Taking Pairing to the Next Level

Ah, Cheetos. Is there anything better than that odd shaped chip covered in that oh so delicious powdery cheese flavoring that just begs to be licked off the fingers? Now, imagine finding the perfect wine to pair with this most beloved snack. Heaven, right?

               Not much of a snacker, I do love partaking in the occasional Cheetos bag. A few years ago, at a Christmas decorating party at the winery I worked for at the time, I found myself eating Cheetos while enjoying a glass of the winery’s zinfandel. Weirdly tasty, I often wondered what would be the perfect wine to pair with this cheesy delight. With these ponderings in my mind, I once again found myself pleased with the book Big Macs and Burgundy: Wine Pairings for the Real World by Vanessa Price and Adam Laukhuf, as it gave me a new and intriguing Cheetos and wine pairing recommendation.

               In the east of France’s Loire Valley lies the wine appellation, Sancerre, famously known for their Sancerre Blancs. Made from the sauvignon blanc grape, these wines are high in acidity, have a textured body, and commonly have smoky/flinty, citrus, and herbaceous notes. In the book, Price states that the acidity in the wine holds up to the saltiness of the Cheetos, while the texture helps to clear your mouth of the powdery cheese residue, all while the notes mentioned above make for the perfect taste sidekick. This was something I had to try.

               Having secured a bottle of Sancerre Blanc, Domaine Sautereau Sancerre Blanc 2022, it was time for some Cheetos and wine. Planning to enjoy our cheesy treat while watching football, my husband and I decided to not only set out the classic Cheetos, but also the White Cheddar Cheetos Bones and the Cinnamon Sugar Bones we had in our pantry. We then got into the discussion of if we were already going to have three types of Cheetos, why not more? My husband hastened to the grocery store, and a Cheetos spread that included the previously mentioned, along with Cheetos Puffs and Cheetos Cheddar Popcorn was created. Now it was time to pour the wine.

               A pale straw color, the wine had an aroma of lemon grass with a light, tropical citrus fruit note. Light-bodied with high acidity, it had tasting notes of lemon grass, grapefruit, flint, and various herbs. I was very curious to see what this wine would be like with all of the snacks laid out in front of me.

               I started with the original Cheetos, as that was the pairing listed in the book that started this whole smorgasbord.  These two together were interesting, as it gave the wine a caramel taste, while really teasing out its herb flavors. The White Cheddar Cheetos Bones pairing was very similar to the original Cheetos with that strong caramel note, though the herb flavor was replaced with fruit making the wine extra smooth, and in my opinion, a better combo. When enjoyed with the Cheetos Puffs, the flavors in both the wine and puffs were smoothed out, and the Cheetos cheese flavor became the focal point. This was a perfect pairing for anyone who just can’t get enough of that powdery cheese flavor. My least favorite of the pairings was with the Cheetos Popcorn, as this match-up brought out a taste of plain popcorn with no seasoning. It was very bland and no fun. Now for my favorite pairing… Sancerre Blanc with Cinnam Sugar Cheetos Bones! Yes, I know this is a bit of a cheat, as this snack replaces the traditional cheese flavoring with cinnamon-sugar spice, but, oh my, the taste sensations. A sip of this wine, followed by the dessert Cheetos, gave an amazing flavoring of a buttery, cinnamon cake. It was simply intoxicating, and I couldn’t get enough.

               Though I may have suffered from a slight stomachache, and was seriously concerned I might just turn into Chester Cheetah from the amount of Cheetos I consumed, this wine pairing experience was one of my favorites. Beginning with a recommended pairing and experimenting and expanding from that starting point gave me a great education in how the slightest flavor alteration can completely and totally change the taste. Though most of these snacks contained that powdery cheese nuance, how that interacted with its crunchy base changed how it interacted with the wine. It was the perfectly flavorful way to continue my wine and food pairing education; cheese fingerprints on the stem of the wine glass and all.