Father's Day Virtual Tasting 26th June 7pm

Perfect Cheese & Wine Pairings for the Paxton & Whitfield Virtual Cheese Tasting June 26^th 2026

There’s something special about discovering how the right drink can transform a cheese. Ahead of your upcoming virtual cheese tasting with Paxton & Whitfield, we’ve put together a selection of pairing recommendations designed to bring out the very best in each cheese. From crisp white wines and elegant reds to craft cider, IPA, and even apple juice, these combinations will help you create a memorable tasting experience from home.

Little Lepe & Loire Valley White Wine

Fresh, crisp, and vibrant, Little Lepe pairs beautifully with an equally lively white wine. A Sauvignon Blanc or similar white from France’s Loire Valley is an excellent choice, offering bright citrus notes, refreshing acidity, and delicate minerality that complement the cheese’s creamy texture without overpowering it.

Recommended pairing: A crisp Loire Valley white wine.

Bath Soft & West Country Cider

Bath Soft’s rich, buttery character is perfectly balanced by a medium-dry cider. For an authentic regional pairing, look for a traditional West Country cider, whose gentle sweetness and fresh apple flavours cut through the creaminess of the cheese while enhancing its subtle earthy notes.

Recommended pairing: Medium-dry West Country cider.

Lincolnshire Poacher & Italian Red Wine

Lincolnshire Poacher is a wonderfully complex cheese with a rich, nutty profile. To complement its depth, opt for a juicy Italian red wine with soft tannins. These approachable reds provide plenty of fruit character without overwhelming the cheese. We are particularly enjoying Mucchieto at the moment, whose vibrant fruit and smooth finish make it an excellent match.

Recommended pairing: Juicy Italian red wine with softer tannins.

Smoked Westcombe & Hoppy IPA

The subtle smoky notes of Smoked Westcombe call for a drink with enough character to stand alongside them. A well-balanced hoppy IPA offers bitterness, citrus, and aromatic hops that work beautifully with the cheese’s savoury depth. For those avoiding alcohol, a high-quality cloudy apple juice can be equally rewarding, bringing freshness and natural sweetness to the pairing.

Recommended pairing: Hoppy IPA or premium apple juice.

Cornish Blue & Noble Rot Dessert Wine

Few pairings are as celebrated as blue cheese and sweet dessert wine. Cornish Blue’s creamy texture and gentle blue character are elevated by the honeyed richness and vibrant acidity of a noble rot wine. Sauternes and Monbazillac are classic choices, creating a luxurious combination of sweet and savoury flavours that provide the perfect finale to the tasting.

Recommended pairing: Sauternes or Monbazillac dessert wine.

Enjoy the Tasting

Cheese pairing is all about exploration, and there’s no single “correct” answer. These recommendations are intended as a starting point for discovery, helping you experience how different drinks can highlight new flavours and textures in each cheese. We hope you enjoy experimenting with these combinations during the Paxton & Whitfield Virtual Cheese Tasting and uncover a few new favourites along the way.

Cheers, and happy tasting!