By Shari Darling
Photography: Stephen Ashton & Shari Darling

These are the tasting notes for the marriage of Inniskillin’s Oak Aged Vidal Icewine and a variety of California’s Cheeses.

Sonoma Cheese Factory ‘Pepper Jack’
www.sonomajack.comIcewine
Almost all of Sonoma Cheese Factory’s specialty cheeses work with the Icewine and are best served for those who dare to experiment. The Pepper Jack and Icewine was an interesting pair. The heat from the cheese makes the wine floral and fruity. The two together actually bring out unique characters that would probably get overlooked otherwise.

Bellwether Farms Carmody Cheese
www.bellwethercheese.com
This Icewine and cheese combination enhances the richness and depth of flavor in the cheese.

Three Sisters Farm ‘Sarenah’
www.threesisterscheese.com
The cheese held its own. The cheese’s nutty flavor brought out the sweetness in the wine.

Marin Cheese Company ‘La Petite Creme’ Brie
www.marinfrenchcheese.com
This wonderful Brie was a PERFECT match for this Icewine.

Winchester Cheese Company ‘Gouda’
www.winchestercheese.com
One of the richest cheeses around CA, need pears and apples to tie in the flavors in the wine.

Marin Cheese Company ‘Rouge et Noir Schloss’ Brie
www.marinfrenchcheese.com
While the nose, alone, on this cheese will keep many away, the marriage between the two was just right! The wine’s sweetness played down the tangy character of the cheese.

Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company Blue Cheese
www.pointreyescheese.com
Blue cheese and white wine. Here’s a combination that can only be described as purely decadent.

Bellwether Farms Fromage Blanc
www.bellwethercheese.com
This little cheese was a bit overpowered by the Icewine; best with small sips. The cheese also made the wine a little less sweet.

Vella Cheese Company Dry Jack
www.vellacheese.com
A great rich cheese with lots of character. The rich honeyed tones play well off the tangy Jack cheese.

Vella Cheese Company ‘Mezzo Secco’
www.vellacheese.com
Little softer tones of flavour compared to the dry Jack. Went very well with the richness of the wine.