Steps to a Great Cheese and Wine Tasting Party

The variety of cheese available is astounding. You can pick from great cheeses from all over the world or focus on the up and coming cheese makers in the United States. With the current interest in cheeses of all types, a cheese tasting will give your friends a way to branch out. Try these steps and suggestions for an interesting evening.

Pick a variety of cheeses that will please a spectrum of your guest's tastes from cheese naive to the cheese sophisticate.

Think of a cheese theme. You can go for a country: Italy, Spain, France, the US or England would each provide a variety of great cheese. Or pick a region such as Vermont or northern California in the states. Other approaches to themes are to compare the same cheese from different countries or regions. For example, brie from France will offer a different taste from Vermont brie or northern California brie or compare the same variety like goat cheese from new or fresh to aged. Pick a fresh goat cheese, one aged for three months and one aged for a year.

Arrange the cheese to go from light to heavy. Label each cheese. Include not only the name of the cheese, but also where it is from, who makes it. Be sure to note if it is cow, sheep or goat's milk.

If you have a large number and variety of cheeses, arrange on separate plates by taste with the lighter ones together. Place wine selections for each of the groups of cheese with the plate. Artisanalcheese.com provides a Cheese Clock that helps you pick cheeses and wines to go with your cheeses.

Put small notepads with the name of the cheese by each selection. Ask your guests to record the reactions. This will encourage discussion among your guests. Take a short time after everyone has had a chance to taste the cheese to get reactions to the favorites.Pair the wines with the cheese. You could start with a light cheese and a glass of champagne. followed by a party like this will demand more attention to a variety of wines.

Serve small crackers and a light bread. Remember that this is a tasting of the cheese with the wine not the bread. Some cheeses may be better with fruit and nuts than they are with wine alone. So along with the cheese offer small fruit and some nuts such as plain roasted almonds or cashews.

Finally, have fun; try some new cheeses and new wines.