02/06/2021
Today I would like to talk about the combination of wines with cheeses.
As we know, French eat cheese as dessert with a dessert, usually fortified and sweet, wine or cognac/ armagnac. In Portugal, cheeses are normally served as "entradas", i.e. hors-d'oevres or appetizers and are accompanied by any wine you choose for apperitif. Portuguese usually drink for apperitif white wine, dry Moscatel (Moscat) or dry white Porto. It is not strict, however, and one is free to choose any wine, but sweet and fortified. Any cheese - from fresh white to mature yellow - can be served as appetizer, usually together with Portuguese hamon or "presunto", olives, bread, butter and fish patés.
For desserts, Portuguese eat sweets of any form accompanied by a sweet Ruby or Browny Porto, sweet Moscatel, sweet Madeira and/or liquors.
To follow on the cheese and wine combination.