There's nothing better than the combination of cheese and wine...unless it's shared with excellent company.
With your Christmas plans no doubt under way, we have put together an excellent guide to creating your very own perfect cheese and wine evening to enjoy with friends and family, this festive season.
5 steps to creating the perfect Christmas cheese and wine evening
Step 1 - Choose the guests
Who is going to accompany you on your Christmas cheese and wine evening? Will it be an intimate affair with just your partner or close family?
Perhaps, it will simply be a set of luxurious accompanying nibbles, whilst you decorate the Christmas tree or wrap some presents.
Or maybe, it will be a larger gathering. Get together with some special friends who you haven't seen enough of this year and enjoy a special festive gourmet treat together.
Once you have secured your guest list and you know your who to invite, then you can ensure your cheese and wine collection will suit them perfectly (and you can cater for any specific dietary requirements).
Step 2 - Choose the cheeses
For a cheese and wine evening that everyone will remember, you'll want to choose some really special cheeses. Variety is certainly important, but you will also want cheeses that complement one another when mixed.
Consider a hard, soft, and semi firm combination of cheeses too.
Three to five different cheeses are usually plenty - just ensure you have enough of each for all of your guests to enjoy.
If you want to ensure your cheeses are displayed beautifully and keep cool, make sure you check out our new Luxury Cheeseboard Gift Hamper. which contains a gorgeous black slate and a cheese knife set.
This cheese hamper actually includes 4 different types of hard cheese. This is another way to choose your cheeses. Go for one type, i.e. all hard, but lots of different flavour combinations.
In our cheeseboard hamper, we have cheeses with caramelised onion chutney running through it, as well as a vintage Red Leicester with hints of caramel.
Step 3 - Choose the wine
To really make your Christmas cheese and wine evening educational, as well as entertaining, you can choose to very carefully pair the perfect wine to your individually chosen cheeses.
As a simple guide, you want to pair milder cheeses with lighter flavours and stronger cheeses with bold flavours. This includes both strength of taste and aroma. You don't want to overwhelm either the cheese or your chosen wine.
For example, pair a mild Brie with a light-bodied white. But, choose to pair a delightfully pungent blue Stilton with an equally rich fortified wine, such as a vintage port.
You can also have an array of wine to try and make a game out of it. Try to see if your guests can match the recommended wine or share their 'tasting notes' when they taste different combinations. Does it enhance the flavour of the cheese or not?
This is why our Port & Stilton Christmas Gift Box remains so popular. The creamy vintage Stilton tastes incredible with a sip of the Bin 27 Port from Fonseca.
Step 4 - Choose the accompaniments
With a cheese and wine night, it's not just about the wine and cheese. "What??", we hear you cry!
Honestly, you have to think about the accompaniments and condiments you will serve with your cheese specifically too.
Crackers are obviously a traditional choice. There is such a wonderful array to choose from, including sourdough crackers and those made from rye. You may also want to offer some fresh bread.
In addition, there is a whole host of condiments and chutneys you can include to further enhance the flavours of your chosen cheeses.
Explore our blog all about cheese and pairing, including what fruits, nuts and alternatives ideas to consider:
You may also want to include some meats, especially if you want to offer a more substantial meal for your guests.
Do check out the incredible salami, which forms part of our British Charcuterie Tasting Hamper and our Christmas Eve Wine & Nibbles Gift Basket, which also includes two truckles of cheese and an incredible bottle of Gauchezco Estate Malbec wine.
Step 5 - Choose the entertainment
And last, but not least, have a good think about what you would like to do as part of your special festive cheese and wine night.
Perhaps, you could watch a favourite Christmas movie together or a classic TV series.
You could put on all your favourite Christmas tunes and have a good dance or sing-along.
Or perhaps, whilst you and your friends nibble on some cheese and sip some wine, some games might take your fancy. Go for something traditional where everyone knows the rules, like charades, cards or a classic board game.
Did you know we even have a Christmas hamper featuring a game, this year? Our After-Dinner Trivia & Treats Hamper includes it's very own box of 100 quiz questions. That's sure to keep everyone entertained...even the most competitive of friends and family.
Prepare for the perfect Christmas cheese and wine evening
With all of those plans in place we are sure you will have the best Christmas cheese and wine evening.
If the thought of a cheese and wine hamper has inspired some Christmas gifting ideas, then do take a look at our recommendations for 2024:
Luxury Cheese and Wine Hampers
We hope you have a great time together, enjoying a very special evening of celebration and festive fun.