It’s hard to believe, but fall is already right around the corner. Whether you’re holding on to the last strands of summer or anxiously awaiting all things pumpkin spice, we’re ready to help you make the most of the new season with a curated list of wine pairings and recipes to go along with our signature snacks. These are sure to be a hit on a September evening with friends or family!
Cheddar & Asiago...A Match Made in Heaven
Original Cheddar & Merlot
Flavor profile: This might be our classic flavor, but Original Cheddar is anything but simple. Crafted and perfected for the longest time out of all of our flavors, this is a truly layered snacking experience. Layers of real cheddar and asiago have been infused with sourdough and the perfect amount of butter, salt, and cayenne to form the flavor. Bake it twice and you’ve got a whole lot of flavor in a single stick.
Wine pairing: If you’re looking for a wine that’s lighter than a cabernet yet still offers the full-bodied flavor of red wine, look no further than Merlot. It pairs perfectly with other full-bodied flavors like meats and sharp cheeses, so this is a perfect wine to pair with our Original Cheddar CheeseSticks. And if you’re looking to further increase your taste buds’ experience, we recommend wrapping a piece of prosciutto ham around your CheeseStick to take advantage of merlot’s ability to pair with strong tasting meats and cheeses. Original Cheddar will also go great with other red wines such as Shiraz, Malbec, Red Burgundy, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cheddar & Scallion with a Side of Pinot Grigio
Flavor profile: Our Cheddar & Scallion CheeseSticks offer a rich combination of asiago and cheddar with a hint of onion-y flavor that makes for a richer, more complex snacking experience. We keep our recipe consistent, only adding whole ingredients like chopped scallions to naturally enhance the flavors you know and love.
Wine pairing: With the light onion flavor of scallions and the distinct taste of asiago and cheddar, we’d recommend a light and fresh white wine such as a Pinot Grigio or Riesling. Pairing layered flavors with something simple is always a satisfying combination.
Parmesan, Romano, and Swiss...A Mouthwatering Cheese Trio
Now we move on to the three other cheeses in our (cheese) wheelhouse. At John Wm. Macy’s, we take pride in working our ingredients around each cheese’s distinct flavor profile. As we introduce new cheeses to our bakery, we want to create the recipe to match.
Melting Parmesan Meets Chardonnay & Chianti
Known for its versatility and mild yet delicious flavor, parmesan cheese pairs with chardonnay and pinot grigio if you’re looking for a crisp, sweet flavor. Filled with buttery goodness and 100% real parmesan cheese, these CheeseSticks truly melt in your mouth.
If you’re looking for a dry earthy taste to pair with the melting flavor of your CheeseSticks, we recommend a chianti.
Garlic Romano Featuring a Fruity Zinfandel
Between the flavorful romano cheese and distinctive taste of garlic combined with our sourdough, this is a snack with a distinctly Italian influence. The basil flavor adds an additional twist that makes these sticks stand out from the rest.
To go against that rich garlic flavor, we recommend pairing with a bold and fruity zinfandel or a dry chianti. Or if you want to really savor that garlic taste—we don’t blame you—pinot grigio will get along easily with those flavors.
Dijon Swiss & A Glass of Sauvignon Blanc
This takes sourdough and dijon—a pairing as old as time—to the next level with a subtle blending of swiss cheese. The comforting taste of sourdough is the perfect ingredient to mellow out the distinct flavor of swiss cheese.
Pair these CheeseSticks with a dry, tangy white wine such as a Muscat, a glass of champagne, or Sauvignon Blanc.
Now for a look at our CheeseCrisps, packed with bold flavors, a satisfying crunch, and the same whole all-natural ingredients. Bite-sized and impossible to put down, you can pair every crunchy square with its perfect sip of wine.
Asiago & Cheddar with a Sip of Pinot & Merlot
Small snack, big flavor. Our best-selling CheeseCrisps are loaded with asiago and cheddar cheeses with a generous heap of cayenne butter to give them that sophisticated flavor you can’t get enough of.
