There are a lot of philosophies when it comes to pairing wine and cheese.
Some claim that you should pair wines and cheeses from the same region; others say that white wine is the only wine worth drinking with cheese. Still others talk about what kinds of cheeses should be paired with one another – soft? Hard? Blue? Goat?
With all the rules, it’s enough to make your head spin – which is why I prefer to leave it to the experts.
La Vache dans les Vignes is not a wine bar, at least not in the traditional sense. This shop, whose name translates to “the cow in the vines,” was created by two friends – one an oenophile and the other a cheese aficionado – to unite these two of France’s most famous products.
While you can buy both wines and cheeses to be enjoyed at home, this shop’s special plus is that it allows you to taste cheese, wine, and charcuterie in-house – with an expert’s touch.
The premise is simple: you choose a bottle of wine, pay a small corkage fee, and the staff chooses a selection of three, four, or five cheeses that will pair particularly well with it. You can let them know what you like and what you don’t, but honestly, one of the best parts is to see what surprising combinations you end up with.
Because the owners are truly lovers of these products, you really get the best of the best. Wines range from better-known wine regions and vineyards to some bottles even wine-lovers have never heard of. Every time I need to buy a bottle for someone I know loves wine, I just go in and give Sélim my budget, and I’ve never once been disappointed.
The cheeses are exquisite as well. Since the shop is also an affineur, they age the individual cheeses until they are truly the perfect examples of themselves.
Add to all that the fact that this shop is located on the trendy and bustling Canal Saint-Martin – which means that, at least this time of year, you can enjoy a glass of wine and a cheese or two overlooking the water –, and you’ve pretty much created my ideal place to spend an afternoon.
La Vache dans les Vignes – 46, quai de Jemmapes, 75015