How to Throw the Best Wine and Cheese Tasting Party
As the holiday season approaches (looking at you Thanksgiving), the calendar starts to fill with festive dinners, out-of-town visitors, and cozy nights in. But before the oven takes center stage and the roasts start rolling, there’s something charmingly effortless about a wine and cheese gathering. It’s the kind of get-together that feels celebratory without demanding hours in the kitchen—and the perfect excuse to open a few bottles of La Crema and catch up with friends over something delicious.
Whether you’re planning a laid-back evening with neighbors or a stylish kickoff to Thanksgiving week, a wine and cheese party lets you showcase seasonal flavors in a fun, relaxed setting. Think beautifully arranged boards, candlelit conversation, and just the right pairing of creamy Brie with a Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. Best of all? There’s no need for a complicated menu or elaborate table settings. With the right wines, a thoughtful mix of cheeses, and a few simple hosting tricks, you’ll create an experience your guests won’t forget.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to host a wine and cheese tasting party that’s as inviting as it is delicious—from the must-have tools to serve with style, to quantities, ambiance, and of course, how to pair like a pro. Plus, La Crema Chef Tracey Shepos Cenami shares five of her favorite tips to take your wine and cheese pairings to the next level.
Why Throw a Wine and Cheese Tasting Party?
There’s something undeniably charming about a wine and cheese party. It’s unfussy yet elegant, social without being overwhelming, and it naturally invites conversation—especially when guests start sharing their favorite pairings. This kind of party gives you the freedom to focus more on connection and less on the stove.
Wine and cheese also offer endless variety, which makes the experience feel personalized and fun. You can showcase local cheeses, seasonal fruits, or even a “flight” of La Crema wines. Want to keep it simple? Stick to a few classic pairings. Feeling creative? Invite guests to mix, match, and discover what they love. The best part: no two wine and cheese nights ever feel the same.
So if you’re looking for a stress-free way to entertain that still feels thoughtful and elevated, this kind of gathering is your golden ticket. It’s casual sophistication at its finest—and a great excuse to open that bottle of Pinot you’ve been saving (looking at you La Crema Nine Barrel).
Wine and Cheese Tasting Party Essentials
Hosting a wine and cheese night doesn’t mean pulling out all the stops—but having a few essentials on hand can help everything flow effortlessly. Think of it as setting the stage for good food, good wine, and even better conversation.
Start with the basics: a few wooden or slate boards for serving (cheese always looks more inviting when it’s artfully arranged), a variety of small knives or spreaders, and plenty of wine glasses. If you’re serving multiple wines, don’t worry about having one glass per person per wine—just give each guest a single glass and offer water and crackers for palate cleansing in between pours.
Here’s a quick checklist of party must-haves:
- Serving boards – Wood, slate, or marble all work beautifully (the same ones you would use for charcuterie and wine pairings).
- Small cheese knives or spreaders – One for each cheese is ideal.
- Wine glasses – One per guest, plus water glasses for rinsing.
- Palate cleansers – Think plain crackers, baguette slices, and sparkling water.
- Cheese markers and wine tags – These keep things fun and organized.
- Napkins and plates – Go for reusable if you want to elevate the vibe.
- Wine chillers or buckets – For keeping whites and rosés at the right temp.
How Much Wine and Cheese Should You Buy?
One of the most common questions before hosting a wine and cheese night is: how much do I actually need? The good news is, you don’t have to overthink it—a few simple guidelines can take the guesswork out of shopping.
- For cheese, plan on about 2 ounces per person, per cheese if you’re serving it as a pre-dinner appetizer. If the tasting is the main event, bump that up to 5–6 ounces per person total. Offering 3 to 5 different cheeses creates variety without overwhelming anyone’s palate (or your prep list).
- For wine, a standard 750ml bottle serves roughly five 5-ounce pours. If your gathering is about two hours long, a good rule of thumb is one bottle per guest. Of course, that depends on your group—if you’ve got more sippers than swirlers, you can lean a little lighter.
Don’t forget to consider the balance of styles. Offer a mix of reds, whites, and maybe a rosé or sparkling to keep things interesting. And always err on the side of a little extra—you’ll never regret having an extra bottle of La Crema on hand.
Setting the Mood: Decor and Ambience Ideas
A wine and cheese tasting isn’t just about flavor—it’s about atmosphere. Set the tone with little touches that invite your guests to slow down and savor.
Here are a few easy ways to elevate the vibe:
- Dim the lights and light some candles. Warm lighting brings out the romance of wine tasting.
- Play a mellow playlist. Acoustic guitar, soft jazz, or French café tunes make the perfect background.
- Use wine tags and cheese markers. Guests will appreciate knowing what they’re sipping and snacking on.
- Layer textures on the table. Think linen napkins, wooden boards, marble slabs, and sprigs of herbs.
- Let cheese sit at room temp. Pull it out 30–60 minutes before serving—it brings out the best flavors.
You don’t need a formal setup to impress. A little intentionality goes a long way.
Wine and Cheese Pairing Basics
There’s no one-size-fits-all rule to pairing wine and cheese, but there are some combinations that just work. Use this guide to mix and match based on what’s in your wine fridge and cheese drawer. Whether you’re setting up a full tasting board or just pouring a glass with a snack, these classic pairings are great starting points.
Red Wines
Pinot Noir + Aged Cheddar or Gruyère
Pinot Noir’s soft tannins and bright red fruit shine with cheeses that have depth but not too much bite. Try it with nutty Gruyère or a medium-aged cheddar.
