One of the great benefits of working at the best wine shop in the city is pairing gorgeous wines with their perfect partner! I want to thank our SF sales team for using their taste buds extraordinaire in creating an impressive and delectable lineup of holiday cheese and wine pairings for our 2nd Annual Big Cheese competition. Our team made their selections based on a process that considered each cheese's unique flavors and textures and how they complemented our wines.

We tasted through seven pairings, and, while each pairing was delicious and enjoyable, we had to choose a winner! Here are the results of our tasting. You can easily recreate these pairings on your holiday table, as all the wines are under $30, making them very accessible. We procured the cheese from our neighbors at Rainbow Grocery, who have a phenomenal selection.

The Winner: John Majeski

I am thrilled and proud to announce our inimitable John Majeski as our Big Cheese for the year 🧀 with his presentation of the Portuguese Serra Da Estrela - A raw sheep's milk cheese paired with 2021 Planet Mouraz "Nina" Palhete Portugal $27.99.

Second prize goes to newbie staffer Josh Pierce with his sumptuous pairing of Mimolette - A hard cow's milk cheese produced in France with 2023 Domaine Diochon Moulin-á-Vent Vieilles Vignes $24.99.

Third prize goes to last year's Big Cheese Michael Pires with Crottin Andante - A semi-soft goat cheese paired with Maison Laudacius "Laudacius" Brut Nature Montlouis Methode Traditionnnelle $17.99.

Honorable and tasty runner-ups: