Wine and Cheese Pairing Wedding Activity

I love the idea of a wine and cheese tasting during the cocktail hour of the reception. This is a unique and interactive activity for guests while they wait for the newlyweds to arrive. Set up a few tables around the space to avoid traffic jams and provide a small assortment of wines and cheeses to sample together.

Set up your wine and cheese display using vintage china plates, colored pottery, or other serving pieces that invoke a feeling of wine country. The best way to display several cheeses is to separate them and have different knives or spreaders so their flavors do not mix.

We like the idea of serving 3 wines with 3 cheeses so as not to overwhelm guests before the main meal is served. Don't forget classic palette cleansers like water crackers, French baguette slices, flat bread crisps, and grapes.

Place a framed sign on the table letting guests know what is being served and which pairings go best together. For starters, a crisp California Chardonnay pairs well with buttery brie.

Our second pairing is Riesling with blue cheese. Our favorite blue cheese is gorgonzola dolce - a mild blue cheese from Italy. The slightly sweet Riesling balances the sharpness of the cheese.

Finally, red wine is served last as we pair Pinot Noir with white cheddar. For those who find red wine a bit harsh, Pinot Noir is smooth and mild, so they'll enjoy it, too!