Bushra Griffith
Hosting a wine and cheese party is a fun and easy way to entertain guests. It's a good idea to provide a variety of wines and cheeses to suit different tastes, including reds, whites, rosés, sparkling wines, soft cheeses, and hard cheeses. You can also get creative with accompaniments, such as crackers, nuts, fruits, meats, and sweets. To make your party unique, you could try different combinations of wine and cheese, explore new regions, or ask guests to bring their favourites.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of wines | 2-4 |
| Type of wines | Red, White, Sparkling, Rosé, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Prosecco |
| Number of cheeses | 3-5 |
| Type of cheeses | Hard, Medium, Soft, Cow, Goat, Sheep, Vegan, Blue, Alpine, Cheddar, Manchego, Humboldt Fog, Parmesan, Gouda, Brie |
| Pairings | Salty meats (prosciutto, salami), sweet honey, crackers, nuts, olives, fruits (grapes, figs, dried apricots, dates), veggies (celery, carrots, cucumber), jams, cured ham, sliced baguette, mustard, pickles |
| Time | 4-5 pm or 7-9 pm |
| Other | Charcuterie board, wine glasses, small plates, cutting boards, serving platters, brown parchment paper, cheese knives/slicers, wine openers |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a variety of wines and cheeses
When it comes to choosing wines and cheeses for your party, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, you'll want to select a variety of both wines and cheeses to cater to different tastes and preferences. Aim for 3-4 different types of cheese, including a mix of soft, medium, and hard cheeses. You can also offer cheeses made from different sources, such as cow, goat, or sheep milk, or vegan alternatives. For the wines, it's a good idea to provide at least one red and one white option, as well as a sparkling wine to add a celebratory touch.
To make your selection a bit easier, you can choose wines and cheeses from the same region, as these often pair well together. For example, Rioja and Manchego from Spain are a classic combination. If you're feeling adventurous, you can explore new wine and cheese regions or try something unique, like a flavoured cheddar or a cheese with truffle or chives.
When it comes to specific wine and cheese pairings, here are some suggestions:
- Salty, hard cheeses generally pair well with wine. Manchego, a sheep milk-based cheese, goes perfectly with a sparkling red Rioja.
- Blue cheeses, such as gorgonzola, can be served with honey or ground coffee for dipping.
- Alpine cheeses pair well with pickled items and pears.
- Humboldt Fog cheese, known for its signature ash line, can be a unique addition to your cheese board.
- Brie, a soft cheese, can be paired with crackers, almonds, or walnuts, and enjoyed with a glass of Riesling or Pinot Noir.
- If you want to offer a rosé, light and sparkling options are generally a good choice and are considered a must by some.
Remember, the most important thing is to choose wines and cheeses that you and your guests will enjoy. You can also ask your guests to bring their favourite wine or cheese to contribute to the spread, adding a unique and fun element to your party.
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Prepare a cheese board
A good cheese board should include 3-4 different types of cheese, with a variety of textures and sources. Include hard, medium, and soft cheeses, with options made from cow, goat, or sheep milk, or vegan alternatives. You can also add cheese coated in herbs, drizzled with truffle oil, or smoked for extra flavour. Cut the cheese into different sizes and shapes, such as circles, cubes, wedges, and slices.
Some specific cheese recommendations include:
- Humboldt Fog cheese, which has a signature ash line along the centre
- Manchego, a sheep milk-based cheese that pairs well with sparkling wines such as red Rioja
- Brie, which goes well with cranberry-almond thin crisps or crackers
- Blue cheese with honey or ground coffee for dipping
- Cheddar, which can be flavoured or aged
- Alpine cheese, which pairs well with pickled things and pears
In addition to cheese, a cheese board can include:
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Fruits such as grapes, figs, dried apricots, or dates
- Meats such as prosciutto or salami
- Condiments such as honey, jam, or mustard
- Olives
- Pickles
- Bread, such as sliced baguette
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Pick snacks and sides
A wine and cheese party is not meant to include complete meals, so it's best to host it either before or after your guests have eaten. You can also ask each guest to bring a bottle of wine and a cheese to contribute to the spread.
