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Quizzes > Lifestyle & Hobbies

Cheese and Wine Quiz: Test Your Pairing Smarts

Quick, fun wine and cheese trivia to test your palate and pairing know-how. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Ruxandra BarbatUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting cheese, wine, and trivia quiz elements.

This cheese and wine quiz helps you sharpen pairing skills, spot flavor notes, and learn classic regions through 15 quick questions. Get instant feedback as you go, then build on it with our cheese quiz and a wine tasting quiz, or dive deeper with wine trivia for more fun facts.

Which cheese is most classically paired with Sauvignon Blanc?
Gouda
Goat cheese
Brie
Cheddar
Sauvignon Blanc's crisp acidity complements the tangy, citrusy flavors of fresh goat cheese. Goat cheese's acidity and creaminess align well with the wine's herbaceous notes.
True Champagne must come from which French region?
Burgundy
Bordeaux
Loire Valley
Champagne
Only sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region under strict appellation rules can legally be called Champagne. This protects regional authenticity and quality standards.
What is the correct order of steps in a standard cheese tasting?
Taste, smell, observe
Smell, taste, observe
Observe, taste, smell
Observe appearance, smell, taste
Proper tasting begins with visually inspecting the cheese, followed by smelling to assess aromas, and finally tasting to evaluate flavor and texture. This sequence helps build a structured sensory analysis.
Gouda cheese originates from which country?
Netherlands
France
Italy
Switzerland
Gouda is named after the Dutch city of Gouda and is one of the Netherlands' most famous cheeses. It is traditionally made from cow's milk.
Brie is characterized by which of the following features?
Hard, aged texture
Bloomy rind and creamy interior
Washed rind and pungent aroma
Blue veins and sharp taste
Brie has a soft, creamy interior and a white, edible bloomy rind formed by Penicillium candidum. Its mild, buttery flavor and smooth texture are signature traits.
Which wine pairing best complements a pungent blue cheese?
Tawny Port
Cabernet Sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
The sweetness and fortified nature of tawny Port balances the saltiness and sharp pungency of blue cheese. Its rich, nutty flavors enhance the cheese's intensity.
The wine term 'terroir' primarily refers to what?
A wine's oak aging process
The environmental factors of a vineyard, including soil, climate, and topography
The fermentation vessel used
The blend ratio of grape varietals
'Terroir' encompasses the unique combination of soil, climate, and landscape that influence grape development and ultimately the wine's character. It highlights the link between geography and flavor.
In wine tasting, swirling the glass helps to:
Cool the wine temperature
Release volatile aroma compounds
Increase sweetness perception
Remove tannins
Swirling introduces oxygen, which volatilizes aromatic compounds, enhancing the wine's bouquet. It allows tasters to better assess subtle scent notes.
Which cheese is known for its washed rind and strong, pungent aroma?
Manchego
Ricotta
Mozzarella
Epoisses
Epoisses is a French cheese washed in brine and Marc de Bourgogne, developing a sticky orange rind and powerful, savory aroma. It contrasts with milder fresh cheeses.
According to pairing principles, a sweet wine should be matched with a cheese that is:
Sour
Salty
Mild
Low-fat
High salt content in cheese balances and contrasts the sweetness of the wine, preventing it from tasting cloying. This principle enhances harmony on the palate.
What flavor notes are commonly associated with an oak-aged Chardonnay?
Tropical fruit and minerality
Vanilla and butter
Green apple and grass
Pepper and dark berries
Oak aging often imparts vanilla, toast, and buttery notes due to the breakdown of lactone and diacetyl compounds. These flavors distinguish oaked Chardonnay from unoaked styles.
Manchego cheese is traditionally produced in which Spanish region?
Galicia
Andalusia
La Mancha
Catalonia
Manchego comes from the La Mancha region of Spain and is made from the milk of Manchega sheep. Its firm texture and nutty taste reflect its local heritage.
How does wine acidity influence cheese pairing?
It enhances sweetness in cheese
It reduces salt perception
It cuts through fat and cleanses the palate
It increases cheese hardness
High acidity refreshes the palate by balancing the richness of fatty cheese, preventing taste fatigue. It helps maintain clarity of flavors between bites.
When arranging a cheese tasting flight, what is the best order?
From strongest to mildest
From mildest to strongest
Based on cheese color
Random order
Progressing from mild to strong allows the palate to adjust gradually, preventing powerful flavors from overwhelming subtler ones. This order aids in comparative evaluation.
Lambrusco's effervescence and acidity make it a classic pairing for:
Cured meats and aged cheeses
Dark chocolate
Spicy curry
Oysters
The bubbles and crisp acidity of Lambrusco cut through the fattiness of meats and aged cheeses, refreshing the palate between bites. Its light sweetness also balances savory notes.
Why does pairing Barolo with truffle pecorino work well?
The sparkling nature of Barolo cleanses the palate
Barolo's sweetness highlights the cheese's saltiness
The wine's high acidity softens the cheese's texture
