Pairing Wine With Brie

Originating in France and generally made from cow’s milk—and occasionally goat’s milk—Brie is a soft, deliciously creamy, buttery cheese with a soft, edible bloomy rind. The flavor is light and mellow, with notes of mushroom, nuts and warmed butter. Best served at room temperature, its soft, at times runny, texture makes it a perfect accompaniment to bread or crackers.   

When it comes to wine pairings, brie is very versatile and can be paired with a variety of wines, both red and white, or even rosé. However, there are certain wines, like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and even Champagne, that really complement the flavors of the cheese.

Wine Characteristics To Pair With Brie

Brie is delicate in flavor, so you will want to take care that the wine you choose does not overpower it. Whether red or white, light bodied wines are going to be the best option for this. Wines with high acidity are also a great complement to brie as the acid offers balance to the rich fat of the cheese.   

You should also take note of the flavor profile of your wine. A light bodied red is a great choice, but if its primary tasting notes are pepper and smoke, its flavor will overpower the cheese. Look for fruits that you would normally pair with a wedge of brie, like pear, apple, or even berry.

Best Red Wine To Drink With Brie

Brie can definitely be paired with red wine. In some cases, it can even make a great pairing! You just want to be sure that the red you choose is light in body and tannins, and has a decent amount of acidity; a red that is full bodied will overpower this delicate cheese.   

Beaujolais

Similar to Pinot Noir, this wine is light and fruit-forward with high acidity. It’s earthy, lush, and bursting with red fruit flavor. This would be an excellent match with a rich pasta of brie, bacon, and basil.   

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is a light to medium, dry red, with smooth tannins and is an all-around food favorite. Its high acidity makes it a great counter to the richness of the Brie, and its notes of cherries, berry and mushroom complement the cheese’s soft flavor. Try it with a delicious baked brie with garlic and mushrooms.  

Grenache

Fruit roll-up is the taste most commonly associated with Grenache. Its bold strawberry and cherry taste, with notes of cinnamon and herbs, and high acidity make it a great pairing with brie. Pair it with a baked brie topped with cranberries and pecans.  

Rosé

The acidity and juicy berry flavor of Rosé makes it a great pairing for buttery Brie cheese. Choose the sparkling variety for added fun and pair it with a baked Brie mac and cheese.

Best White Wine To Drink With Brie

While you can drink red with Brie, white wines make for the best pairings. White wine tends to have higher acidity and lighter body, bringing a nice balance to the cheese. The flavor profile of many white wines also typically matches those of the fruit you would pair with brie, like pear, peach, apple, and apricot.  

Chardonnay

Chardonnay complements brie quite well due to its acidity, citrus-forward flavor, and creamy, buttery characteristics. Pair a Chardonnay with a brie and caramelized onion pizza for a crowd-pleasing hit.   

Sauvignon Blanc

This crisp white is dry, bursting with acidity, and boasts notes of white peach, pear, grapefruit, and grass. The acidity cuts through the fatty, buttery cheese, but is light enough to not overpower. Try it with a brie-based spinach dip or brie stuffed artichokes.  

Champagne

The bubbles, the acidity, the peach tasting notes, they all make Champagne a great pairing with brie. Serve Champagne with your next charcuterie board, especially if your board consists of lots of salty meats, crackers and nuts.   

Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc and Brie have similar qualities that make them a great match. Both had nutty tasting notes, and while the wine has notes of apple and pear, these two fruits are often paired with Brie. Chenin Blanc also has plenty of acidity to balance the richness of the cheese. Try it with Pear and Brie tartlets.

Brie & Wine Pairing Tips

Brie is not especially known for headlining main courses. It is typically the star of hors d’oeuvres and charcuterie boards. Part of its appeal is that because the flavor is mild and can be paired with a variety of foods, there’s something to please everyone.   

Try pairing Brie with fruit, like pear and apple, or berries such as cranberry and strawberry. If you prefer savory, try brie with mushrooms, turkey, or brussels sprouts. On a charcuterie board, nuts, salty, cured meats, and spreads of jam or honey atop slices of French bread or whole wheat crackers make for tantalizing combinations.

Best Wine To Drink with Brie

Because of the delicate nature of Brie, the best wines are going to light. Medium to heavy-bodied wines will easily overwhelm the cheese. Wines with good acidity will be your best options, just be sure to take the other ingredients into consideration when choosing the wine.  

• Champagne
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Pinot Noir
• Grenache
• Chenin Blanc