Wine and Cheese Party

The secret to a great wine and cheese party

A wine and cheese party is probably one of the easiest ways to entertain. You buy a few wines, select a few cheeses, pick up a charcuterie board and BAM! You've got a party.

But wait – how do you know which wine and cheese to buy? What wine pairs well with gorgonzola, and what cheese won't bombard your beaujolais? What kinds of fruits and nuts and chutneys will make your wine and cheese party unforgettable – for the right reasons?

Here in Wisconsin, we've got a lot of experience with wine and cheese parties, because we make a lot of cheese. So, we've tried a lot of wine and cheese pairing combinations, we've got a pretty good idea of what kinds of wines make our cheeses happy.

So, here's a quick introduction to cheese and wine pairing, along with some ideas for your charcuterie board. You don't have to thank us – just invite a few of our cheeses to the party. They'll always RSVP with an enthusiastic "yes!"

Tips for a winning wine and cheese party

Here's our best advice for pulling off a memorable wine and cheese party.

1. Start with 5-6 cheeses. Choose a variety of textures and different types of cheese, including a hard, semi-hard, semi-soft, soft, and blue cheese. Label so everyone knows what they're eating and use a different cheese knife to cut each cheese.

2. Choose a good wine pairing for each cheese. Our favorite pairings include:

• Pinot Noir and brick cheese - the light-bodied fruit of pinot noir contrasts with the full, earthy flavors of this washed-rind cheese.
• Sauvignon blanc and swiss cheese – the bright, light citrus flavors of this white wine are a nice contrast to the complex, nutty notes of swiss cheese.
• Nero d'avolo and provolone – this bold red is the ideal match for big-flavored cheeses like provolone that have been aged a year or more.
• Chardonnay and fontina – the light, floral and vanilla notes in chardonnay are well-matched by the nutty, fruity notes in this Italian cheese.
• Prosecco and colby – the crisp carbonation of prosecco contrasts and complements the mild flavors and lower acidity of Wisconsin colby cheese.

3. Add variety with fruits, nuts, and charcuterie. Fresh and dried fruits pair beautifully with a variety of cheeses. Raw honey adds sweetness to aged cheeses. Chutneys, jams, and fruit preserves provide texture and flavor contrast. Marcona almonds, pistachios, and candy pecans pair well with bigger cheeses. Olives have a salty brine that contrasts the creaminess of soft cheeses. Make sure to include crackers and crusty bread.

To rock your wine and cheese party, let Wisconsin bring the cheese

You know your wine and cheese party will be awesome when the cheese is from Wisconsin. That's because, to be uncharacteristically blunt, Wisconsin makes the best cheese in the world.

You say, "No, seriously?" We say, "Um, yeah. We make more cheese, like 600 styles and flavors, then anywhere else in the world. We're the only place in America where you are required to have a license to make cheese. To drive the point home, our cheesemakers have won more awards than any other state or country on the planet. So, yeah, we'd say the best cheese in the world comes from the Dairyland of Wisconsin." (We're not usually this talkative, but once you get us started on cheese…)

So, next time you're feeling a bit of anxiety as you try to decide which cheese to take home for your wine and cheese party, relax – just pick the cheese with the Proudly Wisconsin Cheese™ badge on the label and all will be well.