How To Choose Cheese For College Parties

cheese and food
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College is not only about writing academic papers and projects. It is also a time to try new things and experiment. At this time, you can make mistakes, pick yourself up, and try again. No one is going to judge your shortcomings, except when it comes to throwing a party. 

Parties are usually the rage of the season, and with the number of people you would invite to this occasion, you can not afford to mess anything up, especially in the aspect of food. 

To properly plan a party, there are several preparations to put in place. First and foremost, you need to ensure you don’t have any urgent essay submissions coming up. You need undivided attention to plan a successful party, and with their assistance, you don’t have to worry. 

Now that we have gotten school work out of the way, planning your wine and cheese pairing party has just gotten easier. All you have to do now is invite guests and plan your menu.

Quality Cheeses On A Student Budget

First, you want to start by having a variety on your table. This is to allow room for convenient pairing with the right wine. To start, there are seven categories of cheese: 

  1. Fresh;
  2. Aged;
  3. Soft;
  4. Semi-soft;
  5. Blue;
  6. Hard;
  7. And, Flavorful cheese. 

If you are on a budget, you don’t necessarily need to have all the varieties on your cheeseboard. Just two or three options are great and will still give you the range and texture you are hoping for. There are a few affordable options that you can get on sale for your pairing party, and they are: 

  1. Mitica Manchego Cheese
  2. 365 Everyday Value Goat Cheese Log
  3. Salemville Blue
  4. Kerrygold Kilaree Irish Cheddar 

These are just a few examples, and you can always keep your eyes out for discounts and price slashes while shopping. Also, try to limit serving to 1-2 oz. per guest, so nothing would end up as waste.

How To Pair Cheese With Drinks At Your Party

To make this party a success, you have to get your pairings right. While organizing a wine cheese pairing chart might be exciting, it can get ugly real fast if you don’t do it right.

Fresh Cheese

The best drink to pair with the fresh type at a party is white or red wine—for example, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, etc. If you want to try non-alcoholic drinks, then lemonade or apple juice would be the best bet.

Soft Cheese

Choose a light, sparkling white wine for these. A Chablis is an almost perfect match. If you prefer red wines, then choose a light, red one to go with it. Not only will it compliment the taste of the cheese, but it will also lend it a unique texture.

Hard Cheese

These are the easiest category to pair, and with a medium-bodied red wine, you’re good to go. A sparkling white sherry is also another classic drink that will blend deliciously with the taste of the cheese. For non-alcoholics, pear or apple juice is a great drink to supplement this.

Blue Cheese

This type needs a strong drink to even out the saltiness. Whether red or white wine, experiment on which will give you the perfect taste. For suggestions, you can try Riesling, Maury, or Champagne. Any drink with high alcoholic content will also do the trick.

White Wine Or Beer

If you want to serve only one type of beverage at your party, then beer or white wine is the best option for you. 

Make sure the wine is slightly sweet and with just enough acidity to cut through the taste of the cheese. For beers, compare the alcoholic strength to that of the cheese. A light one should be paired with a light beer, while a strong cheese should be paired with a strong beer. 

Conclusion

Throwing a party requires putting a lot of attention into graduation party food ideas, and the proper pairing for them. This is even more so for a wine and cheese rager. Take things easy, and remember to plan ahead of time. You might not get it right the first time, but that will only serve as a lesson to help you succeed the next time.