Remember, big reds need strong flavored cheeses to stand up to its strong flavor characteristics. Mellow reds like Pinot Noir and Merlot pair well with medium flavored cheeses but can also go with a few stronger cheeses as well.

Some cheese and wine matching traditions state that reds are best with cheese because they can stand up to its strong flavors. Other experts say this isn't so because the strong flavors in red wine and good cheese clash, so whites are better due to their higher acid content. The only thing that everyone (almost) universally agrees upon is that a strong Stilton cheese is best with Champagne or a nice port wine.

More and more high-end restaurants now have Sommeliers and Fromageries (think the expertise of a Sommelier, but with cheese instead of wine) and even they can't agree on the perfect cheese and wine marriages. More importantly, most people don't possess the highly developed palate for wine like a Sommelier nor can they taste all the nuanced flavors of cheese like a Fromagerie. Therefore, the only thing people can do is experiment with wine and cheese pairings on their own.

Go ahead and try nutty Asiago with an oaky California chard. No one's going to be mad at you. The above lists are merely suggestions of a few good wine and cheese matches. Cheese, like wine, is completely subjective and a matter of personal tastes.