Premium cheese brand Cracker Barrel Cheese has teamed up with Hampton Water Wine, Joel Gott Wines and renowned sommelier André Hueston Mack to celebrate the start of summer with the brand’s award-winning cheeses expertly paired with equally exceptional wine. 

The simple, yet impactful food and beverage combinations serve to elevate dining, snacking and summer entertaining occasions, whether for a large summer holiday event or for an impromptu, intimate gathering, the Chicago-based company says.

 “A great wine and cheese have the power to elevate any experience without compromising on time, money or effort,” said Amanda Vaal, brand director at Cracker Barrel Cheese. “We are thrilled to team up with André Hueston Mack, Hampton Water Wine and Joel Gott Wines to offer consumers these summer wine and cheese offerings that are dynamic, approachable and impressive every time.”   

Cracker Barrel Cheese’s wide variety of cheese formats and flavors, including Extra Sharp Yellow Cheddar Blocks, Sharp White Cheddar Cracker Cuts and Vermont Sharp White Cheddar & Gouda Cubes, nicely complement the soft notes of strawberry and citrus found in Hampton Water Wine’s Rosé, as well as the red fruit flavors of Joel Gott Wine’s 815 Cabernet Sauvignon.

“I was introduced to Cracker Barrel Cheese long before I was able to have a glass of wine. Now as a sommelier, it’s a delight to see how much versatility these cheese pairings provide across many different settings and occasions,” said sommelier André Hueston Mack. “Cracker Barrel Cheese was a natural choice to create these summer pairings with their depth of rich and bold flavors, while also providing a lot of personal nostalgia.”

Mack’s tasting notes include:

•    Known as a food-friendly wine, Joel Gott Wines’ 815 Cabernet Sauvignon goes well with Cracker Barrel Cheese’s Extra Sharp Yellow Cheddar or Vermont Sharp White Cheddar & Gouda Cubes.

•    Hampton Water Wine’s fresh and lively Rosé is an excellent choice to accompany Cracker Barrel Cheese’s Sharp White Cheddar Cracker Cuts. 

To create a crowd-pleasing cheese board, accompany your summer wine and Cracker Barrel Cheese with sweet flavor profiles like hot honey, tart cherry preserves, and dark chocolate. For savory options, turn to food with a bit of acidity and umami like cured meats, mixed nuts, pickled vegetables and lightly salted crackers.     

 Cracker Barrel Cheese’s “Impressive Every Time” summer campaign comes on the heels of the brand’s Artisan Flavors launch, featuring Truffle Cheddar and Dill Havarti. The new Artisan Flavors round out an extensive collection of cheese varieties including Sharp Yellow, Extra Sharp White Cheddar, Asiago, Gouda, Mixed Reserve and more.