The wine-and-cheese picnic playbook

Bring good wine and good eats

What should you bring? How much of it? Generally speaking, you should plan for half a baguette and 1/3 of a bottle of wine per person. You can also opt for canned wines. Keep in mind that there’s usually 6–8 portions per bottle, depending on how generously you pour! Some other good rules of thumb when it comes to wine and cheese: start with finer cheese and light wines before moving on to ones with a stronger flavour, and serve dry wines before sweeter ones—sparkling wine, though, is good at any time! 

Despite popular belief, whites actually go better with cheese than reds! See for yourself by putting together some tasty pairings featuring local products. Here are a few ideas to inspire you:

Goat cheese +  Fruity and vibrant white wine

Swiss cheese or Gruyère + an Aromatic and mellow white wine

Double cream Brie + a Delicate and light white wine

Blue cheese + ice cider 

Parmesan + sparkling wine

Those who prefer red wine should look for lighter reds from the Fruity and light or Fruity and medium-bodied taste tags, which will marry well with most types of cheese. If you feel like having a rosé, something Fruity and light will taste wonderful with a more delicate cheese, while a Fruity and medium-bodied rosé will stand up to a stronger cheese. 

A variety of terrific products are now available in smaller packages, so you can take them on the go. Not only is there wine in a can, but you can also find ready-to-drink beverages made with wine (like sangria), which lend themselves to stunning pairings. Just avoid very sweet refreshments—they don’t mix well with cheese. 

And don’t forget to bring some extra nibbles! Choose snacks that are easy to carry and share, like slices of charcuterie meat, nuts, crackers, fresh fruit, etc. Though it may seem counterintuitive, avoid grapes, whose skins contain tannins that may clash with the taste of the wine.