If you're looking for a great way to entertain family and friends, our real estate agents suggest hosting a wine and cheese party. Whether it's a formal gathering or a casual get-together, everyone loves wine and cheese. Take a look at hosting tips that will make your wine and cheese party successful.

• Send Out Party Invitations
  When planning a party, it's important to inform your guests of party essentials like the date, the time, the location, and the dress code (formal or casual attire). If you're providing the food and wine, tell your guests all they need to do is show up for an evening of fun. You can mail invitations or email e-vites with instant responses, but ensure your guests get them at least two weeks before the party.
  
  
• Create a Comfortable Setting
  Whether you plan an indoor or outdoor wine and cheese party near Atlanta homes for sale, make it festive and comfortable for your guests. Create a setting with enough comfortable seating for conversations, side tables for plates and drinks, good lighting, and music of your choice. If your party is outdoors, provide a few patio heaters, light the fire pit, and drape blankets over the sofa and chairs to ensure your guests stay cozy and warm.
  
  
• Choose a Variety of Cheeses
  With so many delicious cheeses on the market, you can't go wrong with different taste buds. For the best variety, choose cheeses that have different tastes, textures, and firmness:
  • Aged – Cheddar, Goat, Gouda, Gruyere, and Parmesan
    Creamy & Soft – Brie, Burrata, Cream Cheese, Fresh Mozzarella, Ricotta, Triple Cream
  • Crumbly – Blue Cheese, Feta, and Goat
  • Medium to Firm – Cheddar, Manchego, Monterey Jack, Provolone

Select five or six cheeses and cut them into squares, sticks, and triangles to add visual interest to your table. For added flavors, choose cheeses smoked or coated in herbs or truffles. For guests with vegan diets, include a couple of dairy-free, plant-based cheeses.

• Use the Right Pairings
  Your cheese platters will be the focus of your table, but the right pairings will make them a success. Your guests will be impressed by a variety of pairings that are perfect for wine and cheese:

  • Crackers – Savory herbs, toasted squares, sourdough flatbread
  • Dips – Cheese dips, cream cheese, yogurt
  • Dried or Fresh Fruit – Blueberries, cranberries, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries
  • Honey & Jam – Natural honey, jars of sweet jam
  • Meats – Cured salami, prosciutto, smoked ham
  • Nuts – Candied walnuts, pecans, pistachios, roasted almonds
  • Olives – Pitted black or green olives, Castelvetrano olives, Kalamata olives
  • Pickles – Assorted sweet and dill pickles
  • Veggies – Sliced carrots, celery, cucumbers, squash

When putting out yummy pairings, make sure you provide sturdy plates, napkins, serving utensils, forks and spoons, and lots of toothpicks. Place a small pail or trash can near the food table to keep things neat and clean.

• Invest in Good Wine
  Wine and cheese pairings are based on similarities, so you should match the flavors and textures when serving guests. Light, creamy cheeses should be paired with white wines like Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, or Sauvignon Blanc. Aged and robust cheeses should be paired with red and Burgandy wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Pinot Noir. For the best pairings with cheeses and hors d'oeuvres, invest in a good wine and leave the cheap ones on the shelf.

If you're considering moving to the Atlanta area, contact us to help you find the perfect house your family will love to call home.