How to plan a wine and cheese party? Hosting a wine and cheese party is definitely a stylish and matured way of celebrating any occasion. But at the same time, it needs a lot of planning, knowledge and meticulous attention. Therefore, if you are not too sure about how to plan a wine and cheese party – I mean, a perfect one – then, here are a few tips to guide you.

•    Theme:
The dress code or the theme of the wine and cheese party sets the mood instantly. If it’s a formal party, then add a touch of elegance and style by using the right decorations, for example, white tablecloths on the tables, white candles on silver stands, etc. If there’s a dress code or a theme, inform the guests beforehand, so that they have enough time to prepare themselves for it. And of course, being the host, be the first one to follow it.
•    Guest List:
Much of the party’s success depends on the number of guests that you invite. A total of eight guests is believed to be an optimum number for wine and cheese parties – not too many for the host to manage and give attention to, and not too less to make the party flat, dull and non-conversational. This is one of the crucial points of wine and cheese party ideas that you should always keep in mind.
•    Time of the Party:
The perfect time for a wine and cheese party is the evenings. Evenings give you enough time to plan and arrange for even the smallest things for the party. It also gives more time to your guests to enjoy the wines and the cheeses at leisure, without having to worry about the fast-falling night.
•    Wine and Cheese Pairings:
This is the most important point amongst the wine and cheese party ideas. The better you pair and complement the flavors of cheese and wine, the more your guests enjoy it. While wine and cheese pairings depend a lot on personal tastes, some of the classic red wine cheese pairings are Chianti and Parmesan cheese, Zinfandel and blue cheese and Pinot Noir and Swiss cheese. Similarly, some of the classic white wine cheese pairings are Sauvignon Blanc and Brie, Gewurztraminer and Swiss cheese and Riesling and gouda cheese. Two varieties of red wines, two varieties of white wine and one kind of champagne make an ideal combination. Along with these, serve crackers and fruit skewers to enhance the overall experience. Your guests can spread the cheese on the crackers and enjoy them better.
•    Arrangement:
Arrange each cheese and its wine along with their accompanying food on separate small tables, rather than on a single long one. This allows your guests to stand and share their views or chat freely, without blocking others’ ways. Keeping the cheeses on separate tables also prevents the mild cheeses from being overwhelmed by the strong ones. Leave at least one bottle of each variety of wine opened for your guests, as the party begins. Also leave a few wine openers on each small table, so that your guests are not kept waiting. If you are serving hard cheese, slice them into small bites before serving them.
•    Accessories:
Talking about wine and cheese party ideas, accessories play a major role. Different kinds of cheeses served on different shapes of silver plates not just add to the beauty and style of the party, they also make it easier to serve. Also choose the right shape of glasses for serving wines, for example, “bell glass” for the red wines and flutes for the champagne. Do not forget the wine openers. Also, place small buckets on each table. It is a common practice amongst wine connoisseurs to rinse their glasses between tasting various flavors of wine. Placing small plates rather than big ones is a practical idea, for it makes it convenient for your guests to walk between tables with a plate on one hand and wine on the other.

The whole idea behind a successful wine and cheese party is that you and your guests enjoy yourselves. It should be an evening which is "all about having fun and learning more". If this is what stays in your mind when the party is over, you know that you have hit the right chord.

Photo Courtesy: stevegiralt.com