Food & Wine Tasting Happy Hour

food and wine tasting party

Last Friday I hosted a food and wine tasting happy hour and enjoyed a couple of hours with friends as we chatted, sipped, and noshed. I was invited by ALDI stores to try out some of their wines and easy foods for entertaining so I set up a fabulous spread on our large kitchen island. With the exception of honey mustard and grapes I already had, everything was purchased at ALDI, including the flowers!

I set up mini food stations on wooden boards so guests could easily move around the island from one focal point to another. They included wine, cheese + accompaniments, meat, bread, chips, and chocolate. Easy styling consisted of 2 coordinating fabrics casually tossed over the island, ripped newspaper clippings as a base for cheeses and meats, and simple kraft paper and craft stick labels for specific flavors.

This was a super way to entertain and catch up with friends after the holidays. The food and wine were delicious, inexpensive, and convenient! See more details below.

food and wine tasting partyfood and wine tasting party food and wine tasting party food and wine tasting party 8 food and wine tasting party food and wine tasting party food and wine tasting party food and wine tasting party food and wine tasting party food and wine tasting partyfood and wine tasting party food and wine tasting party food and wine tasting party food and wine tasting party wine and food tasting party

Food and Wine Tasting shopping list:

Wine:

  • Burlwood Cellars Chardonnay
  • LandsHut Riesling
  • Intermingle California Red blend

Cheese:

  • Edam | Gouda | Vermont white Cheddar | Brie | Cranberry Goat Cheese

Meat:

  • Red wine salami | White wine salami

Mustard:

  • Whole Grain mustard | Austrian Beer mustard | Honey mustard {we already had}

Other:

  • French bread with dipping oil & seasoning set
  • Artisan flatbread crackers | Gluten free crackers
  • Blue Tortilla chips | Garlic Tortilla chips
  • Black bean & corn salsa | Peach & Mango salsa
  • Salt & Pepper kettle potato chips
  • baby dill pickles | Kalamata olives | roasted almonds | shelled pistachios | dried apricots | grapes {we already had}
  • Mixed flower bunch | Roses

Sweets:

  • Dark chocolate covered butter cookies
  • Toffifee {hazelnut caramel chocolate chews}
  • Dark chocolate covered Gingerbread hearts
  • Milk chocolate truffles

Some of my favorite things were the chardonnay which was not too dry, and had a hint of spice flavor. The cranberry goat cheese was out of this world spread on top of the flatbread crackers and paired with a few almonds. The garlic tortilla chips were terrific with the bean & corn salsa – not an overly garlic flavor at all. A slice of salami, Vermont cheddar, and whole grain mustard on a baguette. And the baguette with dipping oil and seasoning. I added some balsamic vinegar to the dish as well.

For more wine and cheese entertaining ideas check out my girl’s wine tasting happy hour and my cheese party.

Think about doing this for your next gathering with neighbors and friends. It’s as easy as opening the package and setting up an attractive display. Remember to label things that are not obvious, and group items together that compliment one another {like the meat and mustard}. Have fun and visit ALDI for a great selection and prices!

cheers!

Sign up for the latest via Email

 

Follow me: Google+ | Pinterest | Twitter | Instagram

 

 

This post is sponsored by ALDI. Thank you for supporting the brands that allow me to create new content for your enjoyment. See how I work with brands here.

Sharing is caring!

Similar Posts

4 Comments

  1. Chris, This is a lovely setting, you arranged everything so nicely and welcoming. I love how you labeled your cheeses, what did you use to hold the little pieces of paper? So creative! I would love to borrow that idea!

    1. Thanks Chloe. Those are called memo pins {idea-ology brand} found in the scrapbooking section of the craft store.

Comments are closed.