| France is certainly in the forefront of cheese | | | | gourmet shops. Try placing a bowl of chutney |
| manufacturing, with over 500 varieties of cheeses | | | | next to your cheese platter for guests to serve |
| that are made in this region alone! While many of | | | | themselves. French Cheese and Wine It is hard to |
| these cheeses are of the soft variety, French | | | | think about the delicious French cheeses without |
| cheeses can actually be a healthy alternative to | | | | considering which wine is the best pairing. Wine |
| some of the cheese favorites that are frequently | | | | and cheese go together like peanut butter and |
| served in the United States. French cheeses are | | | | jelly, but the question always becomes which wine |
| lower in fat while packing in the flavor because of | | | | is the right choice? Red wines are often the clear |
| the higher water content in soft cheeses that | | | | choice with French cheeses, but there are many |
| actually keeps the fat count at a reasonable level. | | | | white selections that will work equally well. The |
| These delicious varieties of cheese can be a great | | | | best rule of thumb to keep in mind is to avoid a |
| choice for everyday, by using them in pasta | | | | wine that is too light to mix with the pungent |
| dishes and sprinkled into salads. They also work | | | | aromas and flavors of the cheeses that you will |
| well for entertaining, on platters offering a variety | | | | be serving. It is also a good idea to limit the |
| of cheeses with crackers and crusty breads for | | | | number of choices in cheeses that you place on |
| spreading. French Cheese and Other Foods French | | | | your platter to ensure that the ones you select |
| cheeses make a nice complement to a number of | | | | will work best with your wine selection. Stronger |
| different types of food, including breads, fruits | | | | cheese flavors will require a more full-bodied wine, |
| and honey. Soft cheeses like the popular brie | | | | such as a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Shiraz. On the |
| taste delicious when paired with fruits like | | | | other hand, softer cheeses can be quite nice with |
| blackberries or figs. Blue cheeses work well with a | | | | a lighter and fruitier wine like Beaujolais. When in |
| number of fruits, as well as a variety of nuts for | | | | doubt about the right wine to serve with your |
| maximum flavor and variety. Try a salad sprinkled | | | | French cheese platters, ask someone at your |
| with blue cheese and chopped walnuts for a | | | | local liquor mart for advice. Many of these stores |
| delicious topping. Semi-hard French cheeses are | | | | will offer wine experts that will answer all of your |
| delightfully paired with fruits like pineapple, kiwi and | | | | questions. |
| cherries. Chutneys are another nice complement | | | | Ann Marier has written many articles on health |
| to many of the cheeses today, and you can | | | | issues and useful house and garden Topics. |
| make your own or buy them in a variety of | | | | |