Wine, Cheese & JOALI:

A Match Made in Heaven

Great wine and cheese are counted amongst “the finer things of life” — and with good reason. Both are achieved through a rigorous behind-the-scenes journey, involving generations-old traditions and intricate artistry. With a nose for extraordinary nuances, our expert Sommelier sources superb wines and cheeses from legendary regions as well as the New World.

There is a special magic to savouring the pleasure of these delectable creations in our spectacular corner of the world. Every sip and every bite hold greater joy when framed by unending views of blue and turquoise waters, kissed by pearly white sands and breezy palm trees.

Are you ready to discover a few of our all-time favourite wine and cheese pairings?

Gorgonzola Cheese & Clarendelle Blanc, Bordeaux (2020)
Hailing from the northern Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy, Gorgonzola is often referred to as a blue cheese due to its distinctive blue-green marbling. It is typically soft and crumbly and has a wide-ranging taste profile depending on its age, varying from buttery and creamy when young, to sharp and salty when aged.

The Gorgonzola pairs beautifully with the bright acidity and savoury taste of the Clarendelle Blanc 2020 from Bordeaux. This white wine is a fine blend of two traditional grape varieties, Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as a touch of Muscadelle. The nose features attractive floral aromas such as rose petal, as well as fruity nuances ranging from tropical fruit like pineapple to white peach. This refined wine starts out round and rich, with wonderful minerality and a long aftertaste that illustrates its complexity.

Brie Cheese & Attems Chardonnay, Friuli-Italy (2019)
Brie is a soft-ripened cheese named after the French region from which it originated. Typically made with cow’s milk, it has a pale creamy interior with a bloomy rind of edible white mould which is usually eaten with great delight by cheese connoisseurs. Rich and buttery, this farmhouse cheese becomes increasingly earthy with age.

The creaminess of the Brie is harmoniously balanced with the crisp, refreshing acidity of the Attems Chardonnay 2021. Coming from the Italian region of Friuli-Italy, this lightly oaked wine has a lovely straw yellow colour, with rich aromas of ripe apple. Full and well-structured on the palate, it shows appreciable weight and a crisp mineral edge. The 2021 vintage boasts a complex bouquet: fresh scents of daisy and white musk mingled with spicy notes of grilled bread and caramelised almonds.

Manchego Cheese & Bin 28 Shiraz, Barossa Valley (2019)
Manchego is a cheese made in the La Mancha region of Spain from the milk of sheep of the Manchego breed. Aged between two months and two years, it has a firm and compact consistency and a buttery texture.

Offering a bold pairing with the Manchego is the Penfolds Bin 28, a ripe, robust, and generously flavoured shiraz that showcases the warm wine-growing climate of Australia. First made in 1959, it was originally named after the famous Kalima vineyard in Barossa Valley, acquired by Penfolds in 1945 and from which the wine was originally sourced. Today, Bin 28 is a multi-region, multi-vineyard blend, with the Barossa Valley always well represented. This is a fabulously full-bodied wine: expect a rich, warm, and intense bouquet of fruit flavours, oak notes and spices.