Black Point Inn : September 2014

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BPI | Wine & Cheese: The Perfect Pair

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Wine & Cheese: The Perfect Pair

How to host your own wine & cheese pairing party!

As the summer winds down most of us are looking to absorb as much fun as we can while the days are long and the sun is still shining. A Wine and Cheese Party is an excellent end of summer soiree and since there is little prep work involved, you can easily entertain your guests outdoors (or indoors—if the weather doesn't cooperate!).

In this blog post we will give you some helpful hints for easy wine and cheese pairings,
ideas for possible themes and share some original entertaining ideas that will pull the whole event together!

Wine & Cheese Pairing Guide

According to Wine Folly’s “Wine and Cheese Pairing” article, there are two easy steps:

[1] Regional Match: When pairing wine and cheese you can’t go wrong with regional matches. French cheese for French wine, American cheese for American wine and so on. This is your starting point and should be relatively self explanatory, but is an essential first step.

[2] Contrast Match: Harder cheese with lighter wines and softer cheese with bolder wines. Then consider who is going to be the star of the pairing? If you have a bold in-your-face wine, then look for an understated cheese, or vice versa. The idea is to compliment the more prominent pairing. (via Wine Folly)

If you are interested in sourcing cheese locally, check out Maine Cheese Guild for a list of Maine cheese producers. Here at Black Point Inn, we work closely with Pineland Farms Creamery and Silvery Moon Creamery.

Choosing a Theme

As the entertainer of this event, you can choose to host all of the wine and cheese yourself or simply delegate pairings for your guests to bring. The second option takes a bit of the pressure off and also allows your guests to be more invested in the event.

If choosing wines based on a region does not interest you, another option would be to use a wine & cheese pairing guide such as the one pictured below. The wine and cheese displayed on this list are familiar and readily available, keeping it simple for your guests.

Keep in mind as well that while your guests will be providing wine and cheese, you will be providing other accoutrements, such as fruit and berries, nuts, crackers, olives or any other small bites.

Wine Party Gear

Essential items for your Wine & Cheese Party:

Wine Glasses

Corkscrew

Cocktail Napkins

Cheese board and knife
Flatware

Wine & Cheese Labels

You can usually find these at a home goods or art supply store or if you’re feeling ambitious you can make your own. If you can get your hands on some chalkboard paint (Yes, it exists!) you can transform a thin piece of particle board or any other item into a chalkboard writable surface.

Another option is to lay down some Kraft paper (found at your local Craft store) and label using a metallic marker.

Wine Glass Markers

Wine Glass Markers are an easy way for your guests to keep track of their own wine glasses and it’s a fun party favor for them to take home at the end.

Add a touch of humor to your event! We are personally fond of Mustache Wine Glass Markers (See below).

Décor

Your chalkboard, wine glasses, flatware and accoutrements will take up a considerable amount of space but you also might want to consider adding a few extra touches to really make the space special.

Head to a local farmer’s market and pick up some in season flowers for centerpieces. If you plan on entertaining in to the night, you might like some candles to add to the ambiance.

If you’re feeling ambitious, find a framed chalkboard and create a “welcome” sign for your guests.

Party Favors

Wine Tasting Notebooks make an excellent favor for your guests, they can use them during your party and take home end of the night (or early in the morning, depending on your crowd).

Here you can find, 33 Bottles of Wine Tasting Notebook.

Now that you know the 2 simple steps to pairing wine & cheese, along with the essentials for entertaining, you are well on your way to a successful event!

Just add a few of your closest friends and Voilà!!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact Krysten at fandb@blackpointinn.com!

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BPI | Wine & Cheese: The Perfect Pair

Wine & Cheese: The Perfect Pair

How to host your own wine & cheese pairing party!

Now that you know the 2 simple steps to pairing wine & cheese, along with the essentials for entertaining, you are well on your way to a successful event!

Just add a few of your closest friends and Voilà!!

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