STEP 1: Choose Your Wines Thoughtfully

You don’t need a dozen bottles — just a curated few that show personality and contrast.

Here’s a classic SubRosa trio to anchor your evening:

– Viognier: A complex, textural white with stone fruit and spice. Serve it lightly chilled — not too cold — and pair with soft cheeses and creamy textures (we love goat’s cheese or Brie).

– Nebbiolo: Elegant and structured with rose petal and earth. A fascinating conversation starter. Perfect with aged cheese or a hard, nutty wedge (we prefer Gruyère or Comté).

– Shiraz: Bold yet refined, our cool-climate Shiraz brings spice, red fruit and structure. The perfect finish to the night alongside a mature cheddar or blue (we love aged cheddar).

Tip: One bottle serves 6–8 tastes. Don’t be afraid to open early to let the wines breathe — especially the reds.

STEP 2: Let Cheese Take Centre Stage

Keep it simple — three to five cheeses are plenty.
Include contrast in:

– Texture (soft, hard, bloomy, crumbly)

– Milk type (cow, goat, sheep)

– Strength (mild to bold)

Tried and true pairings for SubRosa wines:

– Viognier: Brie, triple-cream or a light goat’s cheese

– Nebbiolo: Parmigiano-Reggiano, Comté, Gruyère or Havarti

– Shiraz: Aged cheddar, Manchego or Havarti

Add crackers, quince paste, fresh pears, honeycomb and roasted nuts for texture and sweetness.

If you’re looking for an artisan cheese from regional Victoria, we love the Long Paddock, in Castlemaine – about 1 hr 45 mins east of us. They do subscription boxes but also available at plenty of Farmers’ Markets, Deli’s and Restaurants. Check out their cheese selection and stockists.

STEP 3: Set the Tone, Not the Rules

This isn’t about “correct pairings.” It’s about pleasure, discovery and shared appreciation.
Encourage your guests to:

– Taste the wine first, then with cheese

– Notice how flavours shift and unfold

– Share what they enjoy — there are no wrong answers!

You can print out our wine tasting cards or simply jot down your wines and cheeses on butcher’s paper.
A few candles, good music, and stories around the table — that’s the SubRosa way.