Help. I’m throwing a wine and cheese-style party.

Don’t worry. The following simple tips will help you throw a ‘wheeley’ good party.

The Cheese: Cheese is best stored in the refrigerator, covered and wrapped with plastic wrap. Take your cheese platter out of the refrigerator an hour before serving (no more) to mellow the flavours. Try a mix of hard and soft cheeses such as Borgonzola, Havarti, Fruilano, Edam, Swiss and Brie.

The Bread: Offer a wide variety of plain, crusty, whole wheat and rye bread. Don’t forget an assortment of crackers.

The Complements: Dress up your cheese platter with a variety of accompaniments such as raw or pickled vegetables, fresh and dried fruit and nuts. Then wait for the compliments.

The Wine: A general rule of thumb is to match the character of the cheese with the corresponding character of the wine. But, after all, taste is subjective.
Usually a more full-bodied wine works well with the strong tasting cheeses such as Tre Stelle Brogonzola (a harmony of Brie and Blue), Asiago or Blue. The lighter the wine, the milder the cheese, such as Tre Stelle’s award winning Chateau Versailles Brie, Brick, Swiss and Havarti.

The Beer: Beer is also a perfect companion to cheese. Again, like wine, the stronger the cheese, the stronger the beer.