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Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet sauvignon is a full-bodied, tannic, acidic, power-punch of a wine grown worldwide that Wisconsinites, like most of America, adore.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Alpine-Style

Mountain cheeses like a robust drink with a slight sweetness, so we recommend Belgian-style ales, ambers, brown ales, bocks and stouts. For wine, any fruit-forward red or white such as cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, beaujolais, riesling or grüner veltliner will do. Want more punch? Port, madeira, scotch and rye whiskey all love our alpine cheeses.

Asiago

Whether young or aged, asiago is a versatile cheese. Put-in-a-pint drinks that we favor with it include hard ciders and fruit beers, pilsners, pale ales and lighter Belgian ales. If wine sounds fine, then we recommend riesling, sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, cabernet sauvignon and syrah. If liquor is more your speed, then both scotch and rye whiskey pair well. A nutty and assertive sake loves asiago too.

Blue

Big, bold blues as well as milder wedges go surprisingly well with all sorts of drinks. In Wisconsin, we normally pair our blues with cider or beer -- everything from fruit beers, stout, weiss beer, porter and Belgian ales get along famously with blue. In the world of wine, we recommend cabernet sauvignon, chianti, pinot noir, zinfandel, riesling, syrah/shiraz, ice wines and malbec. For higher-proof hankerings, reach for the port, madeira, tequila reposado or tequila añejo.

Cheddar Blue

We like to pair these potent hybrids with bigger beverages. Ciders and fruit beers are good bets, as is a solid porter. Cabernet sauvignon and chianti both have the strength to stand up and complement cheddar blue, as do port and madeira.

Colby

Colby is a mild, crowd-pleaser of a cheese, so it’s friendly with all sorts of drinks. If you're wanting beer, go for a pilsner, pale ale, brown ale or lager. Wines that pair well with colby include cabernet sauvignon, chianti, pinot noir, red zinfandel, champagne, riesling and malbec. If you prefer the strong stuff, tequila reposado and rye whiskey are definitely good bets.

Havarti

Havarti is easy to pair and you really can partner it with just about any drink that sounds good in the moment. If we were pushing your havarti-filled cart in the beer aisle, however, we’d fill it with weiss beer, doppelbock, stout or ESB. Wines that we matchmake with havarti include buttery chardonnay, riesling, sauvignon blanc, beaujolais or an on-the-lighter-side pinot noir.

Swiss

Nutty cheeses like slightly sweet sippers so we often pour bock, weiss beer, gewürztraminer, riesling, ice wines, port and sherry with Swiss. If stronger spirits sound best, then we recommend grappa and fruit brandies.

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