Cheese Platter for Party

1. There should a good selection of hard and soft cheese, creamy cheese and even aged cheese.

2. When choosing the crackers, avoid choosing salty crackers. It would empower the taste of the cheese. You may use crackers with chives or sesame seeds just as long as the taste is not dominating.

3. Experiment with flavors. Server some chutneys, honey, or fresh or preserved fruits with your platter. It should compliment your selection of cheese or wine.

1. A good way to be creative is to play up with a theme for your cold cuts based on its origin. It could be Spanish, Swiss, Italian, etc.

2. Incluse some thin slices of proscuitto, dried salamis and bolognas for an Italian platter. You can compliment them by serving them with grilled breads, olives and pickles or pickled onions.

3. Be adventurous with the taste by balancing it with the flavors and textures. Have a mixture of cold cuts with spice, a bit of sweetness and saltiness. It's really going to be your taste that matters.

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Here are some of the common preferences of wine and cheese enthusiasts, although in the end, wine pairing comes down to your personal taste.

* White wines match best with soft cheeses and stronger flavors.
* Red wines match best with hard cheeses and milder flavors.
* Fruity and sweet white wines and dessert wines go best with a wider range of cheeses.
* The more pungent the cheese, the sweeter your wine should be.

In an array of cheeses, if offered between a wine or red wine, most prefer the white wine. They say soft and creamy cheeses interferes with the flavor of red wine. If you're a hard core cheese enthusiast and are adventurous to try the stinky cheeses, it is recommended that you pick a big wine like Ports and dessert wines.

As a general rule in fine dining, the purpose is to harmonize your choice of food and drink. If you are going to be eating something delicate with subtle tastes avoid drinking something with a strong flavor that will overshadow the food. A good meal is always best complimented with a wine that has its own distinct flavor. Start with the basic rule and try to venture into taste that are unknown to you. Experiment. Once you are comfortable with the different tastes and flavors of some of the wines, then you pick something that you enjoy. In the end, it is still your taste that matters.

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White Wines

Recommended Cheeses

Champagne or sparkling

Brie, Camembert

Chardonnay

Mild Cheddar, Gruyere, Provolone

Gewurztraminer

Swiss, most German cheeses

Loire Valley wines

Goat Cheese

Riesling

Gouda

Sauternes

Roquefort, Blue

Sauvignon Blanc

Goat Cheese

Red Wines

Recommended Cheeses

Amarone

Gorgonzola, Parmigiano-Reggiano , Asiago

Cabernet Sauvignon

Camembert, Sharp Cheddar, Blue

Port

Stilton, Gorgonzola

Shiraz

Sharp Cheddar