CHEESE AND WINE PAIRINGS FOR CHRISTMAS IN SWITZERLAND 2020
L’Atelier du Fromage: Our tips for cheese and wine pairings this season
Many of us are celebrating Christmas a little different this year but it does not have to be boring just because we’re spending more time at home. You can still make this Christmas season special while staying home with the help of Swiss artisanal cheese and wine delivered to your doorstep. BONUS you will be supporting local businesses!
Johana and Lhney from L’Atelier du Fromage love sharing their knowledge of the local artisanal cheeses and here are their tips for the perfect festive apéro at home.
Make your small family gatherings festive and warm with a monthly subscription box from L’Atelier du Fromage. We at L’Atelier du Fromage bring you our top 5 Swiss artisanal cheese and wine pairing ideas to make your family celebrations special.
To find out more about their new Apéro Box check out our previous article – BEST SWISS SELF-CARE AND GIFT BOXES TO ORDER DURING COVID.
TOMME DU VALAIS AND SPARKLING ROSÉ BRUT
We suggest a Tomme du Valais that melts as you slice into it at room temperature. It is super creamy and coats your mouth with a velvety smooth texture that is perfect for the bubbles of dry sparkling rosé wine to cut through the richness of this cheese.
We recommend La Catelle, Tomme de Verbier from La Laiterie de Verbier. This artisanal cheese is made with raw alpine milk from the pastures in the Verbier region. We pair this with the Mauler Cuvée Tradition Rosé Brut from the canton of Neuchâtel, which is produced from the Pinot Noir grapes made in the Œil-de-Perdrix style under the traditional method. It is delicate and fruity with toasted notes, and its raspberry color is beautiful for a Christmas celebration.
VACHERIN VIEUX FRIBOURGEOISE AND SPARKLING WHITE BRUT
Vacherin Fribourgeoise is not only for fondue moitié moitié, but it can be enjoyed at a festive apéro. An aged Vacherin (Vacherin Vieux) has bold flavours that can stand up to the brightness and fresh acidity of sparkling white wine.
We recommend the Vacherin Vieux from Fromagerie Caille from the canton of Fribourg, which has a creamy texture and a big, spicy personality. Its thick, leathery rind indicates the cheese has been carefully matured in their cave giving it its aged taste and appearance. We pair this artisanal cheese with the 1617, Bendicht 2018 Lac de Bienne AOC from Johanniter Keller. This sparkling white wine is made with a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Muscat grapes. It has a scent of brioche and bright notes of citrus and white peach that pair nicely with the spicy, bold flavors of Vacherin Vieux. This is a great pairing to give a Christmas toast!
SHEEPS MILK CHEESE AND SAVAGNIN BLANC
A semi-hard sheeps milk cheese that is creamy and grassy will pair well with a dry white wine like Savagnin. Savagnin Blanc (not to be confused with Sauvignon Blanc) is also called Heide or Paîen depending on the region that it is grown.
We chose the Glarner Schafmutschli from canton Glarus because of its nuttiness and grassiness with a gorgeous soft texture that envelopes all your senses. This is why we pair this artisanal cheese with the Savagnin Blanc from Domaine des Curiades in canton Geneva. This lovely wine has interesting notes of exotic fruits, citrus, and nuts, which will be a nice aperitif to your Christmas dinner.
SEMI-HARD, AGED CHEESE AND GAMAY
We propose to you a semi-hard, aged cheese with earthy and nutty flavors to pair with the black fruit and floral notes typically found in Gamay. Gamay also has a fresh acidity and earthy notes that complement well with the flavor profile of aged cheeses.
We recommend Forest from the Fromagerie de Sagnettes which is a fragrant, semi-hard cheese that has a delicate layer of minced mushrooms nestled in the middle. The creaminess of this artisanal cheese with the earthiness of the mushroom pairs beautifully with La Vouettaz Gamay de Chamoson from Colline de Daval. This Gamay has subtle earthiness with black fruits such as blackberries, black currants and a spicy hint of pink peppercorns. An amazing pairing for those who love to celebrate with bold flavors.
BLUE CHEESE AND DESSERT WINE
We invite you to try a pungent and salty blue cheese to pair with a sweet and slightly viscous dessert wine. Some dessert wines are made with dried grapes which concentrates the sugars, the flavors, and the acidity. These special wines can hold up to the richness and saltiness of blue cheeses.
We recommend the Jersey Blue from Willi Schmid’s cheese dairy, Städtlichäsi. This artisanal cheese has won the World’s Best Jersey Blue” award and with reason! It is very creamy with notes of hazelnut and a light smokiness to its bold character. It pairs well with the candied fruit and caramel notes of Straw Wine from Schipf. Straw Wine gets its name from the grapes that are dried on straw mats. The sweetness of this dessert wine compliments the creamy saltiness of the Jersey Blue. A perfect finish to your Christmas aperitif.
WHO IS L’ATELIER DU FROMAGE
Celebrate the Swiss artisanal cheese and wine makers with L’Atelier du Fromage. We road trip across Switzerland in search of the hidden treasures of Swiss artisanal cheeses and wines that are only sold locally.
Every month L’Atelier du Fromage shares their new discoveries by featuring a different Swiss canton in the boxes. Follow them on their adventures through Facebook and Instagram!
L’Atelier du Fromage wishes you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday filled with an abundance of Swiss artisanal cheese and wine!
