Essential Items to Bring

First things first, here’s a list of basic items to bring to your summer cheese and wine party:

• Cheeseboard: A suitable cheeseboard or platter that is aesthetically pleasing.

• Cheese Knives: You’ll need different cheese knives for hard and soft cheeses.

• Corkscrew: For opening the wine bottles with ease. 

• Glasses: For wine and water to cleanse the palette. 

• Plates: Small plates are perfect for wine and cheese tasting. 

• Bowls: A few small bowls for the chutneys and condiments. 

Choosing the Right Cheese and Wine

The art of pairing cheese and wine revolves around understanding how components like tannins, acidity, and alcohol level interact with food. Tannins, found in all wines, bind with food particles, especially fats, affecting how the food interacts with our taste receptors. This is why fatty foods like cheese pair well with tannin-rich red wines. If this sounds like a lot to get your head around, that’s okay. You don’t need to be some sort of cheese aficionado to host an excellent cheese and wine party. The fun part is experimenting with different food and drink items on the day. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
 

Cheese Suggestions:

• Mature cheddar: A popular match with Pinot Noir. 

• Blue Cheese: Pairs fantastically with Malbec. 

• Smoked Cheese: Always a treat with Chardonnay. 
   

Wine Suggestions:

• Port: A classic pairing with blue cheese. 

• Soft Red Fruity Merlot: Delicious with soft, creamy cheeses. 

• Sparkling Rosé: Matches with a variety of cheeses, especially fresh, soft options. 

How to Create a Wine and Cheese Board

To create an attractive wine and cheese board, start with your base (i.e., the cheeseboard). Next add the bowls that will contain your condiments, along with the biggest food items that take up the most space on the board. Then, fill in any gaps with smaller, decorative snacks for a complete look. A pro tip for an eye-catching arrangement is to focus on colour combinations, grouping orange and red items together, then placing green and yellows such as pickles and olives next to each other. Finally, add any decorations, fresh herbs, and flowers for the finishing touch. This last step is optional but brings the piece together, making it a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds! 

Why Not Try Mead?

Often grouped in the same category as wine, mead is actually its own type of alcoholic beverage. Made from fermented honey, mead is an exciting pairing with cheese, as its varieties range from sweet to dry, still to sparkling, and everything in between. 

The key is to match the characteristics of the mead with the right type of cheese, much like you would when pairing wine and cheese. For instance, a sweeter mead might pair nicely with a strong blue cheese, as the sweetness can balance the sharpness of the cheese. The versatility of mead makes it a fun and interesting partnership with cheese if you want a change from wine. Here are a few meads that deserve a place on any cheese board. 
 

• Traditional Mead: A sweet, full-flavoured mead

• Black Cherry Mead: A blend of wild cherries and sweet, tart honey.

• Rhubarb Mead: A sweet but slightly tangy mead to pair with your blue cheese. 

• Chilli Mead: Turn up the heat with Chilli Mead, a great match with hard, strong cheeses. 

Don’t Forget to Bring Snacks

If you’d rather skip the extensive food prep and go for a simple cheese board, there are plenty of snacks that pair well with wine and cheese:

• Snacking Cheese

• Pork Scratchings 

• Snacking Pickles

• Spicy Pork Salami

• Olives 

• Hand-Cooked Crisps

• Pretzels

• Cheese Biscuits

• Bruschetta

Some Extra Tips

• Match Flavour Intensities: Pair strong wines with mature cheeses and lighter wines with milder cheeses.

• Consider Alcohol Content: Stronger wines (over 14.5% ABV) are popular pairings with bold cheeses, while wines under 12% ABV are better with delicate cheeses.

• Texture Matters: Select a wine that complements the texture of your cheese.

• Balance Sweetness: Choose cheeses that balance the sweetness level of the wine.

• Regional Pairings: If possible, pair cheeses and wines from the same region for a harmonious flavour profile.

Want to Throw an Impromptu Party?

Our luxury cheese hampers come pre-packaged with an exciting variety of cheeses and accompaniments to make your hosting effortless. Visit the Chuckling Cheese Company to discover the perfect cheese gifts and cheese hampers for your next summer gathering.