At Checkers they have a passion for bringing you some of the most exciting wines & cheeses from the best of both local and international suppliers.
Choose from an array of award-winning cheeses and wines from around the world and watch Gordon Ramsay & Nataniël share their thoughts on this world-class selection in their new TV ad.
We put their cheese & wine to the test and couldn’t get enough of the zesty combination of creamy Fairview Blue Rock and French Carillonade Bordeaux.
Here we take a closer look at this mouth-watering pair.
Why not try combining the two at home?
The cheese:
Fairview is one of South Africa’s most well-known cheese producers, offering a wide selection, straight from the Fairview farm.
One of our favourites is famed Fairview Blue Rock, voted best SA Cheese at the World Cheese Awards.
A 4 to 6-month-maturation period is needed for ripening and to create the distinct flavour of a blue Roquefort-style cheese.
The longer the cheese is left to mature, the more distinct its taste becomes, allowing you to enjoy its full flavour.
The wine:
Grown in the vast vineyards of the famous Bordeaux area of France, the Carillonade is a full-bodied red that conjures up hints of cassis, vanilla currants and blackberries with perfumes of old oak.
It’s a champion in affordable wines and an excellent choice for any celebration with friends or family.
This French Bordeaux can be a tease, bringing out the very best of a Roquefort-style cheese, as well as the slightly more subtle Brie and Camembert varieties.
Find Carillonade Bordeaux at only R44,99 within the Checkers Wines of the World section – 50 wines from over 8 of the world’s best wine-producing countries.
Click here to see more.
The pairing:
A full-flavoured Roquefort-style cheese like the Fairview Blue Rock is defined by its strong zest, but the perfect slice should never overwhelm the aroma of your wine.
Pairing it with the French Carillonade Bordeaux is a good way to enjoy its pungency, enhancing its flavour on the palate.
Tried it and liked it? Why not experiment with some of our other favourite wines and cheeses, all easily available to you from Checkers’ Wines of World and Cheese World sections in-store.
More fabulous Checkers wine and cheese pairings include:
Italian Pirovano Pinot Grigio and Kasselshoop White Cheddar with Nettles
Diamond Ridge Sauvignon Blanc and Wyke Farms’ extra-mature Cheddar
Italian Sensi Risalto Chianti and Lancewood Mozzarella
Frontera Merlot from Chile with Healey’s Farmhouse Cheddar