Australian Gourmet Traveller - (08)August 2020 (1)

SOFTCHEESE

Ripe,softandultra-creamycheeseslikedouble-cream

brieareoftenthefirstwereachforonthecheeseboard.

Pinotnoiris a remarkablyflexiblegrapewhenit comes

tofoodpairing,thankstoitsfreshacidityanddrinkability

• anda juicy-yet-restraineddropwitha softcheeseis
  especiallygood.“Asa winningmatchfortherich,velvety
  textureofwhite-mouldfromage,optingfora reallysilken
  pinotcanworkwonders.It’stypicallya smoothvarietal,
  witha lovelymixofredfruitsandearthiness,”saysGood
  PairDays’co-founderBanjoHarrisPlane.
  Banjo’ssuggestion:2019 Fetherston ‘Fungi’ Pinot Noir,
  Yarra Valley

FRESHCHEESE

Milky,young,soft– whatricottaandgoat’scheeselack

indepthofflavour,theymakeupforinfreshnessand

a lovelycreamytexture.“Thebestwinematcheshere

willbeyouthful,acidicwhitesthatcancutthroughthe

creaminessandbalanceanytangynotesinthecheese.”

Banjo’ssuggestion:2019 Unico Zelo Jade & Jasper

Fiano, Riverland

HARDCHEESE

Firmercheesescanbewonderfullysalty,

ina waythatmakeyoucraveanotherslice.

However,findingtheperfectwinepairing

isn’talwayseasy.“Thatfirm,crumbly

texture,thesavourinessandthesurprisingly

highaciditycombinetomakea trickymatch,”

saysHarrisPlane.“Sparklingwineactually

worksa treat.Theacidityis enoughto

handlethewine,andthetexturecreated

bythebubblesmirrorsthecrumblynature

ofthecheese.”Trya delicatelyspritzed

numberwiththelikesofa clothbound

cheddar,pecorinoorparmesan.

Banjo’ssuggestion: 2019 Meadowbank

Harvest Sparkling, Tasmania

BLUECHEESE

BluecheesessuchasFromagerd’Affinois

Bleuarethestrongestflavoured,thanksto

thebluemould(penicilliumroqueforti)that

breaksdownfatandproteininthecheese

andraisesitspH.“Aromatic,piquantand

salty,theyarewonderfullycontrastedby

a sweetwinethatbalancesthesaltiness

andhasviscositytoroundoutthe

mouthfeel,”saysHarrisPlane.

Banjo’ssuggestion: 2016 Nicosia

‘Balanubi’ Zibibbo, Sicily●

Fromleft:Fromagerd’Affinois

BleuandLeFromagerd’Affinois.

QuesomanchegoandJasper

Hillclothboundcheddar,allfrom

DavidJones.Allwines from

Good Pair Days.

GOURMET TRAVELLER 37

WORDS JORDAN KRETCHMER. PHOTOGRAPHY & STYLING HANNAH BLACKMORE.