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