Cheese Partys

Having a Party? Want some spectacular Cheeses to end the meal with? Or perhaps you are having Cheese to finnish a celebration meal? Then a Cheese and Wine Shop selection is the solution. Below are a few pointers for you to consider.

How much Cheese do i need.....

Thats a good question! This depends on many factors... chiefly, what role is the Cheese playing? Is it as part of a 5 course dinner party, or perhaps you need Cheese for a feature Cheese and Wine evening, or maybe its a Ploughmans for 30 people. The range, and the quantitys required will be quite different for these events. 

Its worth considering that the more Cheese you have, the more likely you will run out, so selecting three great Cheeses for your guests is often preferred to swamping them with six+ that can become bewildering.

However as a guide, work on 4oz, or 120g per portion as a total Cheese value. So, 500g of Cheese will comfortably provide Cheese for 4-5 people as an After Dinner Selection. As a ballpark, if you reckon on between £1.30 for a basic selection and between this and £2.50 per person, that will provide a ballpark budget.

Thats a good start point, and assuming most of your guests will sample your Cheese selection, should ensure there is little left over!

Want to wow your guests? ... then think of a Cheese Tower! Click here to see more. Click here to make your own tower.

Cheese selection

Pairing wine and cheese

There is an apparent consensus on what wines pair well with what cheeses. The accord is not universal, however. Case in point: many "experts" cite that Gouda is best with a fruity white. Perhaps, but what variation of Gouda? With a smoky or spicy Gouda, for example, a better pairing would be a Pinot Noiror a Cabernet. It boils down to personal taste. To help channel you on your quest to the proper wine and cheese combinations, here is a general guide ...

The cheese

Here are the major types of cheeses to choose from for your party, with some examples of each.

Soft Cheese: Blue Castello, Boursin, Brie, Bucheron, buffalo mozzarella, Camembert, feta, goat cheese, Gorgonzola, Limburger, Mascarpone, Muenster, Neufchatel, Pave Affinois, Teleme

Hard Cheese: Asiago, Blue, Derby, Edam, Emmentaler, Grana Padano, Gruyere, Jarlsberg, Manchego, Parmigiano, Pecorino Romano, Raclette, Reggiano, Swiss, Wensleydale, Zamarano

Semi-Soft Cheese: Bel Paese, Baby Swiss, Colby, Fontina, Havarti, Kasseri, Madrigal Baby Swiss, Morbier, Port Salut

Semi-Hard Cheese: Cheddar, Chesire, Cotija, Danish Blue, Double Gloucester, Gouda, Graddost, Panela, Provolone, Roquefort, Sonoma Jack, Stilton

 

Wine and cheese presentation

Presentation is important when it comes to a wine and cheese shindig. In fact, even more so than at a dinner party. The selections are sparse, in the sense that it is just cheese and wine (more on that in a bit). As a result, the attention is drawn toward the aesthetic. But from a functional standpoint, you have to pay attention to how you present the cheese. Here are some tips:

Less is more: Focus on no more than five cheeses. In fact, we suggest three (just make them good). Estimate about 4.5 ounces or 125 grams of cheese per person. Much better to have 3 great cheeses, rather than 6+ cheeses that just confuse your palette.

The stinky cheese factor: You may love a cheese with funk, but your guests may have a more timid palate. Tone it down, or up, based on who is set to appear. As a rule though, some variation in taste, appearance and texture is best. Contrast is good and sparks conversation.

The cheese board: Paper plates are not ideal for serving cheese. Invest in a platter made of wood or marble that is large enough to separate the cheeses. Make sure the color of the board is pleasant to the eye and can act as a contrast to your selections. Trust us, these touches make a difference.

Cheese rind: Leave it on! And eat it too. But please do remove the wrapper.

The wine

Here are the wines that from experience, and trial and error, complement an array of cheese types. Please note that yes, there are some wines that go with more than one type of cheese. This is because of cheese taste variation and complexity, as well as vintage distinction. For example, Beaujolais can stand in with a hard cheese like Emmenthal or a soft crumbly feta. So take this for what it is: a general guide. The ultimate decision is yours to make.

Soft Cheese: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Champagne, Cabernet, White Zinfandel, Vidal, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Chianti, Sancerre

Hard Cheese: Bardolino, Tawny Port, Madeira, Sherry, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre, Côtes du Rhône, Rioja, Cabernet, Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello di Montalcino, Ribera del Duero, Chardonnay, Chianti Riserva, Beaujolais, Dark Beer, Sangria, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir

Semi-Soft Cheese: Chardonnay, Champagne, Riesling, Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara, Bordeaux, Rioja, Fleurie, Beaujolais, Chinon, Bourgueil

Semi-Hard Cheese: Chardonnay, Champagne, Riesling, Cabernet, Sancerre, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chianti Riserva, Barolo, Tawny Port

 

 

Wine and cheese party accompaniments

There is more to a wine and cheese party than just wine and cheese, of course. You need to entice your guests with some stellar accompaniments. Here are some suggestions:

Crackers: Choose from our extensive selection of Biscuits for Cheese here


Bread: Choose good quality breads that are crusty, hearty, and wholesome. Choose from our selection here


Fruit: Sliced stone fruit like plums and nectarines look good, as do Japanese pear slices, grapes and apples, and do enjoy some of our Fruit Pastes.

Nuts: Walnuts are an excellent complement to many cheeses. Toast them and serve warm. Others that work well are pine nuts, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts.

Chocolate: There is one kind of chocolate to serve at a wine and cheese. Very strong, dark chocolate. Do not entertain any other variety.