From left to right, Gaugry L’Ami du Chambertin, Moser Riesling × Sylvaner, and blue cheese share a red lacquer tray, with Japanese sake and shochu ready to pour.
By Anamaria Terepka, Certified Sommelier at The Grape Escape in Fairfield, Connecticut
The holidays are upon us, and I have one more pairing idea for your holiday table. The invitations are going out, the grocery lists are growing, and someone is already debating whether Thanksgiving really needs three kinds of potatoes.
Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving, celebrating Hanukkah, gathering around the Christmas tree, or ringing in the New Year, there’s one entertaining essential that never disappoints: a great cheeseboard.
This year, I’d put something unexpected next to it. Japanese sake.
Yes, sake. And no, you don’t need sushi.
If you’re wondering what cheese goes with sake, start with creamy Brie and a fruity Junmai Daiginjo. A savory sake works beautifully with aged cheddar, and sparkling sake is a lovely match for triple-cream cheese. Here are five sake and cheese pairings, with the bottles and little extras I’d put on the board.
Why Sake and Cheese Make Such Good Friends
At first glance, Japanese sake and Vermont cheddar might seem like an unlikely couple. But they have more in common than you think.
Both contain amino acids that contribute to umami, that delicious savory quality that makes aged cheese so irresistible. Try a sip after a bite of cheddar and see what happens to that savory flavor. Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association
And sake isn’t just one thing. It can be delicate and fruity, rich and earthy, creamy, or sparkling. Think of it as wine’s interesting cousin who shows up for Thanksgiving and turns out to be everyone’s favorite guest.
Five Sake and Cheese Pairings to Try This Holiday Season
You don’t need to visit Tokyo to get started. Ask your local wine and spirits shop for the bottles below. If one is out of stock, tell them which cheese you’re serving and ask for a similar style.
1. Junmai Daiginjo and Brie
The sake · Dassai 45 Junmai Daiginjo
Junmai Daiginjo can be delicate and fragrant, with aromas that suggest pear, melon, or fresh flowers. Dassai 45 is a lovely introduction to the style. Its gentle fruitiness complements the buttery richness of Brie or Camembert.
On the board · Cranberry chutney, toasted almonds, and thin slices of pear.
I’d serve this on Christmas Eve, when you want something sophisticated but would prefer to spend the evening enjoying it.
2. Savory Sake and Aged Cheddar
The sake · Gekkeikan Black & Gold
This American-made sake is smooth and approachable. Try it with sharp Vermont cheddar or aged Gouda. The cheese’s nutty, salty character brings out the sake’s savory depth. You can serve it chilled, at room temperature, or gently warmed.
On the board · Apple slices, toasted walnuts, maple crackers, and a little fig jam.
It’s a particularly good choice for Thanksgiving, especially when your cheeseboard needs to keep everyone occupied while the turkey finishes cooking.
3. Nigori Sake and Blue Cheese
The sake · Kikusui Perfect Snow Nigori
Nigori is a cloudy sake with fine rice particles that can give it a creamy texture. Kikusui Perfect Snow is rich, full-bodied, and sweet. Try it with Gorgonzola or Stilton and see how the sweetness softens the cheese’s salty bite.
On the board · Dried figs, candied pecans, honey, and fresh grapes.
A sip of sweet, cloudy nigori softens the salty bite of blue cheese. Add red grapes and dried figs for a holiday pairing that might win over a few skeptics.
Blue cheese can be divisive. This pairing might win over a few skeptics. No guarantees for the person who insists all cheese should be orange.
4. Junmai Ginjo and Fresh Goat Cheese
The sake · Kubota Senjyu Junmai Ginjo
Kubota Senjyu has a clean, elegant profile that works particularly well with fresh goat cheese. Its subtle fruitiness gives the cheese’s tang room to shine.
On the board · Pomegranate seeds, honey, fresh thyme, and toasted baguette.
It looks festive and takes approximately five minutes to put together. My favorite kind of holiday entertaining.
5. Sparkling Sake and Triple-Cream Cheese
The sake · Sho Chiku Bai Mio Sparkling Sake
Who says Champagne gets all the holiday attention? Mio is gently sparkling and lightly sweet. The bubbles are a refreshing contrast to the richness of a triple-cream cheese. If you already have fresh chèvre on the board, try it with that, too.
On the board · Strawberries, raspberries, pomegranate seeds, and buttery crackers.
I’d pour this at a Hanukkah gathering, a Christmas party, or just before midnight on New Year’s Eve. Every celebration deserves a few bubbles.
How to Host a Holiday Sake and Cheese Tasting
Keep it simple. For three cheeses and three bottles, I’d choose Brie with Dassai 45, aged cheddar with Gekkeikan Black & Gold, and triple-cream cheese with Mio. A few pear slices, toasted walnuts, and plain crackers are enough to fill out the board.
Three small pours, a few favorite cheeses, and a handful of pears, walnuts, and crackers are all you need for a holiday sake tasting at home.
Serve aromatic sake chilled, richer styles cool or gently warmed, and sparkling sake well chilled. Small wine glasses work beautifully. Alcohol levels vary by bottle, so check the label and keep the tasting pours small.
Start with the lighter pairings and save the blue cheese for last if you’re serving it. Take a sip, try a bite, then take another sip. I like to ask everyone which pairing they’d go back for. The answer is rarely unanimous, and that’s half the fun.
A New Holiday Tradition?
The holidays are all about bringing people together, sharing good food, and occasionally trying something new. So this season, give the wine a little competition. Break out your favorite cheeses, open a bottle of sake, and see what happens.
From all of us at The Grape Escape, here’s to delicious discoveries, happy holidays, and a cheeseboard worth celebrating.
Kanpai! (Cheers!)
If you’d like to explore more food and drink pairings with me, join us for a wine tasting class in Fairfield, Connecticut.
