Funky cheese on the board does not have to scare anyone off. Pair it with a sweeter wine and both sides calm down.
Our rule of thumb at Capers & Co in Edmond is simple: funky cheeses want sweet wines. OKC metro hosts use it when Stilton, Roquefort, or another bold blue or washed-rind cheese shows up next to dessert wine or Port.
Why sweet wine works with funky cheese
Stinky washed-rind cheeses and blue-veined cheeses bring strong aroma and flavor. Sweeter wines meet that intensity. The sugar softens the funk so the cheese tastes creamier, and the cheese’s punch keeps the wine from turning sticky-sweet.
Company’s Coming names two classics to start with: Port with Stilton, and Sauternes with Roquefort.
Easy pairing picks
| Wine | Cheese |
|---|---|
| Port | Stilton |
| Sauternes | Roquefort |
| Moscato | Gorgonzola |
For how much cheese to buy, keep How Much Charcuterie per Guest open. For the board build order, see Tip #1: Build a Better Charcuterie Board.
If the bottle is a bold dry red instead, see Tip #2: Bold Reds and Aged Cheeses. Soft creamy cheeses with bubbles belong on Tip #4: Sparkling Wines Love Creamy Cheeses.
Start small on the board
Guests who wrinkle their nose at blue cheese still try a small wedge when a sweet pour is nearby.
- Put one funky cheese on the board (Stilton or Roquefort is an easy start).
- Keep a milder cheese nearby so shy tasters have a landing spot.
- Pour a small glass of Port, Sauternes, or another sweet bottle beside the funky wedge.
- Taste the cheese alone, then with the sweet wine, and notice how both change.
For a long kraft-paper spread, read The Art of the Grazing Table. Grazing tables are delivered and set up across the OKC metro. If you would rather skip the shopping, order catering from Capers & Co.
Skip this pairing mistake
Do not pour a bone-dry, delicate white next to a loud blue and hope it works. Funky cheeses need sweetness. Save shy whites for milder cheeses.
Frequently asked questions
Washed-rind cheeses with a strong aroma, and blue-veined cheeses such as Stilton, Roquefort, and Gorgonzola. They smell bold; the sweet wine is what makes them friendlier on the palate.
Port with Stilton and Sauternes with Roquefort are the Company’s Coming classics. Moscato with Gorgonzola is another book pairing worth keeping in your pocket.
Yes, if you give shy guests a milder wedge and keep the sweet bottle near the funky cheese. For a mixed-wine table where you want one safe cheese for every bottle, see Tip #6: When in Doubt, Go Nutty. For shopping by region instead, see Tip #5: If It Grows Together, It Goes Together.
Yes. Tell us if you want a bold blue or washed-rind wedge and which sweet wine you plan to pour. Start with catering.