For the cheese, choose at least 3-4 different types, including a variety of textures (hard, medium, and soft), sources (cow, goat, sheep, or vegan), and flavours (herbs, truffle oil, or smoked). Some popular options include:
- Humboldt Fog (a goat cheese with a signature ash line)
- Manchego (a sheep milk-based cheese, great for those sensitive to cow's milk)
- Brie
- Gouda
- Cheddar
- Parmesan
- Blue cheese with honey and ground coffee for dipping
- Chevre with pepper jelly or spicy fruit gel
- Cave-aged gruyere with grapes or apples
- Alpine cheese with pickled things and pears
For sides and snacks, consider the following:
- Crackers
- Crisp veggies (celery, carrots, and cucumber)
- Nuts
- Olives
- Fresh and dried fruit (grapes, figs, dried apricots, or dates)
- Salty meats (prosciutto or salami)
- Honey
- Bread (sliced baguette)
- Mustard
- Pickles
- Jams (e.g. fig jam)
- Sweets (chocolate-covered cookie truffles, lemon macadamia nut cookies, gluten-free biscuits)
- Flowers for decoration
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Consider the timing
Wine and cheese parties are not meant to be a full meal, so the best time to host one is either before dinner, around 4 or 5 pm, or later in the evening, around 7 or 8 pm, after your guests have eaten.
If you're hosting a summer wine and cheese party, it's a good idea to choose lighter wines that are perfect for the season, such as a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir. For a winter party, you might want to opt for a heavier red wine, but make sure it's not so heavy that it overpowers the cheeses.
When it comes to the cheese, it's a good idea to choose a variety of different types, such as soft and hard cheeses, as well as different sources like cow, goat, or sheep milk cheeses. You can also include some flavoured cheeses, such as those coated in herbs, drizzled with truffle oil, or smoked. Aim for around 1-2 ounces of each cheese per person, with at least five options in total.
If you're planning the party in advance, it's worth taking the time to pair the wines and cheeses well. However, if it's an impromptu gathering, it's also fine to simply choose wines and cheeses that you and your guests enjoy. You can even ask each guest to bring their favourite wine and cheese!
Finally, don't forget to serve the wine and cheese at the correct temperature. White and sparkling wines should be chilled, while red wines should be slightly cooled but not too cold. And don't forget to let the cheese come to room temperature before serving, as this is when it's at its full flavour.
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Make it fun
Wine and cheese parties are a great opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and try new combinations. Skip the cheddar and try a flavoured or aged cheddar instead. You could even ask your guests to bring their favourite bottle of wine and a cheese to share. This will create a unique and fun spread and will take the pressure off you to supply everything.
If you want to keep things simple, build a cheese board to serve everything on. You can even build different cheese boards to go with different types of wine. Include a variety of textures and flavours, such as hard, medium, and soft cheeses, and cheeses coated in herbs, drizzled with truffle oil, or smoked. You could also include some simple sweets such as chocolate-covered cookie truffles, lemon macadamia nut cookies, or any gluten-free store-bought cookies or biscuits.
If you want to elevate the experience, use a drop cloth as a tablecloth for a casual-chic look. You could also purchase brown parchment paper to put all the cheese and charcuterie items on, making clean-up a breeze. Be sure to let the cheese sit at room temperature for at least half an hour before serving, as this is when it's at its full flavour.
For a fun activity, you could do a "guess the cheese" game with a few prizes for the winners. Put numbers next to each cheese and give everyone a guess sheet.
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Frequently asked questions
The best wine to serve is the one you like best. However, it's a good idea to provide several options for your guests, including a red and a white. Sparkling wines are also a welcome third option.
Choose at least 3-4 different types of cheese with different textures, appearances, and flavours. Include cheeses from different sources, such as cows, goats, sheep, or vegan sources. You can also include cheese coated in herbs, drizzled with truffle oil, or smoked.
You can serve a charcuterie board with different fruits, meats, spreads, jams, crackers, etc. You can also include simple sweets such as cookies or gluten-free biscuits.
Wine and cheese parties are not meant to be a full meal, so it's best to host them before dinner, around 4-5 pm, or after dinner, around 7-9 pm.
You will need wine openers, cheese knives or slicers, wine glasses, small plates, beautiful cutting boards, and serving platters.
