The only thing that can make the rich, savory flavors of Iberico meats and cheeses better is the right glass of wine to go with it. With all the options, it can be hard to find the right combinations of flavors and textures for your next dinner party or casual tapas night with friends. Here are some exceptional cheese and meat products from Le Gourmet Central and the best wine pairings to create the perfect bite.
Iberico Ham de Bellota
Wine Pairing: Aged Tempranillo
The deep, nutty flavor of Acorn-fed Iberico ham, with its buttery texture and intense umami notes, pairs beautifully with a full bodied red wine, like an aged Tempranillo. This grape variety grows throughout Spain and Portugal and is renowned for being an easy-drinking table wine. The rich tannins and dark fruit flavors of the wine complement the ham's complexity, while its acidity cuts through the fat, enhancing the overall tasting experience.
Chorizo Iberico
Wine Pairing: Garnacha
The famously flavorful Chorizo Iberico, like this variety by Fermin, with its smoky
and slightly spicy notes, pairs wonderfully with a fruity Garnacha.
This wine's bright acidity and red berry flavors enhance the chorizo's many spices, creating a
delightful balance of heat and sweetness.
Mahón Cheese Semi-Cured PDO
Wine Pairing: Ribera (red) or Albariño (white)
The Semi-Cured Mahón Cheese PDO, known for its buttery texture and nutty finish, pairs
beautifully with fruity red wines like a Ribera.
If you want to also offer a white wine to your guests, try pairing it with the refreshing
Albariño.
Both the crisp Albariño with its floral fragrance and full bodied Ribera complement the
Menorcan cheese's creamy texture and enhance its delicate flavors. The key to pairing a
cheese like Mahón is not to overpower the cheese and to offer a silky finish to your palette.
Salchichon Iberico
Wine Pairing: Priorat
Salchichon Iberico, a dry-cured sausage with a peppery and savory profile, pairs excellently
with a robust Priorat.
The wine's intense fruit flavors and firm tannins balance the salchichon's spiciness, creating a
perfect match that highlights the depth of both the meat and the wine.
Manchego Cheese Gran Reserva PDO
Wine Pairing: Rioja (red) or Verdejo (white)
A Manchego Cheese, like this Gran Reserva PDO aged for 12 months, is a semi-hard cheese
that offers a firm texture and a tangy, nutty flavor. Depending on your mood, you can pair this
versatile cheese with a glass of classic red Rioja or a fruity white Verdejo.
Crafted in La Rioja, the most famous wine region of the country, this red wine's bold fruit
flavors and balanced acidity highlight the cheese's rich taste. The light and aromatic fruitiness
of the white Verdejo contrast nicely with the intense taste of Manchego.
Spanish Morcilla (Blood Sausage)
Wine Pairing: Ribera del Duero
Don’t be afraid to offer your guests Morcilla. once they try it they’ll never shy away from blood
sausage again. Spanish morcilla, a traditional and beloved sausage with a rich, savory flavor
and hints of spice, pairs excellently with a robust Ribera del Duero wine.
This wine's deep, dark fruit flavors, along with its balanced tannins and subtle oak notes,
enhance the morcilla's complex taste. Its structure and acidity cut through the richness of the
sausage.
Explore all of our cheeses and cured meats in the Le Gourmet Central gourmet grocery store to make your
next tapas night with wine pairings a success. Salud!
At Le Gourmet Central, you can find all types of unique gourmet food including authentic Iberian cured ham from Spain, gourmet risottos and pasta from Italy, truffles specialties and so much more.
To find the best gourmet foods and gift baskets online, begin your search at legourmetcentral.com.
Related posts:
●Quick Guide to Manchego cheese
●Five Reasons to do your Gourmet Food Shopping Online