Some people are born to entertain. They have those huge personalities that draw
others to them and know exactly how to make each guest feel equally important
and special. For those people who would
like to be experts at entertaining but don’t have the natural born skill, small
gatherings are the perfect way to practice to work towards a big to-do.
Hosting a wine and cheese party is a great way to test the
hosting waters. You can make it a game
night or a book club meeting or just a small group of friends catching up.
You may love a bolder cheese but your guests may have a more
timid palate. As a rule though, some
variation in taste, appearance and texture is best. Contrast is good and sparks
conversation.
Focus on no more than five cheeses; three is recommended. You can go with soft cheeses or hard, or in
between and match wines accordingly. For
example, you can pair feta, brie or gorgonzola with Sauvignon Blanc, champagne,
cabernet or white zinfandel. Add apples,
pears, melons, mangos and grapes to complete the arrangement or pair cheddar, Gouda
or provolone with a nice cabernet and apples, pears, grapes and peaches.
Paper plates are not ideal for serving cheese nor are they
conducive to the atmosphere you want to create.
A quality cheese board is a great investment. The small touches make a huge difference. Lovely wine glasses with wine charms will add
a touch of class to your presentation.
Tasty cheese, fine wines sweet and tart fruit and a beautiful
presentation can be the start to a wonderful time fun, laughter and conversation.