Sandra Lee Cheese and Wine - Cheese & Wine Fête

Cheese And Wine

While a wine tasting is often thought of as a more formal affair, this lighthearted get-together puts a casual spin on it. Edibles and drinkables are the marquee attraction, so start with a tray of assorted cheeses and palate-cleansing fruits, then pour on the fun with a selection of wines. Guests enjoy learning about new wines, so display cards with a wine’s name, region, and flavor (dry, sweet, etc.) in front of the bottle. Encourage guests to experiment with different flavors by recommending cheeses that enhance each wine’s bouquet. When it comes to decor, roosters rule. A popular collectible in the ’30s and ’40s, roosters have become trendy again as a country French favorite. Look for paper roosters and tableware at party stores or scout antiques stores for vintage ceramic roosters. A black and cream check fabric grounds a wine-centric color scheme of reds, golds, and browns to create a nostalgic setting for birthdays and “just for fun” evenings with friends. Present the place setting with panache by layering clear glass plates over rooster motif chargers and resting the charger on a napkin-draped woven tray.

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Accent Pieces

Rooster tea light lamps cast twinkling light through cutout shades. Wooden cutting boards and wooden or woven baskets can hold fruit, cheese, and crackers. Feathered roosters add authentic country French touches.

Decorative Decor: Roosters fit right in with the rustic decor. If you have trouble finding rooster accessories in your local stores, check garage sales and thrift shops or change the motif to a collectible you already own. Birdhouses, birds, or apples all complement a country motif. Rooster tea light lamps cast ambient light through cutout shades, and French wire baskets can hold fruit, cheese, and crackers.

Music: Classical background music or a soft jazz works best. Select instrumentals from the same region as your wines. Lower the volume to facilitate lively discussions about each wine’s merits.

Centerpiece

The scent of flowers can interfere with a wine’s bouquet, so it’s better to opt for a fruit centerpiece. A rustic basket of red apples and pears keeps the focus on the aromatic wines and cheeses.

Favors

Buy corrugated cardboard mini boxes at a craft store. (If the boxes come with lids, save those for another project.) To add texture, use double-stick tape to wrap the box with a wide copper-tone ribbon. Pen each guest’s name on a self-adhesive label and stick one label to the front of each box. Fill boxes with wood shavings, nest a plastic or ceramic rooster inside, and you’ve got a fab favor.

Food and Drinks

Seedless grapes and sliced pears and apples complement a collection of mild and strong cheeses, like nutty Parmigiano Reggiano, creamy Brie, and pungent Maytag blue. Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding and Hot Spiced Sangria end the evening on a sweet, smooth note.

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