There’s nothing quite like a delicious cheese paired with a fine wine! Hmm… are you dreaming of Kapiti’s Smoked Havarti Cheese with a Central Otago Pinot Gris? Thanks to our friends at New World we’ve listed some wine & cheese pairing recommendations below.

Try these mouth-watering flavour-duos of Kapiti Cheese matched with Award Winning Wine and see what you think.

Kapiti Akatea Traditional Brie with Real Compania de Vinos Tempranillo 2013

A snowy white delicate rind encases a mild creamy paste. Kapiti Akatea Traditional Brie is mild and matches nicely with a drop of Real Compania de Vinos Tempranillo – a good meaty, rich chewy wine, full fleshy rich palate with glorious chalky tannins.

Kapiti Awa Blue with Brancott Estate Sauvignon Gris 2014

A superb balance of flavours with a fruity, floral aroma and flavour with a tangy background resulting in a truly excellent Kapiti Awa Tangy Blue cheese. Matched with Brancott Estate’s Sauvignon Gris with flavours of passionfruit and peppermint and great weight and texture, this is a very good aromatic expression of this variety.

Kapiti Akatea Traditional Brie with Waipara Hills Waipara Valley Riesling 2013

The earthy mushroom aromas from the rind complement the creamy buttery notes of the paste from the Kapiti Akatea Traditional Brie. Match it with Waipara Hills Waipara Valley Riesling, a fuller, rich style, powerful and vibrant with rich texture and balanced acidity.

Kapiti Cumin Seed Gouda with Lawson’s Dry Hills Gewurztraminer 2013

Piquant cumin seed flavours combine with fruity sweet notes to produce a mouth filling flavour sensation in our Kakato Cumin Gouda. Paired with the Gewurztraminer, perfumed wine with notes of spice and pink rose petals. Ginger and Turkish delight flavours, awesome concentration and balanced acidity.

Kapiti Rarama with Ngatarawa Stables Reserve Syrah 2013

The Kapiti Rarama provides a beautiful balance of fuller flavour and luscious texture with a pleasant, heady aroma. Pairs fantastically with the Ngatarawa Stables Reserve, a black pepper, spice and black fruits, great texture and still very youthful.

Kapiti Smoked Havarti with Roaring Meg Central Otago Pinot Gris 2013

The light buttery flavours of this classic Havarti combine with delicate smoky flavours to produce a remarkable taste sensation. Matches well with the taste of Roaring Meg Central Otago Pinot Gris, a fresh peach and citrus with great honeyed development, rich and spicy, an elegant wine which finishes with a kiss of honey sweetness.

Kapiti Te Tihi Cheddar with Kate Radburnd berry blush Hawkes Bay Rosé 2014

Kapiti Te Tihi is a good firm textured cheddar exhibiting some savoury and fruity notes with slight acidity and a lingering finish.  It matches well with the Hawkes Bay Rosé, a floral rose petals and a gentle understated delicateness. Soft with a hint of sweetness.

Kapiti Rarama with Thistle Ridge Pinot Noir 2013

A flavourful and luscious texture with a pleasant, heady aroma, try the Kapiti Raramawith the vibrant Thistle Ridge Pinot Noir with flavours of ripe red fruits, plums and violets are balanced by gentle fine oak.

Kapiti Te Tihi Cheddar with Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014

A cheddar that exhibits some savour and fruity notes with slight acidity and a lingering finish, matches the Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with rich passionfruit flavours with youthful vibrant acidity, a creamy mid palate and crisp long finish.

Kapiti Kikorangi Creamy Blue with Pepperjack Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

The Kikorangi has a rich, creamy and smooth texture with subtle blue flavour and delightful salty tang to finish.  Perfect with the Pepperjack Barossa Cabernet, sweet oak and cassis, laden with flavour with a sledge-hammer delivery. Rich, very concentrated with great length of flavour.

Look out for the award winning wines at your local supermarket, and be sure to get some Kapiti Cheese to go with them!

Source: New World Wine Awards, 2014