Wine & Cheese Around The World: France, Italy, & Spain
The best things in life are cheese. Cheese boards are a classic crowd-pleaser; from a dinner party appetizer, to grazing during a girl’s night in. We’ve included our top must-try wines and cheeses from Italy, Spain, and France. Don’t be afraid to mix and match your wine and cheese pairings from different countries. Explore various types of vino and formaggio from around the world without leaving the country, no passport required!
French Wine and Cheese
When looking for authentic French cheese, check the packaging to ensure that the following abbreviations are printed on the label: ‘AOC’, ‘AOP’, or ‘IGP’. The French government requires its producers to indicate these letters on packaging to ensure production quality. The meaning of these abbreviations are as follows: AOC stands for Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, which translates to ‘controlled destination of origin’. AOP or Appellation d’Origine Protégée translates to ‘protected destination of origin’. Lastly, IGP stands for Indication Géographique Protégée, which translates to ‘protected geographical indication’. Tip: The French word for cheese is fromage.
French Cheeses:
- Brie (Soft)
- Camembert (Soft)
- Neufchâtel (Semi-Soft)
- Morbier (Semi-Soft)
- Mimolette (Hard)
- Abbaye de Belloc (Hard)
- Comté (Semi-Hard)
- Chevres (Semi-Hard)
French Wines:
- Bordeaux
- Burgundy
- Syrah
- Mourvèdre
- Chenin Blanc
- Champagne
- Crémant
- Sparkling Blanc de Blancs
Italian Wine and Cheese
Italy is known for many classic cheeses; parmesan, mozzarella, and asiago, just to name a few. In a country that is filled with delicious wine and cheese offerings, you’ll always find something new to try. Whether you’re making a charcuterie board or putting together a wine and cheese gift basket, you’ll never get bored of the endless pairing options for Italian wine and cheese. Just because a cheese is from Italy, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it alongside a wine from a neighboring European country!
We highly recommend indulging in some of the less-familiar types of Italian cheese. Tip: The Italian word for cheese is formaggio.
Italian Cheeses:
- Mozzarella di Bufala (Soft)
- Mascarpone (Soft)
- Fontina (Semi-Soft)
- Taleggio (Semi-Soft)
- Pecorino Romano (Hard)
- Grana Padano (Hard)
- Ricotta Salata (Semi-Hard)
- Pecorino Toscana (Semi-Hard)
Italian Wines:
- Montepulciano D’Abruzzo
- Sangiovese
- Chianti
- Nebbiolo
- Prosecco
- Trebbiano
- Falanghina
Spanish Wine and Cheese
One of the world’s most famous wine quotes comes from a Spanish proverb, “It is better to have bread left over than to run short of wine.” While Spain may not be the most famous cheese producing region that first comes to mind, the country produces over 150 different types of cheese! There are four different categories for Spanish cheese: fresco, semi-curado, curado, and viejo. Fresco is cheese that hasn’t been aged; semi-curado has been aged for 2 to 3 months, curado has been cured for up to 4 months; and viejo has been aged longer, making it a sharp cheese. Tip: The Spanish word for cheese is queso.
Spanish Cheeses:
- Panela (Soft)
- Tetilla (Soft)
- Manchego (Semi-Soft)
- Murcia Al Vino (Semi-Soft)
- Mahón (Hard)
- Idiazába (Hard)
- Cabarels (Semi-Hard)
Spanish Wines:
- Garnacha
- Albariño
- Tempranillo
- Rioja
- Verdejo
- Cava
- Monastrell
Premium Quality French, Italian, & Spanish Wines for an Affordable Price
On the hunt for a bottle of wine from Italy, France, or Spain to enjoy with your charcuterie board or other appetizers? The Wine Cellar Group has you covered. Stocked with some of the highest-quality boutique-style wines from around the world, our Cellar Collection has the perfect bottle for you.
2 Comments
Great information ~ thank you!
We’re glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!