10 Handy Tips for Your Wine and Cheese Party!

When holding a wine and cheese party for you and your friends, there is a myriad of things you need to consider. Everything from location to dinnerware can make or break your luck during your party, so it's important to make sure you know what you're doing! I've compiled 10 useful tips for your wine and cheese party that will make it an absolute success!

Don't invite too many people. These are social gatherings, but take that with a grain of salt. There are certain people you should invite to a keg party, and certain people you should invite to a wine and cheese party. Know the difference.

Location, location, location! During the summer, you almost never want to have your gathering outdoors unless you've got adequate shade and a desirable temperature for your wines and cheeses. Warm wine and cheese is disgusting, and can turn your guests for the door.

Quality AND quantity. Wine and cheese parties are a bit less common in this economy because of the price of fine wines and cheeses. However, this doesn't mean you can't have that perfect mix of class and casual that makes the party shine. Find specialty shops with sales going on, and get your wine from a distributor instead of a liquor store.

Stay regional. Most countries produce wines and cheeses that complement each other naturally, so you should stick to one geographical region when choosing what cheese to serve with which wine. For instance, serving a soft Pecorino or Bufala cheese with Chianti is a good idea, because they are both made in similar regions of Italy.

Take consistency into consideration. If you have mostly soft cheeses, make sure you have as many clean cheese forks as you need, and some gourmet crackers or toasts to make the soft cheeses easier to eat. Many hard, strong cheeses go good with sweet wines, so keep that in mind.

Your table needs to be PERFECT. When I say perfect, I mean perfect! Make sure you have set your area up as uniquely and beautifully as you can, with all the necessary things your guests will need, like a place to put their used toothpicks, napkins, and fruits or other food you will use as palette cleansers.

The accessories to clean your palette! Your guests will have trouble enjoying each combination of regional wines and cheeses if you don't give them a readily available food item to clean their palette. Oranges, grapes, strawberries, and small chunks of regional melon or citrus fruits that are sliced to be bite sized and served with frilly toothpicks are perfect.

Meat pairings! Cheese and wine parties are of course known for their two biggest parts; wine and cheese. But what it should really be called is a wine, cheese, and regional meat party! Having a small array of meats to complement your cheeses and wine can make your party great, but make sure you choose meats from the right region, with the correct consistency, and the correct flavors to complement your cheeses. For example, a prosciutto and provolone cheese roll is a great way to start the party on a casual note, leading into the more gourmet offerings later in the night. Also, if many of your guests are vegetarian, the meat to cheese ratio can be far lower, saving you some money and time.

Crackers and toasts; little cheese plates! You need to consider the servability of your cheeses when you shop for your party, so after you choose which varieties of cheese to use, you need to make sure that everything else you choose complements those choices perfectly. I don't just mean the wine, either...you need to choose your crackers and toasts perfectly too! Tangy and salty go well with sweet, and bitter goes well with mild, rich cheeses. For instance, if you have chosen a Havarti or Gruyere cheese, these are both Scandinavian cheeses and go well with light, mild wines and a mild, crispy cracker or toast like wheat and anything else that doesn't have too much of another flavor. Also, a cracker or toast with sesame or rye will go better with a milder, lighter cheese and a heavier, more bitter wine.

Classy can still be casual! As I mentioned before, the atmosphere should be enjoyable and look as classy as it can without turning your friendly get together into a black tie affair. Dark colored table cloths, wood or leaf weave place mats, and decent dinnerware can really turn your normal kitchen atmosphere into the perfect wine and cheese party for you and your close friends. Adding a couple pretty centerpieces, fake (or real!) grapes and orange and green foliage are great ideas for sprucing up your area that you intend to use for your party.

By now, you should be completely prepared for your delicious rendezvous with your close friends. Remember, class can be casual, and keep it natural!