If you’re planning on hosting a wine and cheese party for your friends, then you must know that you need just focus on four varieties of cheeses that are known worldwide for their distinct flavors. Serve these cheeses on a walnut cheeseboard, and you’ll be good to go. Why walnut? Well, aside from the fact that walnut looks smashing, these are good for cheese since walnut is self-healing. So even if you bruise it with a cheese knife, you won’t have to worry about unsightly scars on it. It’s also a sanitary option, not to mention the wood is knife-friendly.
Now meet the distinguished cheeses that will be front and center during your wine and cheese party.
Mozzarella
Originally from southern Italy, by tradition mozzarella is made from the milk of Italian buffalos. However, later, manufacturers started to use cow’s milk to create this beloved stringy delight. Mozarella can be classified into 3 basic types according to the milk used to produce it. There is mozzarella di bufala which is made from buffalo’s milk, mozzarella fior di latte from cow’s milk, low-moisture mozzarella which is made from skimmed milk and mozzarella affumicata, which is smoked. Unlike other kinds of cheeses, mozzarella is not aged, and is actually best eaten fresh. The food industry generally uses mozzarella made from skim milk. Mozarrella cheese is characterized by its nutty, sweetish flavor, and its stringy textures when baked.
Gouda
Gouda cheese originated from Gouda, a city in Netherlands which used to be the center where cheese guilds sold their products. Made from cow’s milk, this yellow cheese is one of the most popular cheeses everywhere, but because its name is unprotected, the term Gouda is often used to refer to other similar tasting cheeses made in the traditional Dutch method. Gouda cheese is nutty, buttery, with a butyric acid character that is more pronounced than other cheeses.
Blue Cheese
Blue cheese is cheese that distinguished through its blue, blue gray or blue green veins. Blue cheese can be made from cow’s milk, goat’s milk, or sheep’s milk. During the cheese making process, cultures of mold derived from Penicillium Glaucum and Penicillium Roquefortui are inserted into the cheese and allowed to develop. As the cheese matures, the mold grows and the streaks that the cheese is known for. There are more than 10 varieties of cheese classified as blue cheese, and the most popular among them are Danish, Gorgonzola, Roquefort, and Stilton.
Ricotta
Among the many kinds of cheese, ricotta counts among those that work well with desserts. It is one of the few varieties of cheese that can be eaten by people who are lactose intolerant because it is made from whey (from sheep, cow, goat, or Italian water buffalo milk) left over from cheese making. Ricotta is often used as dressing in egg or tuna salad or as a substitute for mayonnaise.
Now that you’ve met the four varieties of cheeses famous all over the world for their unique flavors, it’s time to start looking for wines that will pair well with these cheeses. Enjoy your wine and cheese party!