About Wine and Cheese Parties

Wine and cheese have always gone hand in hand. As wine critic Luigi "Gino" Veronelli (1926-2004) said, "The flavor of a food almost always reveals the quality of a wine and exalts it. In turn, the quality of a wine complements the pleasure of a food and spiritualizes it." Read on for a brief history, the significance, types and several benefits of wine and cheese parties and then go on to enjoy the possibilities the tastes have to offer.

History

People have used wine and cheese pairings as a means of emotional exploration and pleasure for centuries. In the Bible, Jesus' first recorded miracle was turning water into wine (John 2:11). Civilizations all over the world, such as the Persians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Incas, have been producing wine for thousands of years. By 1800, France was recognized as one of the best of the wine-producing regions.
Though the exact establishment of cheese and wine pairing is unclear, it has at least been a known event for the past century. As Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page point out in their book, "What to Drink with What you Eat," the dawn of New American cuisine has changed the culinary landscape. "In a typical week, the average American might eat dishes or flavors originating in seven different countries," they say. With unique wines now more accessible than ever at local markets, wine and cheese parties have become much more eclectic in recent years.

Significance

Quality cheese and wine are of interest to those who wish for a culinary experience. This experience is not just one of supreme taste combinations, but also one of a heightened awareness of taste, friendship and conversation. Wine and cheese parties are known for bringing people together whether new friends or old and conjuring an atmosphere where the flow of communication becomes as full of flavor as the wine and cheese being tasted.

Types

Wine and cheese parties know no boundaries. They may have a specific theme and may have only a handful of people or more than you can count on both your hands. Themed parties include ones that serve only wines and cheeses from France, Italy or Spain, to name a few. More recently, all organic wine and cheese parties have emerged. Some are organized by official clubs, while others are held in private homes with family and friends. The variety and possibility for wine and cheese parties seem endless.

Considerations

Many wineries offer wine classes if you are interested in having serious tasting parties or if you simply wish to know more about wine and how to determine taste. A good rule of thumb for choosing wine and cheese if you have no idea what to get is "If it grows together it goes together." In those words, nature knows best and some of the best complementing wine and cheese pairs are geographical neighbors. Also consider how the wine is tasted. Gulping is not tasting; 80 percent of what you taste is what you smell, so take some time to slowly experience true flavor.

Benefits

Not only do wine and cheese parties allow people to gather and enjoy company, but the actual intake of wine in controlled amounts is good for digestion and the heart and can even reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to findings published in "Epidemiology" in March 1998. A Harvard study found that women wine drinkers have fewer kidney stones and other studies listed on Beekman Wines and Liquors' website state that moderate wine consumption reduces risk of stroke, protects against atherosclerosis and increases longevity. Drink to your health.

Expert Insight

Sommeliers Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page suggest that while wine and food pairing can be a daunting and seemingly complicated subject, you don't have to be a "wine (or beverage) geek" to enjoy it. "You honestly don't need to know anything about where and how a wine was made to figure out if it pleases your palate or not. And you shouldn't be thrown off by terms like 'residual sugar' or 'terroir,' or bewilderingly specific point ratings of 95 or 76 for a particular wine. Those 100-point scale ratings that rate wines in a vacuum have next to nothing to do with how well those wines go with the foods you enjoy."

Resources

• Organic Wine and Cheese Parties
• Health Benefits of Wine
• Wine and Cheese Pairings