Cahors (a French appellation for a wine made from predominantly Malbec grapes) or its more affordable cousin, Malbec from the Mendoza region of Argentina. An aged cheddar has a very strong taste and a lesser wine than Cahors/Malbec is in danger of being overwhelmed; Cahors does not tiptoe meekly into the pairing.

The nice thing about aged cheddar, depending on the sharpness, is that you can pair almost any wine with it. In most cases, you can treat it like you would a Parmesan. I think most people might lean towards a red like a Cabernet or a Merlot. Almost any red will work. But I'm going suggest something different and go white instead. Try a Viognier. I once went "out of the box" and served this white with a course ground mustard crusted beef tenderloin and it was a hit. It's a little spicy yet fruity so it can stand up against the cheddar without being too heavy. It's similar to a Gewurztraminer, which is more commonly available and also something you can try. HTH

I'm planning a wine and cheese family (my kids are over 21) cocktail party for Christmas, looking for some good wine and cheese pairings. Does anyone know of a good book or website? I know my kids love cheddar, and they like rose wine. I'll also be buying a Merlot and probably a fizzy Prossecco.

jscout: "But I'm going suggest something different and go white instead."

The first duty of any wine is to be red. [ducking and running] I say it facetiously, and there are those who disagree with me -- but (wait for it) they're wrong. [grin]