Cheddar Cheese Soup

Red · Full · Dry

The benchmark for full-bodied red — structured, age-worthy, unapologetic. Black currant, graphite, and tobacco lead into firm tannins that demand protein on the plate. Decant young bottles; cellar the serious ones.

Works with Cheddar Cheese Soup · Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup · Cheddar Cheese And Soup Fondue

White · Medium · Dry

The most-planted white grape and the most chameleon-like. Crisp and steely from Chablis; rich, oaky, and tropical from California. Read the label, then match the style to the dish.

Works with Cheddar Cheese Soup · Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup · Cheddar Cheese And Soup Fondue

Red · Light · Dry

Burgundy's most temperamental grape, but the rewards are real — translucent ruby with a perfumed lift of red cherry, forest floor, and clove. Silken tannins and bright acid make it the most versatile red on the table; serve cool, around 58°F.

Works with Cheddar Cheese Soup · Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup · Cheddar Cheese And Soup Fondue

Fortified · Full · Sweet

Fortified red from Portugal's Douro Valley — sweet, warming, and surprisingly versatile. Ruby and LBV are for everyday; Vintage and Tawny are for serious occasions. Pair with blue cheese, walnuts, or just a fire.

Works with Cheddar Cheese Soup · Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup · Cheddar Cheese And Soup Fondue

Fortified · Medium · Dry

Andalusia's fortified white — runs from bone-dry Fino through nutty Amontillado to syrupy PX. The dry styles pair brilliantly with tapas; the sweet ones replace dessert entirely.

Works with Cheddar Cheese Soup · Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup · Cheddar Cheese And Soup Fondue

White · Full · Dry

California's flagship white — rounder, riper, and oakier than the Old World original, with tropical fruit, butter, and vanilla. Sonoma Coast and Sta. Rita Hills bottlings are leaner; Napa stays plush.

Red · Medium · Dry

California and Oregon's answer to Burgundy — riper, more upfront fruit than the French original, with cherry, raspberry, and gentle oak. Sonoma and Willamette set the standard.

Fortified · Full · Sweet

Spanish table wine, broadly — Tempranillo, Garnacha, or a regional blend. Sun-soaked, food-friendly, increasingly remarkable for the price.