The French and Italian tradition of wine and cheese parties is gradually moving west. People in New York City today prefer wine and cheese lunches to regular gatherings. Wine and cheese parties allow guests to interact and share light moments, unlike huge buffet parties where all the attention is on the food. You can host these types of parties for a variety of occasions like Easter, Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries or reunions. For a wine and cheese party to be successful, you need to have a keen sense of wine and cheese pairing.

The following tips will make your party a great success:

Bet on white winesPairing: Most people combine cheeses with red wines looking for color contrast. But, the truth is that white wines go better with cheeses, especially soft cheeses like mascarpone, feta, blue Costello and baby Swiss. The tannins of the cheese are wonderfully complemented by the acidity of the white wines. Bordeaux white wine and Pinot Grigio are the popular choice when it comes to cheese pairings.

Use less red wine: Once again it is about the balance of tannins. In case you’re really missing red wines then opt for aged or low tannins. Opening an old-fashioned bottle of red wine for your guests would be a great way to liven up the party. In case you can’t stay without a few glasses of red wine, opt for hard or semi-hard cheeses such as black beer, reddish port, rioja, barolo, riserva, etc.

Rose and Bubbles never go wrong: If you’re not one of those wine tasting experts who don’t even have a tiny idea of ​​what wine to buy, go for rosé wines. Rosé wines go well with all kinds of foods, cheeses, and desserts. You can bring the few varieties of them for your guests. Sparkling champagne also accompanies the ultimate delicacies.

Don’t go over budget: Wine and cheese parties may sound amazing, but hosting them can be quite expensive without proper planning. Although you can find any better wine for less than $50, but for a large gathering, even that could strain your budget. The best idea is to ask your guests to bring a bottle of wine and some cheese of their choice. In this way, the party will not only have a variety of options for drinking and eating, but will also make it an interesting affair.

Including wines at any party can give it a sense of sophistication and fun. But, having a wine and cheese themed party is a thousand times more fun idea. You can even send your guests off with gifts. You can get wines to give away at attractive prices. This way, your guest will remember you and your hospitality even after the party is over.

So when do you host a wine and cheese party?