We’re in the thick of party season. Here at the Wine Sisterhood, we think wine and cheese are two essentials that can take any gathering from meh to magical.  

Create the best cheese plate for your next party with these go-to tips:

1. Start with the basics

Choose cheeses that cover these four styles: fresh,soft-ripened, hard and blue. Include three different varieties and mix it up between goat, sheep and cow’s milk cheeses.

• Fresh cheeses are young (not aged), spreadable and soft in texture. They can range from mild to tangy in flavor. Think of: Goat, Feta, Mozzarella and Burrata.
• Soft-ripened cheeses have a white, edible rind, called a bloomy rind. Some favorites in this category include: Brie, Camembert and Humboldt Fog.
• Hard cheeses are firm to the touch, may be aged, slightly smelly and are generally sharp and/or salty in flavor. Familiar cheeses in this category include: Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino, Gouda and Cheddar.
• Blue cheeses are exactly that, usually veined or spotted with blue, gray or green mold throughout. They tend to be pungent and salty in flavor.  Popular blue cheeses include: Blue, Gorgonzola and Cambozola.

2. Accessorize

Add interesting, colorful foods that complement your cheese selection. Our favorites include:

• Fresh fruit: apple slices, raspberries, cranberries
• Nuts: pecans, walnuts, almonds
• Marinated veggies: olives, peppers, mushrooms
• Bread: water crackers, toasted baguette, bread sticks
• Charcuterie: hard salami, prosciutto, paté

3. Map it out

Create a label for each cheese so your guests know what they’re enjoying. Bonus points for adding a few flavor notes to the label!

4. Let it rest

Pour yourself a glass of wine for a fine effort, then let your cheese plate rest. We recommend up to an hour before serving it, so all of the items reach room temperature.

5. Bring out the good silverware

Remember those fancy cheese knives hiding in the back of your silverware drawer? Show them off! Each cheese should have its own knife or cheese plane.

Pour your guests their favorite wines and toast to a fabulous holiday!

Check out more post to help you entertain like a pro this season:

Wine & Cheese: Entertaining with Ease

Host a Wine & Cheese Tasting: Four Simple Tips

Classy Cheese Ball Recipes for New Year’s Eve

Spike the Punch!