A shared wine-and-cheese pairing guide from The Age, Brisbane Times and the Sydney Morning Herald reports that wine can sometimes seem muted when paired with cheese. The articles say that, after a few mouthfuls of cheese, even “vibrant” wines may lose flavour impact. The pieces attribute the advice to wine writer Mike Bennie, who proposes alternatives to traditional cheese-and-wine matches. While the outlets differ in wording, they all present the central idea: cheese pairing does not always have to rely on wine, and other drinks can better complement cheese characteristics. The guide highlights three suggested alternative beverages, presented as options that aim to keep drink and food flavours distinct rather than blunted. The articles position the recommendations as a practical way for readers to refresh cheese pairings and experiment beyond conventional wine pairings, rather than as a critique of wine in general.