Your Guide to Throwing A Wine, Chocolate and Cheese Party

I think that if there is one thing all people equally love we can all agree it would be food. In many traditions around the world food has a very significant position in the everyday life especially when specific occasions and food become intertwined with each other. Food is a social and essential part of our modern society. As a matter of fact, the majority of the times going out to dinner with a friend is much more entertaining than eating dinner alone. Perhaps that is why dinner parties are such a brilliant idea, the concept of a group of people getting together to share a mealtime as well as interesting conversation while tasting an outstanding wine is nothing short of superb. Putting together such a get-together of acquaintances does not need to be an intimidating task, which frequently seems to be one of the main motivations many people do not host as many soirees as they would like. A much more uncomplicated wine, chocolate and cheese party can give the same jovial ambiance as a dinner party with less work, less expense and primarily less stress on the host or hostess.

Not much is needed for having a wine, chocolate and cheese party compared to hosting a dinner party. Decoration can be fairly clear-cut and often works best as such. Expensive plates and glasses are not essential either. While it is central to make sure that you have appropriate wine glasses, do not go out and purchase glasses just for the event.

Wine Glasses

Red wines tend to be served in a larger bowl style glass than whites because of their bolder bouquets, however many wine glass manufacturers today produce a more general wine glass which is appropriate for both reds and whites. Don’t feel obligated to buy red wine glasses if you only sip white and vice versa. If you serve bold red wine occasionally only when you have an event exclusively (like a wine and cheese party) then it is not worth the expense. 

Plates

Plates are fairly much the same as wine glasses. If you do not plan on arranging many events don’t invest a big amount of money in purchasing small serving or even mingling plates.  Mingling plates are particular dishes that have a hole in one side to fit in a wine glass so that while a person is eating and drinking do not have to be concerned about its glass spilling out or sitting down somewhere and try to balance everything with the hands. A very inexpensive option yet still fashionable idea is the use of cocktail napkins. They are easy to find in local party supply store and sold in multiple varieties of colors and designs. You can opt for an assortment of small cocktail napkins in different sizes and patterns.  Using a variety of cocktail napkins not only is less expensive but also helps you to better coordinate the color or theme in case you are having a wine and cheese party.

Wine and Cheese Pairings

The most significant part of a wine, chocolate and cheese night is of course the wine, chocolate and cheese! It is essential to pair the three as best as possible, although neither you nor your guests are sommeliers. Wine and cheese from the similar areas tend to team up incredibly well together, but this doesn’t mean you have to provide an Italian wine with an Italian cheese. Some of the most fundamental and most well-liked pairings for wine and cheese are:

• Brie with Merlot, Champagne or a Sweet Sherry
• Camembert with Chenin Blanc or Cabernet
• Sharp Cheddar with Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc or Rioja
• Cream Cheese with White Zinfandel
• Muenster with Beaujolais or Zinfandel
• Roquefort with Tawny Port
• Swiss with Gewurztraminer

Wine and Chocolate Pairings

Chocolate and wine is a match made in heaven. A general rule of thumb is, the darker the chocolate, the darker the wine. Chocolate reveals a complexity of flavors and textures, the same way as wine does. When pairing wine and chocolate ensure that the wine is essentially as sweet as the chocolate. For the purpose of wine and chocolate pairing buy high quality chocolate. Our friends at Chocolate & More Delights feature a fantastic range of organic chocolate. The below list indicates good chocolate and wine pairings. You may need to experiment for yourself a bit to find your perfect match.

Now you can see yourself how having a wine, chocolate and cheese party is incredibly effortless, inexpensive and just as enjoyable as an extensive dinner party! Don’t stress if you don’t have the correct sort of glasses or plates, the wine and cheese party is meant to be a worry free social event with friends and loved ones.

Written by Elena F. of www.cheeseniche.com
Elena F. is a 30+ years cheese connoisseur with experience in cheese making production and sales. She has been the owner of the first cheese-plant making buffalo mozzarella in Northern Italy before she moved to USA. Today she is a dedicated blogger.