In case you haven’t heard, it’s Grilled Cheese Month! 

Along with pairing up with Cabot Cheese to bring you a fabulous wine and grilled cheese pairing guide and a chance to make your grilled cheese creation famous, we’ve got even more tips for this oh-so-cheesy month. Specifically, how to taste cheese and put together the perfect cheese board. 

We recommend getting together with your Wine Sisters and trying out these tips and pairings. Make it a fun night in where everyone brings a bottle of wine or a nice block of cheese. Sip and savor your favorites!

Like the “5 S” method we use for wine (See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip, Savor), there’s also a proper way to taste cheese. Here are four easy steps for tasting and describing cheese: 

1. Eye it (the appearance): What does the cheese look like? Think in terms of both color and texture. 

2. Touch it (the feel): Give the cheese a good poke to register its consistency. Or, if you don’t want to be poking your cheese, just note how the blade of a knife slices through it. 

3. Smell it (the aromas): In general, does the cheese smell pleasant, neutral or unappetizing. Can you identify any specific aromas? 

4. Taste it (the taste and mouthfeel): It is well known that your tongue can differentiate five tastes, and with cheese the best way to describe them is: tangy, bitter/tart, salty, sweet and savory. 

Now it’s time to put together the perfect cheese board! Depending on what cheese you have on hand, you’ll want to serve wines that compliment those cheeses wonderfully. Or, maybe it’s the other way around – you know most of your friends only like to drink red or white wines, so you’ll want to have a cheese board that fits their taste. 

Reference the wine and cheese pairing grid below for tips on pairing your favorite wine with yummy, yummy cheeses. 

What are your favorite wine and cheese pairings? Tell us in a comment below!