Southern French whites & Etna rosé ❤️ cheese

Every summer I get stuck on a few wine that are amazing for cheese pairing that I can’t get out of my head. Last summer it was Lambrusco (though who am I kidding, I’ve got 2 bottles chilling in my fridge now). This summer, it’s southern French white wine & Etna rosato (rosé).

This summer’s pairings were inspired by the crazy amount of classes I taught in June for which I tasted through an insane amount of cheese and wine to make sure I had the perfect pairings for my clients. Because someone’s gotta do it. Two wine and cheese pairings stood out that charmed the socks off both me and my students.

Southern french whites & cheese

I poured Domaine Majas Côtes Catalanes Blanc in my class, but any white wine from southern France, like those from Côtes Catalanes, Rousillon, and Languedoc regions, fit the bill. These wines tend to be unoaked but not too lean (they’re often filtered later, so are a tad richer than many unoaked wines), are citrusy and fresh, and have a great acidity. Meaning- they’re amazing with cheese! They hold their own in pairings, yet never overpower the dairy.

My favorite cheese picks for southern French whites: creamy cheeses like Brillat Savarin or Summer’s Snow, soft goat cheeses like Bijou or Selles sur Cher, or, washed-rind softies like Red Hawk or Époisses.

It can be hard to find wines that pair with washed-rinds, so stinky cheese lovers, be sure to try this combo!

Etna Rosatos

Rosatos -Italian rosés!- from southern Italy are so good, and my favorite rosato region is Siciliy’s Mount Etna. Mount Etna rosés tend to be Nerello Mascalese/Nerello Cappuccio blends. I poured Murgo Winery rosato in my rosé & cheese pairing private class. Etnas are light, yet pack a punch. Imagine watermelon, strawberry, tangerine zest, and a bustling acidity that lingers and makes them easy to pair to even aged cheeses.

My favorite cheese picks for Mount Etna rosatos French wines: feta, marinated goat cheesses, mixed-milk cheeses like Andante’s Rondo, and aged goat and cheese milk cheeses like ricotta salatas or Garrotxa.

Want more insight about these pairings? This is just a sneak peak for my readers. Over the next couple weeks I’ll also chat about them more on IG.