If you want to add a thoughtful touch to your gift giving then wine and cheese gift baskets are the ideal present for occasions such as anniversaries, weddings, and even a simple dinner party. In fact you can even bring one to a romantic picnic for two with your special someone.

A wine and cheese gift basket is not at all that expensive, prices usually start at $30 and goes up from that range depending on the amount and type of wine and cheese. If you want brand name wines and time tested excellent varieties then expect that your wine and cheeses basket is likely going to be a lot more expensive than usual. To perfectly enjoy the experience of a wine and cheese gift basket the right brand of wine and the variety of cheese coupled with the wine is a very important detail.

Recipe for Delight

Wine enhances cheese, and cheese enhances the flavor of the wine, which is why the two are always coupled together specially as a prelude to dinner party. A certain brand of wine always boosts the flavor of a certain type of cheese. So it is left up to you to choose the perfect combination for your wine and cheese gift basket.

For maximum enjoyment you must have an extensive knowledge and a palate for cheeses and wines, the right variety must be paired with the exact brand. Cheeses that are acidic are usually brilliant with acidic wines. Wine and cheese that hails from the same region usually complement each other.

If your wine and cheese gift basket consists of Merlot, Shiraz or Riesling then the perfect cheese to complement your wine is a wheel of cheddar cheese. If the person you’re giving the wine and cheese gift basket to has a penchant for blue cheese; then it will be wise to pair it with a zinfandel, and a Shiraz, or better yet a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Pinot Noir’s and Chardonnay usually go very well with brie cheese. While sweet Port wines tastes great with Roquefort cheeses. The humble cream cheese makes an exceptional pairing with a white zinfandel. Monterey Jack cheese is always good when you have Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel with it. Gouda is also popularly eaten with a glass of Merlot and Riesling Zinfandel.

Wine and cheeses pairings is a time honored treat, so whether it be for a gift and even for yourself you can never go wrong with wine and cheese gift baskets.

Decorations for a Wine and Cheese Party

The way that you set up your room depends not only upon the room’s shape, but also upon how much space you have.  You can either use a long buffet table against one wall with different sections or have several “stations” around the room with little tables. 

Of course, an upscale party is generally the way to go here, so think simple and elegant. One idea is to use solid white tablecloths with white candles that are decorated with grapes and grape leaves or something seasonal.  Make sure that you label each of the cheeses that you will be serving and give a short description of its general flavor.  You may want to have a cutting board and cutter available for each type of cheese as well. 

Glasses and Plates for a Wine and Cheese Party

Make sure that you use the right type of wine glass with each wine.  For instance, red wine should be served in a round ball shaped glass while white wine should be served in a more fluted glass.  You will want to have a collection of each type of glasses available.  For dishes you could use wine-themed plates or an eclectic mix of little antique dishes.  You will want to have plenty of these available to encourage your guests to try small samples of cheese with each wine.

What to Serve At a Wine and Cheese Party

You will probably want to have more foods available at your party than simply wine and cheese.  A good choice here would be fruit, because you could then have a 3 tiered centerpiece or large antique bowl filled with grapes and other fruit on your tables.  Another idea is to have a lot of interesting types of breads and crackers available.  Simply make sure that your wine and cheese, as well as your crackers and breads, are all appropriate choices for the wine that is being sampled.  You could even have some caviar and then a nice cheesecake for dessert.  Of course, you may wish to offer your guests some coffee too, particularly at the end of your bash.