Cheeses to Go With Pinot Grigio

Wine and cheese go together like chocolate and caramel. Pinot Grigio is a type of white wine made from a grape mutation of the Pinot Noir grape or black grape. It is a light, dry wine that appears golden or white in color and is best when young instead of aged like other wines. Pinot Grigio has a clean, fruity taste and pairs well with cheeses that are sweet and salty.

Gruyère is the best cheese to pair with Pinot Grigio because it is sweet, salty and a little bit nutty in flavor. It is a hard yellow cheese that becomes more flavorful with age. Gruyère cheese comes from the small town of Gruyères in Switzerland and is considered a Swiss cheese. Consider serving Gruyère as a fondue when pairing it with Pinot Grigio as it is a perfect melting cheese.

Fresh mozzarella di bufala cheese is made from domesticated water buffalo milk. It is a semi-soft cheese that is white, though the color can vary to light yellow depending on the season it is made. It has a smooth mild flavor that complements the fruity dry flavor of Pinot Grigio. Slice some fresh mozzarella di bufala but hold the tomatoes on the appetizer. Although, tomatoes go with mozzarella, they do not pair well with this type of wine.

Baby Swiss has a smooth, creamy texture and a mild flavor that does not over power the clean taste of Pinot Grigio. This type of cheese is closely related to Swiss cheese but has smaller "eyes" or little holes. Cut this cheese into small cubes and serve on toothpicks as a simple appetizer that can be served with glasses of Pinot Grigio.

Goat cheese has a strong, slighty bitter and sometimes salty flavor. It comes in many shapes, sizes and varieties depending on which country it is made in. A common type of goat cheese is feta. Feta is made from a mix of goat's milk and sheep's milk. It is commonly used in Greek salads. Seasoned Caprino is an Italian goat cheese that has a tangy, salty flavor. It has a creamy white center with a thin yellow or red rind on the outside. Because of its tangy and salty flavor, it pairs well with the fruitiness of Pinot Grigio. Try serving on crackers as an appetizer.