If you’re trying to understand the main types of cheeses, Arrowine & Cheese offers a curated selection of cheese in Arlington, VA, just minutes from Washington, DC. From bloomy-rind and washed-rind to blue cheese, Gouda, cheddar, Alpine-style cheeses, and regional European cheeses, Arrowine helps customers choose cheeses for wine pairings, cheese boards, entertaining, and gifts.
Located at 4508 Cherry Hill Rd, Arlington, VA 22207, Arrowine serves customers from Arlington, Washington, DC, Falls Church, Alexandria, McLean, and nearby Northern Virginia communities.
Explore dozens of artisan cheese styles at Arrowine & Cheese, from bloomy rind and washed rind cheeses to aged and Alpine-style selections.
A Simple Guide to Different Types of Cheese
Cheese can be grouped by texture, rind, milk type, aging, region, and flavor intensity. Some cheeses are soft and creamy, some are firm and nutty, some are bold and salty, and others are fresh, mild, or spreadable. Understanding these categories makes it easier to build a balanced cheese pairing, choose cheese for wine, or create a cheese board with charcuterie, crackers, olives, fruits and nuts, and honey, jams, and sweet spreads.
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Bloomy Rind Cheeses
Bloomy rind cheeses are soft-ripened cheeses with a white, edible rind and a creamy center. This style includes cheeses similar to Brie and Camembert. Bloomy rind cheeses often pair well with Champagne, Chardonnay, sparkling wine, and lighter red wine.
Good examples include Brie- and Camembert-style cheeses, double- and triple-cream cheeses, and other soft-ripened cheeses.
Washed Rind Cheeses
Washed rind cheeses are known for fuller aromas, savory flavors, and rich textures. The rind is washed during aging, which can create bold, earthy, meaty, or funky notes. Washed-rind cheeses can pair beautifully with aromatic white wines, sparkling wines, rustic reds, and beer.
This category can include cheeses like Taleggio-style, Epoisses-style, and other washed-rind selections with bold character.
Washed-rind cheeses are known for rich textures, savory flavors, and bold character that pair beautifully with aromatic whites and sparkling wines.
Blue Cheese
Blue cheese is known for blue veining, salty flavor, and bold character. Some blue cheeses are creamy and mild, while others are sharp, intense, and powerful. They often pair well with dessert wine, sweet wine, bold red wine, and honey, jams, and sweet spreads.
Blue cheese can be a strong choice for cheese boards, wine tastings, steak pairings, and dessert-style pairings.
Gouda and Cheddar
Gouda and cheddar are popular styles because they are familiar, versatile, and easy to enjoy.
Gouda and cheddar pair well with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, full-bodied red wines, rich white wines, apples, nuts, crackers, and charcuterie.
Alpine-Style, Comté, and Gruyère
Alpine-style cheeses are often firm, nutty, smooth, and excellent for melting or snacking. This family can include styles such as Comté, Gruyère, and other mountain cheeses.
Comté and Gruyère pair well with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, sparkling wine, and fresh, clean, crisp white wines.
Alpine-style cheeses such as Comté and Gruyère are firm, nutty, and excellent for wine pairings, entertaining, and cheese boards.
Fresh Cheese and Soft-Ripened Cheese
Fresh cheeses are usually young, clean, bright, and mild. Fresh goat cheese, ricotta-style cheeses, and other young cheeses often work well with Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, rosé, and crisp whites.
Soft-ripened cheeses, including bloomy rind cheeses and double or triple cream cheeses, are richer and creamier. They can work well with Champagne, sparkling wine, Chardonnay, and lighter reds.
Goat Cheese, Sheep Milk Cheese, and Mixed Milk Cheese
Goat cheese can be fresh, tangy, creamy, aged, or firm depending on the style. It often pairs well with Sauvignon Blanc, Loire whites, rosé, fresh herbs, salads, and light appetizers.
Sheep milk cheeses are often rich, savory, and full of character. They can pair well with rustic reds, Spanish wines, fuller white wines, olives, almonds, and cured meats.
Mixed milk cheeses combine milk from more than one animal, creating layered flavor and texture.
Italian, Spanish, Basque, and Pyrenees Cheeses
Italian cheeses can include Pecorino-style, truffle, semi-firm, hard, and regional artisanal selections.
Spanish cheeses often include sheep milk cheeses, firm cheeses, and Manchego-style selections.
Basque and Pyrenees-style cheeses are often firm or semi-firm, with savory, nutty, and mountain-style character.
Firm and Semi-Firm Cheeses
Firm and semi-firm cheeses are useful for cheese boards because they slice cleanly, retain their texture, and often pair well with many wines.
Firm cheeses often work with fuller reds, rich whites, and charcuterie, while semi-firm cheeses can work with lighter reds, crisp whites, rosé, fruit, nuts, and crackers.
Firm and semi-firm cheeses offer versatile flavors and textures, making them ideal for wine pairings, charcuterie boards, and everyday enjoyment.
Truffle Cheese and Vegetarian Rennet Cheese
Truffle cheeses add an earthy, aromatic flavor to a cheese board.
Vegetarian rennet cheeses are made without traditional animal rennet.
How to Choose the Right Cheese Type
For a simple cheese board, choose a mix of textures and flavors: one soft cheese, one firm or semi-firm cheese, one bold cheese, and one familiar crowd-pleaser.
Then add crackers, bread, fruits and nuts, olives, honey, jams, and sweet spreads, and charcuterie.
Types of Cheese Serving Arlington, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia
Arrowine is located in Arlington, VA, making it a convenient destination for customers from Washington, DC and nearby Northern Virginia looking for artisan cheese, wine pairings, cheese boards, charcuterie, and specialty food selections.
Visit Arrowine for Types of Cheeses Explained
If you’re looking for help understanding the types of cheese, Arrowine & Cheese offers curated selections, wine-pairing advice, and a welcoming local shopping experience.
Browse cheese, explore our wine collection, or contact us for cheese recommendations and availability.
Visit or contact Arrowine & Cheese for expert cheese recommendations, wine pairings, and artisan cheese selections.