POLL: Port Pairings

[Roy Hersh]

The attached poll is strictly related to Port and cheese pairings and in this case, Stilton as the primary and Serra de Estrela as the secondary queijo.

This should be very interesting and I hope I've been fair in the 5 choices I have listed to include the vast majority of opinions, taking some of the sense of humor out of the equation in this particular case.

[Peter W. Meek]

Mind you, a really pungent Gorgonzola is a mighty contender as well.

[Andy Velebil]

Can't stand Stilton but I so love Serra de Estrela with Port and IMO is the only cheese that seems to pair decently with it. But I'd never turn down a glass of Port presented to me, and I'd simply toss the cheese over my shoulder when you weren't looking

Oh and since Roy obviously had too much Serra de Estrela and saw fit to post this twice, I've yet to have my fill and thus merged the two posts together since they both had replies.

[Frederick Blais]

Can't stand Stilton but I so love Serra de Estrela with Port and IMO is the only cheese that seems to pair decently with it. But I'd never turn down a glass of Port presented to me, and I'd simply toss the cheese over my shoulder when you weren't looking

Oh and since Roy obviously had too much Serra de Estrela and saw fit to post this twice, I've yet to have my fill and thus merged the two posts together since they both had replies.

I can't stand blue cheese either. Appart from Serra de Estrela, I do love other cheeses with my Port. 3-4 year old chedar are working great as well as the aged Gruyere from Switzerland. Than any other creamier type of cheese will work well if you use some Port jelly or fruits at the same time.

[Eric Menchen]

It often depends on the Port which I like best, but I haven't found too many cheeses that don't go with one Port or another. Stilton is nice, but I can't recall it being my absolute favorite. One of my recent favorites was the Cambozola, which makes me think I should try some other Weiss-Blau/Blauschimmel Brie.

[Glenn E.]

I'm not fond of Stilton, but also in general I don't think that stinky and/or strong cheeses pair well with Port. I greatly prefer Serra da Estrela with Port, but a nice medium-aged Manchego is a great alternate since Serra da Estrela is so hard to find here in the US.

[Daniel R.]

What type of Port are we talking about?

[dom carter]

I'm a hugh cheese fan - stilton and port is Fab!

But a good matured cheddar, some good french or italian salami or Spanish Fuet with pickeld shallots make the perfect accompaniment, IMHO.

[Peter W. Meek]

What type of Port are we talking about?

The official question didn't say, so we get to choose.

(Although, since one of the choices was a veined cheese, I expect vintage port was intended.)

[Roy Hersh]

No specific Port was intended at all. It is totally up to the individual to decide which category of Port. This thread will become a very useful guide for those looking to learn what people like and don't like in terms of cheese and Port pairings. I picked the most famous two types of cheese knowing quite well that instantly, other cheese suggestions would be made. Keep 'em coming, I wish more people would have voted.

[Daniel R.]

No specific Port was intended at all. It is totally up to the individual to decide which category of Port. This thread will become a very useful guide for those looking to learn what people like and don't like in terms of cheese and Port pairings. I picked the most famous two types of cheese knowing quite well that instantly, other cheese suggestions would be made. Keep 'em coming, I wish more people would have voted.

OK. I tend to drink VP on its own, but I have had several times LBV with cheese. I think dry pungent cheeses pair very well with LBV, such as Nisa or Terrincho Velho. I am afraid I do not know any foreign cheeses that might be comparable to these cheeses. When any of you are in Portugal I would recommend you try these. Nisa is a very popular cheese from the Alentejo available in most places. Terrincho Velho is less easy to find but good places will have it.