Host a Holiday Wine and Cheese Tasting Party

Photo of a vineyard in the Loire Valley, France. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

French red wine from the Loire Valley region of Chinon. Predominately Cabernet franc. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you are planning a holiday party, you may be interested in some of my favorite wine and cheese pairings.

Wine and goat cheese are a wonderful combination; I have included 3 goat cheese selections.

Cheeses (Photo credit: Smabs Sputzer)

Take the cheese out of the refrigerator and unwrap the pieces to bring them to room temperature; this will fully develop their flavor. Present them on separate cheese boards or plates with one cheese knife for each variety. Displaying their names on a card near the board. Use glass domes for exceptionally fragrant, ripe cheeses so they don’t overwhelm the less fragrant selections.

Here they are:

Le Chevre Noir goat cheese is hard and crumbly and pairs with a Chinon Loire Valley red wine. Aged chevre, typically dry, rich and intense, also works with classic heavy reds like Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chevre Noir (Photo credit: Renée S.)

Chevre Noir (Photo credit: euqus)

A wine cave in the Loire Valley wine region of Chinon. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Loire Valley (Photo credit: lightmagic)

Chevreau a flan de coline (Photo credit: Erminig Gwenn)

Drunken Goat was a farmhouse accident. A wheel of chesse rolls into a barrel of wine and the rest is history. This semi-pasteurized goat cheese is from Spain’s Mediterranean Coast. It pairs with a smooth Spanish Red Tempranillo.

Tempranillo varietal wine bottle and glass, showing colour Shot with Nikon D70s (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Truffle Tremor pasteurized goat cheese from Cypress Grove Creamery is made with black truffles. Pairs with a fruity Pinot Noir.

Comte cow cheese from Fort Saint Antoine in the Jura Mountains. Pairs with a big chewy California Cabernet Sauvignon red wine. Buy some Kronos Vineyard Napa Valley Corison if you can.

Corison

Happy Holidays from Vino con Vista

Thirty minutes before guests arrive, uncork the wine to give them time to aerate and develop their flavors and bouquets.

English: Cropped image of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Hedges Vineyards in Red Mountain, Washington. Photo taken August 28th, 2007 with a Kodak z650 camera. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Add some grapes, olives, pears, cured meats, breads, crackers, plain almonds and cashews and dried fruits like figs, dates and apricots to your holiday table. Use your treasured holiday corkscrews and dishware!

Cover your dining room table with your favorite holiday table cloth. Make a fabulous holiday centerpiece with candlesticks: http://youtu.be/8aMRzDHYgb0. I prefer my crystal candlesticks with silver candles. Crank up the holiday music and enjoy the party.

Happy Holidays from www.vino-con-vista.com