Holiday Wine and Cheese Party
Holiday Wine and Cheese Party
Looking for something different to do this holiday season? Why not host a Wine and Cheese Party! Wine and Cheese Parties are fun, relatively easy and a great way to enjoy the Holidays plus there isn’t any cooking involved! Enjoy the holidays with family and friends while you sample different wines, try a variety of Cheeses, enjoy fresh fruits, crusty breads while Christmas carols are playing softly in the back-round.
Host a Wine and Cheese Party
If you like to have people over during the holidays to show off your beautifully decorated Christmas Tree, hosting a Holiday Wine and Cheese Party is a great way to do just that. You can send your guests home with a small bottle of wine and/or cheese that you had at the party as a sample of. Wine and Cheese Parties are fun to host any time of the year, for an open house party, happy retirement party and/or to celebrate that milestone “year” or “anniversary” in your life.
Plan Ahead
Plan ahead so you can take advantage of Wine Sales. Purchase non-alcoholic Sparkling Wine and/or Cider for your non-drinking friends and designated drivers. Don’t forget to have small pieces of paper available, just in case your guests want to write down any selections that they might want to pick up later on.
Here are a few guidelines to follow.
What to Serve:
Wine, Cheese, Fruit, Bread, Nuts, Dried Fruit, Chocolate
Cheese:
Serve 3-5 different cheeses..depending on the number of guests. Serve cheese with a variety of tastes, textures and strengths. Buy the best cheese you can afford. No processed cheese. No cheese off the “rack”. Purchase cheese no more than a day or two before party. 2 oz of each cheese per guest.
Choose a wine to compliment each cheese selection.
Wine:
1 bottle of wine per cheese. 1 bottle per person, total. Always serve water, as well.
Fruit:
Fresh fruit is easy and you can serve whatever fruit is in season. Plums, Apples, Grapes, Pears, Melons. Dried Fruit is also a delicious and great option.
Apricots, Raisins, Prunes, Figs, Dates. 3 oz prepared per person.
Bread and Crackers:
Bread serves as a palate cleanser and a base for spreadable cheese. Good quality crackers and baguette slices are great choices. One pound per 12 people.
Nuts and Seeds:
Salted, candied or spiced nuts can be served.
Chocolate:
Make sure the wine is essentially as sweet as the chocolate. Purchase quality chocolate. Pair chocolate and wine according to the darkness of the chocolate; the darker the chocolate the darker the wine. Wines should have a smooth, pleasant taste. Select wines according to flavors of the chocolate; Example: full-bodied wines to match strong, intense chocolates.
Light to Dark
When tasting chocolate and wines together obey the wine rule of tasting, from light to dark. Start with light milk chocolate and white chocolates and
move to the medium chocolate then ending with the very dark, and bitter chocolate.
How to Serve:
Arrange the cheese on large cheese boards, platters or plates from mildest to strongest. Group them with their complimentary wines, fruit, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate and breads. Identify each type of cheese and its wine on a place card in front of each grouping. Cheese should be served at room temperature. Each cheese must have its own knife and/or spreader.
Wine, Cheese and Fruit Pairings
Soft, Fresh Cheeses
Uncooked, unripened cheeses, mild and
creamy with a slight tang; spreadable.
Cheese: Cream Cheese, Mascarpone, Neufchatel
Wine: Champagne
Fruit: Apples, Grapes, Pears, Mango, Melons
Soft Ripened Cheese:
Mild with smooth and creamy-to-oozy textures with thin skins.
Cheese: Brie, Camembert
Wines: Beaujolais, Cabernet Sauvignon, Champagne, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Port, Sherry
Fruits: Plums, Berries, Apples
Semi-Soft Cheeses:
Mild, buttery taste and smooth texture; easily sliced
Cheese: Fontina
Wines: Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio
Fruit: Apples, Pears
Cheese: Havarti
Wines: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Rose’
Fruits: Grapes, Pears, Raisins
Cheese: Monterey Jack, Muenster
Wines: Beaujolais, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
Fruits: Plums, Strawberries, Peaches
Cheese: Mozzarella (fresh)
Wines: Beaujolais, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir
Fruits: Berries, Melons, Peaches, Pineapple
Semi-Hard Cheeses:
Some of the most recognizable cheeses.
Cheeses: Cheddar, Edam, Gouda
Wines: Burgundy, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling
Fruits: Apples, Grapes, Peaches, Pears
Cheese: Emmentaler, Swiss
Wines: Champagne, Gewürtzraminer, Riesling
Fruit: Apples, Grapes, Peaches, Pears
Cheese: Gruyère, Provolone
Wines: Amarone, Beaujolais, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Sauternes, Sauvignon Blanc, Port
Fruits: Grapes, Melons, Peaches, Pineapple
Hard Cheeses:
Aged cheese with intense, sharp flavors.
Cheese: Aged Asiago
Wines: Bardolino, Cabernet, Chardonnay, Rioja, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
Fruits: Apples, Pears
Cheese: Parmesan
Wines: Burgundy, Chianti, Merlot, Riesling
Fruits: Apples, Figs, Grapes
Cheese: Romano
Wines: Amarone, Barbesco, Barolo, Chianti, Zinfandel
Fruit: Melon, Mangos
Blue-Veined Cheese
Intensely sharp, pungent, aromatic with earthly flavors
Cheeses: Blue, Gorgonzola, Roquefort
Wines: Amarone, Moscato, Port, Sauternes
Fruit: Apples, Grapes, Pears
Cheese: Stilton
Wine: Port
Fruit: Pears
Goat Cheese:
Sharp and tangy flavors
Cheese: Chèvre, Feta
Wines: Champagne, Chenin Blanc, Pouilly Fumè, Sancerre
Fruits: Apples, Pears, Peaches
Chocolates:
Champagne and Sparkling Wines go with all chocolate types.
All fruit can be pared with chocolates.
White Chocolate
Wines: Sherry, Muscat, Fruity Chardonnay, Moscato d’ Asti
Milk Chocolate
Wines: Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Muscat, Champagne
Dark Chocolate
Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Pino Noir, Port, Chianti
Bittersweet Chocolate
Wines: Bordeaux. Beaujolais, Shiraz, Orange Muscat, Port.
Guidelines are lightly adapted from: Great Party Recipes
For a fun new twist make these tasty Drunken Gummi Bears