Our handy suggestions help you host an easygoing gathering with confidence.
This type of entertaining is tailor-made for the busy holidays, allowing folks to sip on
something refreshing while enjoying small nibbles rather than eating a large, heavy meal.
A Perfect Pair
Red wine/cheese
Cabernet Sauvignon--Cheddar (sharp), Swiss, Asiago, Aged (dry) Jack
Merlot--Cheddar (sharp), Monterey Jack, Gouda
White wine/cheese
Chardonnay--Cheddar (mild), smoked mozzarella
Sauvignon Blanc--blue (Gorgonzola and Roquefort), goat cheese, Comté, Gruyère
Riesling--Brie, Camembert, Gruyère
Champagne or sparkling wine--Brie, Camembert, fontina
Putting It Together
When selecting cheese, remember that soft cheese tends to be mild or tart and hard cheeses are
often salty and more assertive in flavor. Use this guide when selecting wines. Young, fresh,
and creamy cheeses are best with light, acidic whites. Apply the same thought to most aged,
full-bodied cheeses and red wine.
Presentation can run the gamut from a simple two- or three-cheese selection with a couple of
wines to a more elaborate sampling of multiple cheeses paired with individual wines. It's up to
you--the event can be as casual or as formal as you prefer. Either way, stick with our serving
suggestions, and you'll look like a pro.
For more suggestions and to ask me questions, check out the Food & Wine Resource Guide at
southernliving.com/foodandwine.
Serving Tips
Plan on 3 to 6 ounces of cheese and 2 (6-ounce) glasses of wine per person.
Remove cheese from the refrigerator at least 1 hour before serving, but keep it covered to preserve freshness.
Use separate knives for each cheese, and serve on a wooden cutting board or a large, flat platter.
Avoid placing strong and mild cheeses next to each other.
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Wine and cheese are best served with simple accompaniments such as these.
Crusty bread and crackers: French baguette, Italian bread, plain crackers (all wrapped in a clean cloth to keep them from drying out)
Assorted olives, pickled vegetables, or cured meats such as sliced country ham and sausage
Serving Tips
Plan on 3 to 6 ounces of cheese per person. Regardless of the number of different wines you choose to serve, plan for each guest to have approximately 2 (6-ounce) glasses in total.
Remove cheese from the refrigerator at least 1 hour before serving, but keep it covered with a clean cloth to preserve freshness.
If you slice the cheese ahead, do it while it's cold, but serve it at room temperature. However, to preserve the look and moisture of the cheese, we suggest that guests slice their own. If you don't have cheese knives, basic table knives will work just fine.
Use a wooden cutting board or large, flat platter for serving cheese.
Use separate knives for each cheese.
Avoid placing strong and mild cheeses next to each other.
If possible, provide two glasses for each guest--one for red wine and one for white. If your supply of wine goblets is limited, don't be afraid to use short, small glasses (even small plastic glasses will do in a pinch). Another option is to rent glasses. It's not that expensive, and you don't have to wash them.
Supply plenty of water for drinking.
Print a list of the wines and cheeses you serve and send a copy home with each guest as a take-away gift.
Low-Carb Wine?
Not wanting to be left behind in the low-carb craze, several companies have introduced wines
aimed at folks concerned about their intake of carbs. Although the vast majority of dry red
and white wines already meet the government's definition of "low carb" (which is less than 7
grams of carbohydrates per 5-ounce serving), consumers are now able to purchase wines labeled
as such. Examples include One.6 Chardonnay and One.9 Merlot (referring to the number of carbs
in a 5-ounce serving); both retail for around $10. I don't recommend putting down your favorite
dry red or white just for the satisfaction of having the words "low carb" on the label. If you're
new to wine, however, and concerned about your intake of carbohydrates, these wines are an good
place to start.
20 Great Wines Under $12
Here are a few of my top wine picks delivering impressive flavor and terrific value. These gems
will also cozy up to a wide variety foods at your holiday table. White:
Stone Cellars, Chardonnay, California
Columbia Crest, Chardonnay, Washington
Turning Leaf, Chardonnay, California
Snoqualmie, Winemaker's Select Riesling, Washington
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