This is a print preview of "Holiday Wine and Cheese Party" recipe.

Holiday Wine and Cheese Party Recipe
by Turnips2Tangerines

Holiday Wine and Cheese Party~

Looking for something different to do this holiday season?

Why not Host a Wine and Cheese Party.

Wine and Cheese Parties are fun, relatively easy and

a great way to enjoy the Holidays.....plus

there isn't any cooking involved!

Sip different Wines, sample a variety of Cheeses,

Enjoy fresh Fruits and Breads...

While listening to Christmas Carols and

Admiring your beautifully decorated Christmas Tree~

Cheese Shown~

Sweet Heat Goat Cheese

Blue Cheese

Sweet Cheddar- Kerrygold Skellig

Swiss Cheese- Vern's Cheese Inc.

Plan ahead so you can take advantage of Wines Sales.

Have non-alcoholic Sparkling Wine or

Cider for your non-drinking friends and designated drivers.

Here are a few guidelines to follow~

What to Serve:

Wine, Cheese, Fruit, Bread, Nuts, Dried Fruit, Chocolate

Cheese:

Serve 3-5 different cheeses..depending on the number of guests..

Serve cheese with a variety of tastes, textures and strengths

Buy the best cheese you can afford

No processed cheese

No cheese off the "rack"

Purchase cheese no more than a day or two before party

2 oz of each cheese per guest

Choose a wine to compliment each cheese selection.

Wine:

1 bottle of wine per cheese

1 bottle per person, total

Always serve water, as well

Fruit:

Fresh fruit is easy and you can serve whatever fruit is in season

Plums, Apples, Grapes, Pears, Melons

Dried Fruit is also a delicious and great option.

Apricots, Raisins, Prunes, Figs, Dates

3 oz prepared per person

Bread and Crackers:

Bread serves as a palate cleanser and a base for spreadable cheese.

Good quality crackers and baguette slices are great choices

1 pound per 12 people

Nuts and Seeds:

Salted, candied or spiced nuts can be served

Chocolate:

Make sure the wine is essentially as sweet as the chocolate

Purchase quality chocolate

Pair chocolate and wine according to the darkness of the chocolate;

the darker the chocolate the darker the wine.

Wines should have a smooth, pleasant taste

Select wines according to flavors of the chocolate;

Example: full-bodied wines to match strong, intense chocolates.

When tasting chocolate and wines together,

obey the wine rule of tasting...from light to dark

Start with light milk chocolate and white chocolates and

move to the medium chocolate then ending with the very dark,

and bitter chocolate.

How to Serve:

Arrange the cheese on large cheese boards, platters or

plates from mildest to strongest.

Group them with their complimentary wines,

fruit, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate and breads.

Identify each type of cheese and its wine on a place card in front of each grouping.

Cheese should be served at room temperature.

Each cheese must have its own knife and/or spreader.

Here are a few guidelines to follow:

Soft, Fresh Cheeses

Uncooked, unripened cheeses, mild and

creamy with a slight tang; spreadable.

Cheese: Cream Cheese, Mascarpone, Neufchatel

Wine: Champagne

Fruit: Apples, Grapes, Pears, Mango, Melons

Soft Ripened Cheese:

Mild with smooth and creamy-to-oozy textures with thin skins.

Guidelines are lightly adapted from: Great Party Recipes