Audrey Wilkinson recently announced the launch of its latest immersive beyond the cellar door experience, Fortified and Fromage.  

Guided by one of Audrey Wilkinson's resident wine experts, this seated tasting experience takes place in the heritage-listed museum space. Not only does the experience include a private tasting of the range of premium wines, but also three generous tastings direct from the barrel where the fortified wines are maturing.  As the name suggests, the Fortified will be delicately matched to Fromage, sourced from renowned local producers.

While this experience is a first in terms of combining fortified barrel tastings with cheese, the idea of wine and cheese as a partnership is nothing new as we all know.  

Elsewhere in the collection, De Bortoli Yarra Valley's Gourmet Food & Wine Experience includes a private cheese and wine matching component while d'Arenberg's Amazing Sites Wine Flight and Dead Arm Shiraz Vertical Masterclass also involve cheese plates to enhance the experience. 

Wine and cheese have an awful lot in common.  They both come in a multitude of varieties, some more suited to certain occasions, climates and mood. Cheeses vary in moisture content, fat content, texture, flavour. Wines, too, vary in acidity, sweetness, body and structure. It stands to reason then that matching wine and cheese can be a complicated business. Fortunately, even if you get it wrong, you’re still drinking wine and eating cheese, so all is well. However, if you are keen to understand the basics of cheese and wine matching, read on.

If you’re looking for a wine that is going to most comfortably pair with a variety of cheeses, your best bet is a full-bodied Chardonnay. If you are entertaining red drinkers, select a medium-bodied Shiraz and make sure you incorporate a couple of hard cheeses. A sticky or fortified is always an excellent choice too.

Soft white cheese
Sparkling wine/Champagne
Chardonnay
'Sticky’ dessert wines e.g. Botrytis Semillon
Fortified wine e.g. Muscat, Port, Tokay

Fresh & cream cheeses
Semillon
Chardonnay
‘Sticky’ dessert wines e.g. Botrytis Semillon
Medium bodied reds e.g. Shiraz, Pinot Noir

Feta
Sparkling wine/Champagne
Riesling
Sauvignon Blanc
Medium bodied reds e.g. Shiraz, Pinot Noir

Goat’s cheese
Semillon
Chardonnay
Riesling
Medium bodied reds e.g. Shiraz, Pinot Noir

Hard Italian cheeses
Sparkling wine/Champagne
Semillon
Chardonnay
Full bodied reds e.g. Cabernet Sauvignon

Blue cheese
Riesling
Sauvignon Blanc
‘Sticky’ dessert wines e.g. Botrytis Semillon
Fortified wine e.g. Muscat, Port, Tokay

Cheddar
Semillon
Chardonnay
Full bodied reds e.g. Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz

Washed rind cheeses
Sparkling wine/Champagne
Sticky dessert wines e.g. Botrytis Semillon
Fortified wine e.g. Muscat, Port, Tokay
Medium bodied reds e.g. Shiraz, Pinot Noir

Mozzarella
Riesling
Sauvignon Blanc
Sticky dessert wines e.g. Botrytis Semillon
Medium bodied reds e.g. Shiraz, Pinot Noir

Haloumi
Riesling
Sauvignon Blanc
Sticky dessert wines e.g. Botrytis Semillon
Medium bodied reds e.g. Shiraz, Pinot Noir