid Kölsch. It’s super easy drinking. The breadiness of the beer really matches the funkiness of the cheese.”
St. Germain
St. Germain offers subtle herbaceous notes that bring out an essence of pine needles.
Wine pairing: “I like Bengoetxe - Getariako Txakolina (pronounced choc-o-lina). It’s a white wine from the Basque country that is very easy drinking. It’s a perfect picnic wine. The wine balances the delicate, nutty, earthy and floral flavor of the cheese."
Beer pairing: Third Space Brewing's Unite the Clans. "The sweet, spicy notes of this Scottish ale work really well with the nuttiness of the cheese.”
Lindeline
Linedeline is a large format ash-ripened goat cheese. The flavor is of crème fraiche and mushrooms.
Wine pairing: “A cheese like this needs a very classic pairing. Most goat cheese in France comes from the Loire Valley, which also makes lots of delicious white wines. Go with a Sauvignon Blanc. I like Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme Sauvignon Blanc. This wine in particular is a steal. It drinks like a much more expensive bottle."
Beer pairing: Company Brewing's Capra Flora. "This Maibock is a clean, cold lager with a touch of spiciness that balances the creaminess of the cheese.”
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