How to Have a Wine and Cheese Tasting

If you're aiming to host a trendy and elegant -- and grown-up -- get-together, a wine and cheese tasting should be high on your agenda.

A wine and cheese tasting allows you and your guests to sample new flavors of cheese, wine and finger foods while enjoying great conversation at the same time.

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A wine and cheese tasting may sound like a high-maintenance event, but in reality it takes a lot less kitchen work than a sit-down dinner. It's the kind of event that calls for some style and ambience, and a good sense of which foods pair well.

You may not be a wine expert, but that doesn't mean you can't hold a successful wine and cheese tasting. Just do a little homework and you'll be fine.

There are some standard guidelines that dictate which wines go with which cheeses. Following these guidelines will help you make good choices for your event.

• Soft cheeses like Camembert, goat cheese, Neufchatel, and feta pair well with Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chianti, and Beaujolais.

• Hard cheeses like Jarlsberg, Asiago, Swiss and Blue go nicely with Cabernet, Sangria, and Pinot Noir.

• Semi-hard cheese, like Gouda, Cheddar, Provolone and Roquefort, complement Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and champagne. These wines also go well with semi-soft cheese like Colby, Fontina and Baby Swiss.