Cabernet Sauvignon + Aged Gouda or Blue Cheese
Cabernet’s bold structure and darker fruit flavors love equally bold cheeses. The caramel notes in aged Gouda play beautifully here, or go big with a funky blue.
Beaujolais + Brie or Camembert
A chillable red like Beaujolais is magic with creamy, bloomy-rind cheeses. Its light body and juicy acidity keep each bite feeling fresh.
White Wines
Chardonnay + Triple Crème Brie or Comté
Creamy cheeses like Brie echo the richness of Chardonnay, while aged alpine cheeses like Comté bring out its nutty side.
Sauvignon Blanc + Goat Cheese or Feta
This is a classic for a reason—Sauvignon Blanc’s citrusy lift cuts right through the tang and salt of fresh chèvre or briny feta.
Pinot Gris + Havarti or Gruyère
Soft, buttery cheeses like Havarti or mild Gruyère pair well with the balanced body and gentle fruitiness of a good Pinot Gris.
Sparkling & Rosé Wines
Sparkling Wine + Parmigiano-Reggiano or Aged Manchego
The bubbles in sparkling wine cleanse your palate between bites, making it perfect with salty, hard cheeses like Parm or Manchego.
Rosé + Fresh Mozzarella or Goat Cheese
With its crisp acidity and berry notes, Rosé plays nicely with mild cheeses—especially fresh mozzarella, burrata, or soft goat cheese.
5 Expert Wine and Cheese Tips from Chef Tracey Shepos Cenami
Tip 1: Beginning, Middle, End
Like a wine tasting, a wine and cheese pairing is a journey for the senses. And like any journey, it should contain a beginning, middle and an end. Chef Tracey recommends tasting some wine first, then the cheese and finishing with another sip of wine. This helps the palette differentiate the flavor of the wine, from the flavor of the cheese and allows their unique flavor characteristics to stand on their own while promoting the union of the pairing. “Each pairing should have harmony throughout and the finish should be the wine.”
Tip 2: Match the Textures
Try and find wine and cheese pairings with similar textural qualities. For example, think of the classic pairing of silky Chardonnay with a Triple Crème Brie. “The mouth feel of the soft cheese matches the lushness of a big Chardonnay.”
Similar textures: Soft, creamy brie and a rich Los Carneros Chardonnay.
Other pairings with similar mouth-feel characteristics include pairing an opulent Pinot Noir with Fiscalini cheddar. The almost crunchy parmesan-like texture of the cheese matches with the more pronounced tannic structure of the wine. With this particular pairing, Chef Tracey recommends the addition of a sweet element like dried figs to enhance the flavor profiles.
Tip 3: Opposite flavors attract
Look for cheeses with opposite flavor profiles than the wine you want to pair it with. Blue Cheese and a sweet dessert wine like port work well because the strong flavor of the cheese is mellowed by the calming sweetness of the wine.
On the other end of the flavor spectrum, the crisp fruitiness of our Pinot Noir Rosé is a fantastic counterbalance with goat cheese. In this instance, Chef Tracy notes that the opposing saltiness in the goat cheese is what helps bring the pairing together.
Fruit-forward Pinot Noir Rosé is a delicious contract to rich, tangy goat cheese.
Tip 4: Variety is the spice of life
Finally, choose a selection of cheeses with diversity in mind. Source selections from different animals (cow, sheep, goat), different countries, and especially different flavor and textural profiles. A plate of three soft cheeses isn’t nearly as exciting to your taste buds as a mixture of soft, semi-soft and hard cheeses. For example, triple crème brie, smoked gouda, goat cheese and Reggiano Parmesan.
Tip 5: Consider some supporting actors
If your wine and cheese party is doubling as a light evening meal, up the ante with a selection of accompanying players. We’re not talking about a jar of black olives and baloney. Think of spicy Hot Coppa, Italian Speck (smoked prosciutto), cold smoked salmon, gourmet olives, Peppadew peppers, and sweet dried figs.
Easy Wine and Cheese Pairing Ideas with La Crema Wines
Need a little inspiration for your next wine and cheese night? Whether you’re keeping things casual or going all out with a curated board, here are a few tried-and-true La Crema pairings that always impress:
- La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay + Triple Crème Brie
Rich, buttery brie meets its match in our Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. The wine’s round texture and bright acidity cut through the creaminess for a perfectly balanced bite.
- La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir + Aged Cheddar
A classic pairing for a reason. The savory, almost nutty flavor of aged cheddar plays beautifully with the red fruit and soft spice of our Monterey Pinot Noir.
- La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir Rosé + Fresh Goat Cheese
This pairing is all about contrast. The tangy, salty bite of goat cheese softens against the juicy, berry-driven freshness of our Monterey Rosé.
- La Crema Russian River Valley Pinot Noir + Gruyère
Earthy, elegant, and just bold enough—this duo makes a great mid-tasting combo. The nutty complexity of Gruyère highlights the silky structure of this Pinot. - La Crema Sparkling Blanc De Blancs + Manchego
Looking for a festive touch? Our Sparkling Blanc De Blancs adds a celebratory fizz to the salty richness of Manchego, making it a crowd favorite for parties.
Bring People Together, One Sip and Bite at a Time
Wine and cheese have a way of making even the simplest gathering feel like a celebration. With just a few thoughtful pairings, a couple of cozy touches, and a few bottles of La Crema on the table, you can create an experience that invites guests to slow down, savor the moment, and enjoy each other’s company. No complicated cooking or overthinking required—just good wine, great cheese, and the joy of sharing them.
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