- Bloomy Cheese: Creamy, decadent cheeses with a soft rind.
- Hard: Stiff cheese that are either sharp, aged, and/or salty.
- Blue: Cheese with a blue tinge that are pungent and often salty.
- Fresh: Cheese that is usually soft and spreadable, more mild in nature, and not usually aged.
If you have a few types of cheese in mind that you would like to feature at your party, first consider which of these 4 categories that the cheese would fall into. Once you make this determination, it can make it easier to decide which wines you would like to pair with the cheeses.
Here are some examples of wine and cheese pairings that go exceptionally well together:
Bloomy:
- Camembert and Champagne
- Brie and Chardonnay
- Taleggio and Pino Blanc
Hard:
- Gouda and Merlot
- Cheddar and Cabernet Sauvignon
- Parmesan and Chianti
Blue:
- Gorgonzola and Port
- Stilton and Sauternes
- Blue and Riesling
Fresh:
- Ricotta and Pinot Grigio
- Mozzarella and Sauvignon Blanc
- Goat and Chenin Blanc
Hosting a wine and cheese party is the perfect opportunity for you and your guests to try a variety of different pairings and discover new favorites. To make hosting your party go more smoothly, consider creating a cheese board by placing postal craft paper on your table, placing the assorted cheeses on top of the paper, and writing the names of the types of cheese for your guests. This local luxury lifestyle living blogger did this beautifully and claims that it's a hit at every party.
Another great tip is to display the different wine and cheese pairings in a circle so that your guests can start with the lighter options and fresher cheeses and then head clockwise towards the selections with more depth.
However you decide to set your party up, encourage your guests to rank the pairings so they can determine what their favorites are at the end of the evening.
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