For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal live. John 3:16 (NIV)

So you want to host a wine tasting party? And you want your event to be as fun and educational as possible, right? Well as much as some people like to focus just on wine alone, food and wine are a match made in heaven. Besides, when people start drinking wine and the fun discussion begins, people tend to get hungry. So even if you are not hosting a full wine dinner party, your wine tasting will be much more of a success if you have fun and delicious foods available for your guests to snack on. While simple crackers and/or bread may be enough just to cleanse your palate between flights of wines, even a small selection of more interesting wine tasting appetizers can really bring your humble event to a whole new level.

Tip 1: Try to pair your wine tasting appetizers to the theme of the wine tasting. In other words, don't pair heavy sausage stuffed mushrooms if you and your guests are tasting light, delicate white wines. Try to pair the food to the wine theme. If you are tasting several types of wine, then provide a selection of appetizers.

Tip 2: Don't get too formal. Unless you love to cook, try not to overwhelm yourself with complicated foods. Start with simple snacks that are easy to prepare or take no preparation. If you are not serving a full dinner, then try to keep it simple. Put out several plates of finger foods and encourage guests to help themselves.

Some specific wine tasting appetizer ideas: Below is a list of some classic finger food appetizers which are perfect for a wine tasting event. They are generally easy to prepare and can be simply placed on the table for guests to help themselves. They are also pretty versatile, pairing well with many types of wine. Beyond these, get creative. There are no rules so if you have a favorite appetizer that you like to make, throw that out for your guests to enjoy as well. The only tip I have about choosing dishes is to avoid very spicy foods or odd, pungent flavors which may clash with many wines. The ideas below start with the most simple and easy to prepare and continue through some more involved appetizers that require a small amount of preparation.

• Bread and/or Crackers: Sliced bread, such as a French
  Baguette or Batard, and/or simple crackers are a great
  basic food to have available at every wine tasting.
  Besides being necessary to serve some soft cheeses or
  other spreads, they are filling and a good neutral snack
  to cleanse your palate between wines.

• Cured Olives: Most fine supermarkets now carry excellent
  selections of cured olives. These are extremely easy.
  Simply serve them in some bowl or dish and be sure to
  supply an empty bowl for discarded pits. There are
  several varieties to choose from. Try to avoid very spicy
  or salty ones as these can interfere with the tasting of
  wine.

• Nuts and Dried Fruit: It is very common to see a selection of dried nuts and/or dried fruit slices as wine tasting appetizers, served alone or alongside olives or a cheese plate. In fact, many nuts accompany cheeses beautifully and are neutral flavored enough to accompany many wines. Spanish Marcona almonds and walnuts are great choices, as are dried apricot slices. Try to avoid very sweet fruits, particularly if you are drinking dry table wines.

• Cheese Plate: Cheese and wine can be absolutely delicious. You can provide a selection of fine cheeses on a cheese plate, accompanied by knives or forks for firm cheeses and a spreading knife and bread for softer cheeses. Try to pair the cheese with the types of wines you are serving. If you can, find cheeses from the same regions as the wines. Short of that, try to choose more mild flavored cheeses with lighter wines and richer, more pungent cheeses with more full-flavored wines. While very rich, pungent or stinky cheeses can be delicious with rich wines, their strong aroma may detract from being able to appreciate the subtleties of the wines at the tasting.

• Sliced Cured Sausages and Meats: Dried sausages and other charcuterie can be another easy and delicious accompaniment to a wine tasting. There are dozens to choose from. French saucisson sec, Italian salami, Pâté, terrines, Prosciutto, and many others are all delicious, easy to serve and a fine appetizer to accompany a wine tasting.

• Bruschetta: Bruschetta is a simple Italian finger food appetizer usually consisting of slices of toasted bread topped with various chopped accompaniments such as tomatoes, shallots, cheese, garlic, and/or olive oil. There are many variations but most recipes are quite simple and quick to make. To make it a bit richer to accompany heavier red wines, add sautéed mushrooms or meats such as Prosciutto or bacon to kick up the flavor a notch.

• Tapenade: Tapenade is a puréed olive dish usually consisting of olives, herbs, anchovies, garlic and olive oil. Because it is made by blending the ingredients in a food processor, this spread is quite easy and quick. It's also delicious! Make a big batch and serve in a big serving bowl along with bread or crackers to spread it on.

Josh Dusick is the editor of the Wine Tastings Guide at http://www.wine-tastings-guide.com where you can get information about how to host a wine tasting party, how to serve and taste wine and even about pairing wine and food.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Web recipes-on-the-net.com

Amazing Appetizer Recipes Make Parties Memorable! by Jonathan Teng
Appetizer Ideas - Get Some Great Appetizer Recipes by Lucille Green
Artichoke and Rye Bread Appetizer by Sara Gray
Asian Crab Cake Appetizer with Citrus Wasabi Mayonnaise by Kim Morgan Moss
A Yummy Little Appetizer by Seth Rossman
Bread and Olive Tapas by Sara Gray
Cherry Tomato Bruschetta by Sara Gray
Clams A La Du Chef by Andrew Krause
Coconut Fruit Kabobs by Sara Gray
Coconut Shrimp Recipe For Shrimp Lovers by Norm Butler
Grilled Cauliflower - Easy and Delicious by Mary Crowther
Grilled Nachos by Cristie Will
Italian Prosciutto and Cantaloupe Appetizer by Shauna Hanus
Make-Ahead Appetizers - Learn to Make Quick and Easy Appetizers by Lucille Green
Party Themes - Mexican Fiesta Appetizer and Cocktail Recipes by Hilary Basile
Quick and Easy Bites by Mariah Deavine
Ready For Some Awesome Appetizers ? by Gary Gross
Simple Easy Cold Appetizers - The Best Rated Appetizer Recipes by Lucille Green
Simple Shrimp Appetizer Recipes by Audrey Okaneko
Soup Appetizers by Sara Gray
Spanish Recipes - Tempting Tapas Dishes by Linda Plummer
Spanish Tapas: It is the Passion Juice of the Latino Lover... Just Wait Till You Try this Dish! by Chris Jacob
Wine Tasting Appetizer Ideas by Josh Dusick
Yummy Mango and Brie Appetizer by Sara Gray

< Back to Appetizers Recipes