Wine and Cheese Parties Wine and cheese parties, which were popular in the 1970s, are back in fashion since the ability of the two to bring out the best in each other is unparalleled and because they are appropriate for any season or any reason.

Living in Spain you are ideally placed to host such a party since Spain is a world class producer of wines, both in quality and quantity. Better known are the quality reds from Rioja and Ribera del Duero, reds and whites from Penedés, fine whites from Rueda, "sherries" from Jerez, and of course the fine sparkling wine known as cava.  Locally we also have many wines produced in the Jalon Valley

Unfortunately many people are confused about which kind of cheese to serve with which type of wine. Luckily, wine and cheese matching is simple, and in no time, you can host a very enjoyable wine and cheese party.

The basic rule is that the flavours of cheese shouldn't dominate the taste of wine and vice versa. The pleasures of each bite of food should replace the delights of each sip of wine and conversely the bliss of every sip of wine should replace the delights of every bite of food. Simply put, strong cheeses should pair well with strong wines, while mild cheeses would go well with mild wines.

Acidic wines go perfectly with pungent cheeses. Brie goes well with sparkling wine while goat cheese matches well with a dry white. Sweetish wines go with soft cheeses. Full bodied red wines pair perfectly with hard cheeses. Even the humble cheddar could be paired well with fortified wines such as Port, Vermouth, and Sherry.  Your bodega will be able to help you identify suitable wines.

When it comes to cheese and wine pairing, the best guide is your taste. Of course it takes time to discover the good pairings, so you should not despair if you have a few errors in matching.

Normally you need a bottle of wine per person because when everyone is having a good time the consumption is a little higher. You could choose to serve only your favourite red and white wines and ask your friends to bring a bottle of their favourite wine so everybody can sample a variety.

Serve an assortment of cheeses, crackers and breads.  You can add smoked salmon and slices of ham if you wish or other tapas including the Spanish favourite, olives.

It is also a good idea to keep carafes of cold water around and don’t forget to provide drinks for the nominated drivers.