Would You Like Some Cheese With That Whine?

You don’t have to be a whiz at entertaining to pull off this sharp looking spread – a Wine and Cheese Party! It’s a great fall event, easy to put together and can be as formal or as informal as you please.

Invites
Check out this PDF template; This invitation gets the point across without being too cheesy.
Raid your craft store for themed wooden shapes. I found this wine bottle shape at my local Joann’s Superstore, and matted it on several coordinating sheets of cardstock. Too easy and fun!

Affix a sticker to the center of a blank cardboard coaster that reads YOUR GLASS HERE, then write party info on the back.

Invite each guest (or couple) to bring a bottle of wine. In general, whites tend to be more fromage-friendly than reds, and for worry-free wines that complement all cheese varieties stick with Riesling and sparkling wines.

Decor Ideas
Delicious appetizers and cubes of cheese are easily eaten with toothpicks. Place a whole lemon or orange here and there for guests to poke used toothpicks in. Make sure and label it too!

Set stacks of coasters, like the one used for the invitations, on tables as informal decorations and charming party favors.

Make a water bath to cool sparkling and white wines quickly. Fill the sink halfway with ice, then add water and a handful of salt.

Create an elegant and edible centerpiece; bundle baguettes in large vases and group bread sticks in drinking glasses.

Place disposable cameras in a bowl with a sign reading SAY CHEESE, so guests can record all the highlights.

Tie different colors of ribbon on wine-glasses for easy wine charms, or check out these blackboard coasters for guests to identify their glasses. How cool are they? I must get me a set!

Create a perfect party play list from warm-up to wind-down music and burn all the tunes in order so you don’t have to man the music.

The Spread
Have three different tools to serve the full range of cheeses: a butter knife for soft cheeses, a paring knife for semi-hard cheeses and a cheese plane for aged and hard wedges.

Assemble a well-balanced cheese plate by choosing one variety from each of the categories below (allow 1/3 to ½ lb total per person). Include at least one familiar cheese, and remove your cheeses from the fridge one hour before serving (cold mutes flavor). Serve with your baguettes and breadsticks, crackers, nuts, olives, and fresh fruit.
-Soft and creamy – Brillat-Savarin, goat cheese, Constant Bliss
-Blue and bold – Stilton, Valdeon, Mountain Gorgonzola
-Semi-hard and smooth – Cheddar, Comte, Gouda
-Aged and rich – Manchego, Mimolette, Parmigiano-Reggiano

Write the name and a description of each type you’re serving on a HELLO, MY NAME IS label attached to a toothpick, then position the cheeses on a marble or wooden board. Or check out this slate cheese board. You can write little notes in chalk next to your cheeses and wipe them off later when all the cheese is gone.