Barolo's tannins and earthy notes complement the cheese's pungent earthiness
Barolo from Nebbiolo grapes exhibits firm tannins and profound earthy, tar-like aromas that mirror truffle pecorino's intense, mushroomy flavors. This synergy amplifies both wine and cheese complexity.
Malolactic fermentation in winemaking converts:
Malic acid to lactic acid
Sugars to alcohol
Tannins to phenolics
Water to hydrogen
Malolactic fermentation transforms sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid, producing creamier mouthfeel and buttery notes in wine. It is common in red wines and oaked Chardonnays.
A late-harvest Riesling pairs effectively with blue cheese primarily because:
Its tannins soften the cheese texture
Its carbonation refreshes the palate
Its high residual sugar balances the cheese's saltiness
Its oakiness enhances the cheese aroma
The pronounced sweetness of late-harvest Riesling counteracts the intense salt and pungency of blue cheese. This contrast prevents the pairing from becoming overly savory or abrasive.
What is the purpose of a vertical cheese tasting?
To evaluate cheeses with various milk fat contents
To assess flavor development over different aging periods of the same cheese
To taste cheeses with increasing salt levels
To compare different cheeses from the same region
Vertical tasting involves sampling the same cheese at multiple ages to understand how texture and flavor evolve over time. This technique deepens appreciation of maturation effects.
When pairing an oak-aged Chardonnay with a triple-cream Brie, a potential conflict arises because:
The cheese's saltiness will make the wine taste bitter
The wine's tannins clash with the creamy texture
The high acidity of Chardonnay may curdle the cheese
Both have rich, buttery profiles leading to an overly heavy sensation
Oak-aged Chardonnay and triple-cream Brie share buttery, rich characteristics that can overwhelm the palate if paired. A lighter, more acidic wine often provides better contrast with such creamy cheeses.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify key pairings between specific cheeses and wines.
  2. Analyse flavor profiles to enhance tasting experiences.
  3. Evaluate regional characteristics of popular cheese varieties.
  4. Demonstrate understanding of wine terminology and classifications.
  5. Apply proper tasting techniques for cheese and wine.
  6. Master food pairing principles for diverse menus.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand the Basics of Cheese and Wine Pairing - Kick off your tasting journey by learning how to match cheeses and wines based on their acidity, tannins, and textures. Balancing a creamy Brie with a crisp Chardonnay can feel like a flavor fiesta in your mouth! Curious already?
  2. Explore Complementary and Contrasting Pairings - Discover how pairing complementary flavors can create harmony, or how bold contrasts can spark excitement on your palate. For example, the sweetness of Port wine beautifully offsets the saltiness of Stilton cheese for an adventurous treat. Dive into the details in
  3. Recognize the Impact of Cheese Age on Pairing - As cheese ages, its flavors deepen and bolden, so you'll need to match it with wines that can stand up to its intensity. Aged Comté, for instance, pairs wonderfully with a full-bodied Chardonnay that can dance with its nutty, caramel notes. Learn more from
  4. Master Proper Tasting Techniques - Hone your senses with the "five S's": see, swirl, sniff, sip, and savor to truly appreciate the nuances of wine and cheese. Practicing these steps will turn you into a confident taster who can articulate aromas and textures like a sommelier. Start your training at
  5. Learn About Regional Pairings - Travel the world through flavor by matching local cheeses with their traditional wines, such as French Brie alongside a glass of bubbly Champagne. Understanding these classic combos helps you appreciate cultural taste traditions and unlock regional secrets. Explore classic examples in
  6. Understand the Science Behind Pairings - Dive into the chemistry of cheese and wine to see how fats, acids, and proteins influence flavor perception and mouthfeel. Armed with science, you can create pairings that tame bitter tannins or highlight creamy textures for maximum enjoyment. Get nerdy with
  7. Familiarize Yourself with Wine Terminology - Boost your pairing prowess by mastering terms like tannins, acidity, body, and finish to describe wines like a pro. This vocabulary will help you communicate your preferences and select bottles with confidence. Brush up on the lingo at
  8. Practice Blind Tasting - Sharpen your sensory skills by tasting wines and cheeses blind to eliminate biases and focus purely on flavor. It's a fun challenge that trains your palate to identify subtle notes and textures. Give it a go with tips from
  9. Consider Serving Temperatures - Remember that chilling white wines enhances crispness while allowing reds to warm up unlocks their full aroma and flavor potential. The right temperature brings out the best in both cheese and wine, so keep a thermometer handy! Find temperature tips at
  10. Experiment with Pairings - Embrace your inner foodie by mixing unexpected cheeses and wines to discover personal favorites beyond the classics. Whether it's a spicy cheddar with a sweet Riesling or a tangy goat cheese with a zesty rosé, the adventure is yours to create. Start your flavor journey with
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