With people, as with cheese, whether by affinity or contrast, that’s how we can pair wines with Manchego cheese.

Beliefs, popular culture, or traditions say that Manchego cheese pairs best with aged red wine.

But the reality and current trends differ when it comes to choosing wines for Manchego cheese.

Why are Manchego cheeses paired with aged wines?

We can’t generalize, nor can we say there’s a fixed rule—especially when, based solely on aging time, we have semi-cured, cured, and aged Manchego cheeses.

Therefore, we can’t say there’s just one wine for Manchego cheese, but rather that it should depend on the type of Manchego cheese.

Until not many years ago, due to the strength and intensity of Manchego cheeses, they were paired with aged wines—often associated with wines from La Rioja, La Mancha, or other regions with oak barrel aging.

It’s true that the pleasure of combining both foods is always very enjoyable, but this pairing was imposed because the strength Manchego cheese leaves on the palate is cleaned by the barrel-aged wine, leaving the mouth ready for the next bite.

So, this pairing isn’t bad, but it doesn’t have to be the best or most suitable one.

White wines and Manchego cheese

Nowadays, more and more pairing experts are choosing to pair Manchego cheeses with young, fruity, and dry wines that help enhance and complement the flavors of Manchego cheese, rather than cleanse the palate.

For this pairing, we can find white wines from any region in Spain or the world that will offer a perfect match, allowing you to enjoy both products to the fullest thanks to their pairing.

Also, without abandoning the tradition of aged wines, we could create a great pairing with an aged Manchego and a barrel-aged white wine, resulting in a mutual enhancement of both foods.

3 white wines for 3 Manchego cheeses

Here are some recommended wine types so you can enjoy a pleasant pairing of wine and cheese:

• A semi-cured Manchego would pair very well with young, fruity wines, even with floral notes, good acidity, and that are dry or semi-dry. If we think of a wine from La Mancha, we could try a young Airén, combining two products from the Manchego terroir.
• The cured Manchego would also go well with the type of white wine mentioned for the semi-cured, but we would opt for a white wine with some aging, something that gives the wine body—though not so much as to overshadow the cheese’s virtues, but rather to enhance them.
• The aged Manchego could be paired by contrast— a bolder option, but probably the one that will leave the best impression due to the mix of sensations. For this, we’d try a sweet wine, and a good choice would be a Muscat.

Cheese and wine—what matters is enjoying it

Beyond established pairings or current trends in cheese accompaniment, if we’re going to pair wine and cheese, what matters is that you enjoy it—and there’s no accounting for taste.

Gastronomic experiences are meant to be enjoyed, to be shared with friends and family, without being driven by clichés or rules.

So to wrap up, I encourage you to try new pairings of wine and Manchego cheese and share your secrets, tips, and experiences with us.