WINE and cheese is widely considered to be the one of the classic matches. Think of a classic claret with aged cheddar or, of course, port and stilton.

However, believe it or not, white wines can often be the better matches for cheese than their red counterparts. Many say you cannot go too astray by adopting the “if it grows together it goes together” saying but rules are made to be broken, right? Here are a few of our rather unusual matches.

Colomé ‘Colomin’ Tannat 2008 £10.49 M&S

A real full-bodied, no holds barred, voluptuous red hailing from the gaucho-trodden Argentina. It’s rich and deep and full of ripe blueberry flavours and supple but structured tannins with a dusting of cocoa on the finish. The melt-in-your-mouth aspect of this wine makes it an ideal match for an aged mimolette cheese.

Assyrtiko Hatzidakis 2009 down to £10.44 at Waitrose

Assyrtiko from the volcanic slopes of Santorini has often been referred to as the ‘Chablis of Greece’ with its zesty flavours and bolt of minerality, and this offering is no exception. It is fleshy and textured, yet maintaining an elegance that is so often associated with its Burgundian opposite number. For something really different, pair this full-flavoured wine with something equally full-flavoured in the cheese department – époisses de Bourgogne.

Grüner Veltliner Weingut Pfarre Weissenkirchen 2009/10 £9.99 Majestic

Grüner Veltliner, or Grüner for short, is a delightful white grape variety originally grown around the Wachau region of Austria, which has now gone onto more international success, notably in New Zealand. This benchmark example of the variety shows all the qualities that have contributed to its success – ripe citrus fruits, an alluring burst of acidity and lick of white pepper on the finish. Perfect with a slice of freshly cut Comté.

The Ned Noble Sauvignon Blanc 2010 £12.99

The Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown to produce this wine have been literally left to rot on the vine in a process called “noble rot” which results in a wine that is richly concentrated and naturally sweet. Think of the Sauternes and Roquefort matching and pair this honeycomb and apricot jam-flavoured treat with a crumbly and salty Gorgonzola to make the ideal contrasting match.