Wine and cheese go together like peanut butter and jam – they are made for each other. Going to a wine farm and tasting all the wonderful wines they have to offer is undoubtedly an enjoyable experience, but what about hosting one in your very own home? Not only will there be cheese and wine, but it’s a fun opportunity to get creative with decor and your hosting skills.

By Mikaela Kagan

Decor, decor and more decor

It’s important to show your guests that you went the extra mile to throw a great party, and what better way to do this than having fabulous decorations. Place a bunch of used bottle corks in a vase or glass, and carefully spread the remaining corks around the tables to decorate. Another great suggestion is to place a small candle inside an empty wine bottle, or if you’d prefer, a long candle stick which uses the wine bottle as a candle holder. Either way, your guests will be very impressed with your originality.

Anything goes

While a variety of cheeses go beautifully with wine, who’s to say that cheese is your only pairing option? Try pairing something a little different with your wine like chocolate or fruit – you’d be surprised as to how mind-numbingly delicious it is, and your taste buds will thank you. It’s great to mix things up at a wine-tasting party, and setting out all the different food pairings in pretty bowls can add to your decoration.

BYOB

Lastly, don’t let a wine-tasting party do damage to your wallet. Guests are always willing to bring a gift or something to contribute towards a dinner or party, so why not ask them to each bring a bottle of wine or pairing item?