Wine and Cheese party....your thoughts

[tiggerlover]

DH and I are thinking about hosting a wine and cheese party for some of our friends who truly love wine (about 8 people in all). I have never had one of these and was looking for your thoughts or ideas. We were tossing around asking everyone to bring one bottle of wine to share and we will supply a couple of unique brands of our own in addition to different cheeses, breads with dipping oil and appetizers galore. We were thinking of doing this as a pre-holiday gathering, maybe sometime in mid November, what do you think? Do you think it would be tacky to invite everyone and ask them to bring a bottle of wine or should we provide it all. Any thoughts on appetizers? Also, I would need some kid friendly foods as there will be about 4 children coming in addition to my son.

TIA.

 

[Micca]

If they truly are wine aficionados maybe you could ask each couple to bring a bottle of wine that they have "discovered" that they would like to share. Of course you would have ample supplies of wine, this would just be kind of an added "show and tell" thing.

Also have you considered cheese fondue?

Sounds like a nice evening.

 

[tiggerlover]

Also have you considered cheese fondue?

Sounds like a nice evening.

I have never done fondue....wouldn't even know where to start on that one. Don't you need a fondue pot for that?

 

[Hillbeans]

I don't think it'd be "tacky" to ask someone to bring their favorite undiscovered wine...in fact, what a great idea for a party.

Enjoy!

 

[diznygirl]

We've only done this once. We don't know too many other people who drink wine. But we had everyone bring a bottle to share. We never want to buy a whole bottle to try and then find out we don't like it. But if someone brings one they like, they know that at least they will have something to drink. If you like it, great. If you don't, then you didn't have to spend the money to find out!

It's a great idea - I just need to find some people to do this with!

 

[Cyndirella]

It does sound like a nice evening. I don't think it is tacky at all to ask everyone to bring along a favorite wine.

Do you have a Sam's Club? They have neat frozen appetizers, which would also be really easy. I have had these pinwheel things - meat and cheese wrapped up in a tortilla - several times and they are pretty good.

 

[Aimeedyan]

No, not tacky at all - ask them to bring a bottle (or 2) of their favorite wine to share with others and you'll provide the rest. You can find good wine at very good prices so that's not asking too much.

I would have some fruit, cheeses, bread, baked brie, brushetta, etc there. You could even end the night with coffee and dessert if you wanted.

 

[Beth76]

Not at all tacky. You're tasting wines and people will want to bring what they like to share with everyone else. We hosted a wine and cheese party a couple of years ago and we all had a wonderful time. We had lots of different cheeses, crackers, bread, olives, olive oil, fruits and some other random appetizer-type food and dessert.

 

[mick67]

I think it's a great idea, and not tacky at all. The only way I think you could be expected to provide all the wine is if you were serious connissuers and you wanted to expose your friends to some wines they wouldn't otherwise try. But your way is better because now you can experience wines that they enjoy too.

Have fun!

 

[kadaten]

I know nothing about wine (other than I like the white and pink stuff!) and it sounds like a delightful evening! If only I hadn't just moved away from there! Darn! (Oh, by the way, I never did thank you for your referral to Kevin....he set me up with a FABULOUS agent down here! Thanks! )

But back to your question....it sounds like a lot of fun, a wonderful event to have heading into the holidays Just make sure on the invitation or first mention of it that everyone will be expected to bring a bottle to share, etc. I really like the other poster's "bring a favorite you've discovered" way of putting it....that's very nice! I say all this because I was caught off guard once....RSVP'd for a party well in advance, only to be called 3 days prior and told "oh, it's a potluck....you need to bring an fruit dish" It was never mentioned on the invitation or when I RSVP'd so I had no dish, no groceries, etc. and was not prepared....and had to scramble to find something to bring.

As for appetizers, concentrate on things you can prepare ahead and just pop in the oven to warm when needed. We hosted a Christmas party for 50 last year and that's what saved me! I had so many things made up ahead and put in tupperware in the fridge....just had to pop them on pans and in the oven for a few minutes when running low! If I find my recipes any time soon, I'll try to find that list! I do remember I got a couple off the Jimmie Dean (sausage) website.... I also had lots of dips (got most of those from the mixes you get at craft shows or Tastefully Simple parties) premade in large tupperware in the fridge so just had to refill those bowls....and all my sweets were premade (cookies, mini cheesecakes, etc) so the only thing I was warming was entree kinds of things...

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

We have done this before and one of our "rules" for the party was that every couple had to bring a bottle for tasting/sharing. As the host, you will need to know what everyone wants to bring so you makes sure there are no duplicates. Also so that you make sure you serve them in the right order.

For the kids, my recommendation would be to actually hire a babysitter to be in the house with them and to give them their own kid friendly goodie tray. That way the kids won't be constantly running in and out of the adult party. If you really want to have some fun, set the kids up with their own "wine" tasting using juices!

 

[tiggerlover]

I know nothing about wine (other than I like the white and pink stuff!) and it sounds like a delightful evening! If only I hadn't just moved away from there! Darn! (Oh, by the way, I never did thank you for your referral to Kevin....he set me up with a FABULOUS agent down here! Thanks! )

But back to your question....it sounds like a lot of fun, a wonderful event to have heading into the holidays Just make sure on the invitation or first mention of it that everyone will be expected to bring a bottle to share, etc. I really like the other poster's "bring a favorite you've discovered" way of putting it....that's very nice! I say all this because I was caught off guard once....RSVP'd for a party well in advance, only to be called 3 days prior and told "oh, it's a potluck....you need to bring an fruit dish" It was never mentioned on the invitation or when I RSVP'd so I had no dish, no groceries, etc. and was not prepared....and had to scramble to find something to bring.

As for appetizers, concentrate on things you can prepare ahead and just pop in the oven to warm when needed. We hosted a Christmas party for 50 last year and that's what saved me! I had so many things made up ahead and put in tupperware in the fridge....just had to pop them on pans and in the oven for a few minutes when running low! If I find my recipes any time soon, I'll try to find that list! I do remember I got a couple off the Jimmie Dean (sausage) website.... I also had lots of dips (got most of those from the mixes you get at craft shows or Tastefully Simple parties) premade in large tupperware in the fridge so just had to refill those bowls....and all my sweets were premade (cookies, mini cheesecakes, etc) so the only thing I was warming was entree kinds of things...

Hi Katie! Glad to hear that you had success with the Realtor. Where did you finally decide to settle? It is funny I was just thinking about you the other day, wondering if you all made the transition yet!

Thanks everyone for the great ideas, I am excited.

I think I will pass on the sitter as the youngest kid is 9 and they go on up to about 13, so I think they can entertain themselves.

Any more appetizer ideas would be greatly appreciated. The more the merrier.