Malbecs have grown in popularity over the years, and have gained more traction in more recent years. They’re a common wine to be served alongside food as a paired wine. Malbec is a beautiful wine by itself but, the strong flavors can sometimes be overpowering to most foods. That being said, finding the perfect pairing for a cheeseboard is essential. I’ll break down how to pair malbec and cheese so you’ll nail it every time.

Malbec Tasting Notes

First, it’s important to consider the tasting notes of Malbec. With strong fruity aromas, you’ll note black cherry and dark forest fruits like blackberries and blueberries alongside more complex notes like cocoa, coffee, and chocolate.

With big bold flavors working together in Malbec, it’s obvious what a delicate art pairing this wine with rich cheeses can be. The bold notes can easily overpower many lighter kinds of cheese. Luckily, Malbecs lean toward medium acidity and tannins so while full-bodied they don’t completely overpower the food.

Malbec Cheese Pairings

When pairing Malbec with cheese, look for strong-tasting/ rich cheeses. When you’re in the deli, gravitate toward soft or semi-firm cows milk cheeses. You can also opt for stronger goat cheese. Hard matured cheddar pairs amazingly with Malbec.

Okay now, hear me out on this next suggestion. Blue cheese. I know it’s not everyone’s favorite cheese option and maybe even a rogue suggestion but, the fruitier notes in the Malbec help bring out the complexity in blue cheese. Plus both strong flavors prevent the other from dominating the palette.

If you want to test whether a cheese you’ve selected will pair well with Malbec, try pairing the cheese with the fruit notes associated with the wine. Black cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and plums are evident in most Malbecs. Set up a charcuterie board with these fruits and a variety of cheeses. Once you’ve narrowed down your favorites, bring the cheeseboard back and pair them with your Malbec.

Overall, Malbec’s can sometimes be overlooked but, it’s such a brilliant wine and a wonderful addition to be served alongside any cheeseboard. A word of caution, be careful to ensure that the strong flavors don’t dominate the palette. A fine wine like Malbec deserves a fine cheese to match!

Cheers,
Natalie