Wine and Cheese Party

What Kind of Cheese to Buy and Which Wines to Serve With Them

Wine and Cheese Tasting Party

A Wine and Cheese party can be entertaining and informative. It’s a great way to introduce friends to your knowledge of cheese. You can provide a plate of your favorites along with other finger foods or you can base the theme of your party on just wine and cheese tasting.
Five or six different cheeses are enough to give a good enough variety without being confusing. Plan on putting plain crackers and fresh bread along with some cut apples, grapes or other fruit to complement the different cheeses your offering. The contrast between the sweet juiciness of the fruit and the dry saltiness of the cheese is wonderful.

Wine and Cheese Pairing

One misconception about wine and cheese pairing is that only red wines go with cheese. This isn’t true. White wines such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Gewurztraminer offer a sweet taste that offsets the saltiness of most cheeses.
In the red wine category,  Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and a sweet wine like Port go well with just about any selection. Another nice touch for your wine and cheeese party would be to put out your favorite Champagne.
You can also add your favorite Micro-brewed beer and some Apple Cider. Coffee goes well with cheese but tea does not. Avoid citrus juices, the acid tends to interfere with the flavors of the cheese. Providing a pitcher of ice cold water is also a good idea for those who just want to taste the cheese without the flavors of a beverage.

How To Set Up Your Wine and Cheese Party

Start with the mildest cheese and progress to the strongest. Have a starting point for your guests and it’s a good idea to put a label in front with some of the characteristics mentioned. Below are some recommendations. It is, of course, up to you which ones you serve. The best advice when buying cheese for your party is to find a store that will let you sample before you buy. Being familiar with the kind you are serving will help you be more relaxed about your party and you will enjoy it more.

Try This Selection of Cheeses at Your Next Wine and Cheese Tasting

1. Soft Ripened – Brie, Camembert

2. Semisoft – Gouda, Drunken Goat, Cheddar, Edam, Port Salut

4. Semihard – Cheddar, Emmentaler

5. Hard – Aged Gouda, Dry Jack, Gruyere

6. Blue – Gorgonzola, Roquefort, Stilton

7. Washed Rind – Epoisses, Munster

Arranging The Cheese

Please don’t cut the cheese into little cubes for your guests. The cheese will dry out quickly when exposed to air. Let your guests cut the cheese (no pun intended). Avoid using sharp knives for the hard cheeses, they are difficult to slice. You don't need any trips to the hospital. Let your guests use a rounded knife to gouge out chunks instead of trying to slice it. If you are serving a small wheel of cheese like Brie, then go ahead and cut out the first small piece. Sometimes, when people see a wheel of cheese, they don’t know if it’s alright to cut into it.

One important guide when serving cheese at your wine and cheese party is to have the cheese at room temperature so pull it out of the fridge a few hours before serving. When cheese is cold it won’t be at its peak flavor. Place the selections on separate plates or cutting boards and have a separate knife for each cheese. The majority of cheeses can be eaten in chunks but most people like theirs on bread or crackers. Serve unflavored crackers and bread so that it won’t interfere with the taste of the cheeses.

If you are serving the cheese as an appetizer before a meal then plan on one to two ounces per person. If it will be the main course then plan on serving more.

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