What kind of cheese goes with port?
Emily Sparks
Published Apr 11, 2026
What kind of cheese goes with port?
Blue cheese is the classic pairing for port wine. But port can also pair easily with the strong flavors of aged gouda, gruyere, romano, cheddar, and parmesan.
Which English cheese is traditionally paired with vintage port?
Stilton
The completely harmonious pairing of powerful vintage port and mature, strong blue cheeses such as Stilton is one of the classic food and wine combinations – although Stilton also goes brilliantly with vintage-style ports like LBV or the fruit-packed First Estate, too.
What does port pair with?
Port wine is very versatile and can be paired with many different kinds of food. It is most commonly served at the end of the meal with a selection of fine cheeses, dried fruits and walnuts. It can, however, be served chilled as a delicious aperitif such as Taylor Fladgate’s Chip Dry and Tonic.
How do you serve late bottled vintage port?
– Vintage Ports are best served slightly below room temperature: 60°F to 64°F. Too cool (e.g. straight from the cellar) and the wine will not release all its aromas and flavors, too warm (68°F or more) and it may appear unbalanced on the nose.
Does Port go with chocolate?
Almost all port pairs well with dark chocolate because it’s easy to find wines that are sweeter than bittersweet chocolate. The bitterness in the chocolate offsets the sweetness of the port and can even complement the rancio flavor in older port vintages.
What’s the best port?
The 12 Best Port Wines to Drink in 2021
- Best Overall: Dow’s Vintage Port 2016.
- Best Under $30: Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Port.
- Best Tawny: Cockburn’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port (500ML)
- Runner-Up Best Tawny: Warre’s Otima 10 Year Tawny Port.
- Best White Port: Sandeman Apitiv White Port Reserve.
What do you drink tawny port with?
A 20 Year Old Aged Tawny Port has a wonderful acidity to the wine and pairs beautifully with Foie Gras and brioche at the beginning of a fine dinner. Walnuts are an excellent accompaniment to Vintage Port, as are blue veined and other richly flavoured cheeses. So too are dried fruits such as apricots or figs.
Can you drink port with pasta?
Port wine may not be commonly served alongside main-course dishes, but it does go great when the dish includes a Port wine sauce.
How do I know if a Port is bad?
How to tell if Tawny port has gone bad? The best way is to smell and look at the Tawny port: if the port develops an off odor, flavor or appearance, it should be discarded for quality purposes.
What glass should Port be served in?
Although Vintage Port is generally served after a meal and therefore in smaller quantities than dry wines, it should still be served in good sized glasses. Too often restaurants offer Port in a very small cordial glass filled to the brim. In this case you should request a white wine glass and transfer the wine.
What should you drink port out of?
The ideal size of glass for drinking port is a small white wine glass allowing people to sniff and swirl. Traditions say port should always be passed from right to left and people should not hold on to the decanter for too long, or they may be accused of knowing the Bishop of Norwich!
What chocolates go with port?
wines don’t really stick to any “rules” about wine and chocolate pairings. Champagnes go well with almost any type of chocolate even white, while Port and Sherry are best suited to dark chocolate.
What kind of cheese goes with Port wine?
The endearing characteristics that highlight a classic Vintage Port pairing involve buttery and tangy elements, ok… and probably the crazy stink of Stilton blue cheese.
What’s the best way to serve vintage port?
Styles: Vintage Port, Late-Bottled Vintage Port, and Tawny Port Classic Pairings: Portuguese/Spanish almonds, Stilton cheese, Portuguese blood sausage Serving: Port is best served in 3 oz (~75 ml) portions at 55–68ºF (13–20ºC) in dessert wine or official Port wine glasses.
What foods are good to serve with Port?
As the classic sipping wine, Vintage Port is an excellent accompaniment for small plates that feature ingredients such as blue cheese, dark chocolate, figs, and walnuts (which add their own tannic tango to the mix).
What’s the best pairing for wine and cheese?
Wine and cheese is a common food-drink pairing, but switching out your bottle of red for a Port can enhance the experience. The contrasting flavors of salty cheese and a sweeter tasting Port will deliver a new combination of palate pleasing tastes to a traditional party platter.
Which is the best blue cheese with vintage port?
The combination of Vintage Port and Stilton heese, which has been part of the tradition of c enjoying Vintage Port in England since the 18th century, is a classic example. The richness and body of the Vintage Port complements the intensity of the blue cheese, hence creating a perfect Pairing.
What’s the best pairing between cheese and Port?
The richness and body of the Vintage Port complements the intensity of the blue cheese, hence creating a perfect Pairing. In recent years, the interest in food and wine pairings has encouraged the creation of a whole series of new Port and food pairings including a more specific approach to cheese, desserts and above all chocolate.
Styles: Vintage Port, Late-Bottled Vintage Port, and Tawny Port Classic Pairings: Portuguese/Spanish almonds, Stilton cheese, Portuguese blood sausage Serving: Port is best served in 3 oz (~75 ml) portions at 55–68ºF (13–20ºC) in dessert wine or official Port wine glasses.
Can a cheese course be served with Port wine?
Traditionally, a cheese course will be accompanied by port or it may instead be offered during dessert. Alternatively, port wine may be served between the two courses or even as a dessert substitute in some cases. Nevertheless, port wine doesn’t necessarily have to be part of a meal. Instead, it can simply be enjoyed alone for pleasure.