{"id":34970,"date":"2018-08-09T07:45:32","date_gmt":"2018-08-09T11:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/developer83.wordpress-developer.us\/culturecheesemag\/?p=34970"},"modified":"2018-08-06T12:56:38","modified_gmt":"2018-08-06T16:56:38","slug":"how-to-pair-manchego-with-spanish-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/developer83.wordpress-developer.us\/culturecheesemag\/how-to-pair-manchego-with-spanish-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Spanish Wines to Pair with Manchego"},"content":{"rendered":"

M<\/span>anchego is the workhorse of Spain\u2019s cheese world<\/a>. It\u2019s as natural in an old-time Jerez bar astride a glass of sherry as it is on a cheese plate in one of Madrid\u2019s Michelin-starred restaurants. It\u2019s also one of the most accessible cheeses in the world; it\u2019s probably in stock at your local shop right now, and its rich, round flavor makes it a consistent hit. Whether industrial or artisanal, Manchego<\/a>\u2019s inherent Spanish-ness makes it an excellent excuse to delve into the world of Spanish wine.<\/p>\n

But a caveat before you go shopping: As you might expect from a PDO that covers more than three million acres and includes cheeses from a few weeks to several years old, Manchego is a large and diverse group. (The nonnegotiable details? A reliance solely on the high-fat milk of Manchega sheep, a breed acclimated to La Mancha\u2019s hot, arid landscape and tough, herbal brush.) To get an insider\u2019s perspective, I talked to Kerin Auth, a longtime evangelist of Spanish food<\/a> and wine and owner of La Luz, a company that connects Spanish wineries with American importers. \u201cIt truly amazes me that between the aging, the producer, where it\u2019s bought, the time of year it\u2019s made… the category can vary [so much],\u201d she says. Lucky for us, that means more opportunities for pairing.<\/p>\n

\n

Prickly Bubbles<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cWith younger Manchego\u2014and many other cheeses\u2014I like bubbles,\u201d says Auth. While US customers can rarely find Manchego as young and tender as some options in Spain, even a four- or six-month-old wedge has a gentle sweetness that makes it an easy partner for sparkling wine. Go for Cava, Spain\u2019s answer to Champagne; good versions tend to have a gentle texture and fresh apple flavors. \u201cGramona III Lustros is an all-time favorite,\u201d Auth says. \u201cJust the right amount of roundness and orchard fruit.\u201d Or, look for a Reserva Cava, which ages in bottle for at least 15 months, developing a lush, toasty richness.<\/p>\n

Gramona 2009 Cava Brut Nature Gran Reserva Ill Lustros<\/em>
\nBodegas Covi\u00f1as Cava Brut Nature Gran Reserva Aula<\/em><\/p>\n

Classic Riojas <\/strong><\/h3>\n

For older Manchegos, Auth suggests aged Rioja, red or white\u2014in particular, \u201ca super classic, rustic, dirty Rioja, to enhance the bit of gritty texture age lends to the cheese.\u201d Look for Riojas labeled Reserva or Gran Reserva, which have been aged for several years before release. \u201cThe whites get super nutty and mushroomy, and make an incredible match,\u201d Auth says; for reds, \u201cthe more barnyard, dried fruits, and funk the better.\u201d Both have the bright acidity to handle the fat and acid of the sheep\u2019s milk cheese.<\/p>\n

R. L\u00f3pez de Hered\u00eda 2004 Rioja Reserva Vi\u00f1a Tondonia Blanco<\/em>
\nR. L\u00f3pez de Hered\u00eda 2005 Rioja Reserva Vi\u00f1a Tondonia<\/em><\/p>\n

Rich Whites<\/h3>\n

If you prefer more fruit and less funk, look to Priorat, a mountainous region in Catalonia, where the white wines take on golden fruit flavors and marzipan richness to cushion Manchego\u2019s salty edges. Or go for an albari\u00f1o: The grape\u2019s waxy texture and almond-like flavors stand up to the cheese\u2019s assertive flavors, and its acidity refreshes the palate.<\/p>\n

Mas d\u2019en Gil 2012 Priorat Coma Alta<\/em>
\nDo Ferreiro 2014 R\u00edas Ba\u00edxas Albari\u00f1o<\/em><\/p>\n

Bright Reds<\/h3>\n

If it\u2019s a sunny, warm day\u2014or you\u2019ve snagged a chunk of smoked Manchego\u2014crack open a lightly chilled bright red, such as a \u201cjuicy un-oaked Menc\u00eda, to brighten the day,\u201d Auth suggests; its dried cranberry flavors tart up the smoky cheese. Or match it to the cherry juiciness of a fresh, young Rioja\u2014it, too, has enough acidity to play off the cheese.<\/p>\n

La Osa 2014 Menc\u00eda Pardo<\/em>
\nBiurko 2016 Rioja<\/em><\/p>\n

Sherry<\/h3>\n

Nearly all cheese appreciates a good sherry<\/a>, and Manchego is no exception. For young wheels, seek out a light, delicate manzanilla. \u201cThe Callejuela Manzanilla has the perfect fruity prickle for the [cheese\u2019s] delicate texture and flavors,\u201d Auth says. Richer styles like Amontillado or Oloroso excel with older wedges, especially smoked versions: \u201cThey make that smoke taste nutty and meaty, like jam\u00f3n Ib\u00e9rico.\u201d<\/p>\n

Callejuela Blanquito Manzanilla Pasada<\/em>
\nBodegas Hidalgo-La Gitana Jerez Amontillado Napoleon<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Studioimagen73\/Shutterstock.com<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Manchego\u2019s inherent Spanish-ness makes it an excellent excuse to delve into the world of Spanish wine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":95,"featured_media":34971,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[4209,4208,1946,4207,4211,4210,2810,2398,3863,4212,4205,4204,4206],"coauthors":[141],"class_list":["post-34970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cheese-pairings","tag-cava","tag-kerin-auth","tag-manchego","tag-manchego-pairings","tag-priorat-wine","tag-rioja","tag-sherry","tag-spanish-cheese","tag-spanish-food","tag-spanish-wine","tag-tara-q-thomas","tag-wine-with-cheese","tag-wines-to-pair-with-manchego"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Best Spanish Wines to Pair with Manchego<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Manchego\u2019s inherent iconic status among Spanish cheeses makes it an excellent excuse to delve into the world of Spanish vino.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/developer83.wordpress-developer.us\/culturecheesemag\/how-to-pair-manchego-with-spanish-wine\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Best Spanish Wines to Pair with Manchego\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Manchego\u2019s inherent iconic status among Spanish cheeses makes it an excellent excuse to delve into the world of Spanish vino.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/developer83.wordpress-developer.us\/culturecheesemag\/how-to-pair-manchego-with-spanish-wine\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"culture: the word on cheese\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-08-09T11:45:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/developer83.wordpress-developer.us\/culturecheesemag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/manchego-wine.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1239\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tara Q. 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