Asiago cheese requires a fresh, sweeter wine like Riesling or Pinot Grigio to match all that savory, nutty goodness. When it comes to red options, we’d recommend a Merlot to match those bold cheddar tones.
Rosemary & Cheddar with a Cozy Cab
Savory and comforting like a home-cooked meal, these CheeseCrisps carefully balance the distinguishing taste of rosemary against those big asiago and cheddar flavors. This is the perfect herb-infused snack for the cozy fall months to come.
Rosemary is an herb that loves wines of all kinds, but we would recommend a cozy Cabernet Sauvignon or nice dry Chianti to make your fall evenings even cozier.
Chipotle & Cheddar
Aged asiago and cheddar make another appearance in this CheeseCrisp with a spicy twist. The rich, familiar flavor of cheesy sourdough provides the perfect place for those diced chipotle peppers to land. Between the crunch of your first bite and the kick at the end, these are sure to wake up your taste buds.
We’d recommend a Zinfandel as it is known to pair perfectly with Mexican spices and cuisine. Chipotle peppers, you’ve met your match.
*Our Recommended Recipes: Lime-fresh Guacamole & Zesty Corn Salsa
Chipotle & Cheddar CheeseCrisps pack a flavorful punch, so the perfect pairing is something smooth to cut the intense flavor.
Garlic, cilantro, and a touch of lime will pair perfectly with chipotle. Chunky guacamole has the smooth flavor of avocado, the tang of lime, and the sweet twist of garlic, fresh tomatoes and red onion, making it a perfect contrast to the spice.
Fresh corn and tomato salsa will create a fresh burst of flavor to go alongside the chipotle spice and cool down your palate. Adding a slice of avocado before topping with salsa will make for an even better flavor.
Ingredients:
- 1 can whole sweet kernel corn
- ¼ cup chopped bell pepper
- 1 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp oil
- Salt to taste
- 1 jalapeño chile seeded, chopped (optional)
Directions:
- Mix ingredients in a bowl and chill for 30 min. before serving on CheeseCrisps.
Romano & Sesame Gruyere
Melting Romano
With the melt-in-your-mouth quality of our Melting Parmesan CheeseSticks and the overflowing flavor of Garlic Romano, these crisps remain mild yet packed with the flavors of crushed garlic, basil, butter, and romano cheese.
If you’re looking for a red to go with your snacks, we’d suggest a chianti. If you’re looking for a white, we always suggest a refreshing pinot grigio to go with harder cheeses.
Sesame Gruyere
Filled with a mix of gruyere and swiss cheeses coupled with a hint of dijon—much like our Dijon Swiss CheeseSticks—and sesame, this is an unexpected flavor profile that just works.
These CheeseCrisps pair best with wines that won’t overwhelm their unique blend of ingredients. A lighter red like Pinot Noir or a lighter white like Sauvignon Blanc are great choices here.
*Our Recommended Recipes: Easy & Sophisticated Charcuterie Board Snacks
These are a few of our favorite recipes that offer all the fun flavor combinations of a charcuterie board without all the hassle of setting up the entire spread. Perfect for a wine night on the patio with friends or an evening snack for one!
Sweet & Savory with a Crunch
Top each CheeseCrisp with a small slice of brie; spoon 1/2 teaspoon of peach preserves on top of brie; top with a small piece of mint leaf for the perfect snack loaded with flavors. We would recommend champagne to match the brie’s flavor and complement the sweetness of the peach.
Gorgonzola & Pear Over Sesame Gruyere
Toast walnuts in a pan; mix in a bowl with gorgonzola; spread onto the CheeseCrisp and sprinkle on a few pieces of red onion; top with a thin slice of pear. A sweet white wine such as a Riesling is a great match for gorgonzola and won’t take away from all the flavors at play in this recipe.
Thanks for gathering around with us! Be sure to tag us on Instagram @ johnwmmacys if you decide to try out any of these pairings or recipes. We love to see our snacks where they should be, with people who are enjoying the good things in life. Happy wining and snacking, Crunch Crew!
