Jan. 20 is National Cheese Lover's Day. A celebration of curds and whey could turn out to be more fun than you would expect. Below is a suggested list of pairings so you can pick your favorite block of cheese, and wash it down with a grapy libation.
Blue-Veined (Stilton, Roquefort, Gorgonzola)
Blue-veined cheeses are difficult. They have a strong, robust flavor that can make lighter wines taste bland and watery. This family of cheeses needs a wine that is strong in flavor and tannins like the Grgich Hills 2009 Estate Grown Napa Valley Zinfandel ($34). This wine is made without pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers, giving a true Zin flavor in each sip: fruity, spicy and racy — the very characteristics that mellow out the tang of the cheese while softening its after bite.
This article appears in Jan 17-23, 2013.