Now to know which goes with which. The best way to determine that is by your own tastings. Really. Set up a time for yourself or have a wine and cheese tasting party. Try them out. Every single person has a slightly different palate. So different wines and different cheeses taste slightly different. You need to know for yourself what works best.
Having said all that, there are some great places to start. Getting to know the wine varieties is the best place to start. But there are also some basic guidelines for what most people like to put together.
Traditionally, heavier cheeses go better with darker wines. Soft cheeses go best with white wines. The rule of thumb is to match the darkness of the cheese with the darkness of the wine.
But, every rule of thumb was meant to be broken. I personally enjoy a good cheddar (dark cheese) with a good Chardonnay (the driest white wine.) I also love a good Merlot (medium dry red wine) with Brie cheese (soft cheese). You can see that your own taste buds will be the best deciding factor.
Of course, that's what makes it so much fun to have a wine and cheese party. You can have plenty of different choices. And then you and your guests can determine for themselves what wines and cheeses pairs best.
