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The Art of Wine and Cheese with 7 Vines
Updated: Oct 14
An Evening of Wine and Cheese at 7 Vines
There's a reason wine and cheese have been sharing a table for centuries. A good pairing makes each one taste better than it would on its own. At our latest pairing event, we set six award-winning cheeses beside six of 7 Vines' wines, and the results were delicious.
Every cheese on the table earned a ribbon at the 2026 American Cheese Society Judging Competition, and many of the wines come with medals of their own. Here is the lineup.
Cheese: 1st in its category, 2026 American Cheese Society Judging Competition
The Aged Brick is nutty, tangy and full of character, and the wine's crisp acidity and fine bubbles cut right through it.
We opened with bubbles. The Cuvée du Peltier is a blend of estate-grown Itasca and Frontenac Gris, made in the traditional method for sparkling wine. It spent 12 months on the lees during bottle fermentation. The nose and palate are bright, with green apple, golden apple, citrus zest, pear, Meyer lemon, kiwi and a little Thai ginger.
Silver at the 2026 International Cold Climate Wine Competition.
Cheese: 1st in its category, 2026 American Cheese Society Judging Competition
A First Place Farmstead Sheep Milk American Cheese Society winner, Friesago is a natural rind semi-aged sheep milk cheese with a dense texture and pleasantly mild flavor and a slightly nutty finish. A multiple award-winner, Friesago is versatile as a table cheese and as a cooking cheese.
The semi-dry La Crescent is full of apricot, nectarine, peach, lychee, marmalade, whipped honey and candied ginger. It has a creamy mouthfeel and a bright, balanced finish. Next to the Friesago, the stone-fruit sweetness and the cheese's richness bring out the best in each other.
Silver at the 2024 Dan Berger International Wine Competition
Bronze at the 2024 International Cold Climate Competition.
Cheese: 1st in its category, 2026 American Cheese Society Judging Competition
Humboldt Fog is a celebrated artisanal goat cheese from Cypress Grove Chevre, known for its soft, creamy texture, distinctive vegetable ash rind, and complex tangy-earthy flavor that reflects the lush Northern California terroir.
The estate-grown True North Rosé is a good partner for it, with pomegranate, white cherry, quince, watermelon, blood orange and a hint of pastry crust. The finish lingers long after the last sip.
Bronze at the 2025 International Cold Climate Wine Competition.
Cheese: 1st in its category, 2026 American Cheese Society Judging Competition
Now for something deeper.
This handcrafted, bandage-wrapped Wisconsin Cheddar is steeped in elderflower liqueur, opening with the nutty flavor of a sweet-finish cheddar before unfurling into bright notes of honeyed fruit and green florals. Its texture is firm and crumbly, just like a traditional clothbound cheddar.
The estate-grown Marquette is a grandson of Pinot Noir, with notes of black cherry, plum, blackberry, cedar, allspice and a hint of cocoa. Aging in both French and American oak gives it a beautiful tannin structure. With the Luna Moth, the wine's dark fruit and structure stand up well to the cheese.
Silver at the 2025 International Cold Climate Wine Competition
Silver at the 2025 San Francisco International Wine Competition.
Cheese: Third Best in Show, 2026 American Cheese Society Judging Competition
The 'Nati Gouda took third place for Best in Show, and it met a wine that could match it. Our 2021 Old Vine Zinfandel comes from Lodi, California grapes. It has raspberry, wild strawberry, lingonberry, fig and rose petal, with hints of black pepper, cedar and rosemary on the nose. After more than 12 months in barrel, the tannins are velvety and linger on the finish.
If you're hosting, this wine also goes well with our charcuterie board, our supreme flatbread, sharp cheddar or barbeque. It earned
Silver at the 2023 International Women's Wine Competition.
Cheese: 3rd in its category, 2026 American Cheese Society Judging Competition
We saved the blue for last. This blend of cow’s and goat’s milk makes a smooth, luxuriously creamy blue with a soft, spreadable texture and delicate veining through a pale ivory interior. Its flavor is fresh, tangy and bold, with subtle earthy depth, a mild piquant kick and a clean, lingering finish that stays approachable rather than overly sharp.
The 2021 Golden Harvest is a late-harvest Frontenac Gris, and it pairs naturally with a blue cheese. The wine is medium-bodied, with apricot, pear, pineapple, papaya, golden apple, ginger, orange zest and a touch of spice. The sweet-and-salty contrast with the Breezy Blue makes a great finish to the evening.
Silver at the 2022 San Francisco International Wine Competition, Bronze at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Bronze at the 2023 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.
Come Pair with Us
Whether you're new to wine or have been tasting for years, a pairing flight is a fun way to learn what you like. Try each wine on its own, then with the cheese, and notice how the flavors change.
Keep an eye on our events calendar for the next pairing night at 7 Vines. We'd love to pour for you.
Did you know:
We do Private events!
Would you like to see the faces of the folks that make your food? Here they are!!:
See you again soon!!
Cheers!
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