Whether you’re organizing a family gathering or a wine and cheese night with friends, cheeseboards are easy to prepare and guaranteed to impress your guests. From how much cheese you need per person to wine and cheese pairing tips, we’ll show you how to make a cheeseboard and take your hosting skills to the next level.

How Much Cheese Do I Need per Person

Cheeseboard Appetizers (based on an 8-oz. bar of cheese)

Allow 1/4 of a bar (2 oz.) per person
You will need to purchase three bars for 12 people

Wine and Cheese Party

Cheeseboard with 1/4 of a bar (2 oz.) per person (see above)
Supplement the cheeseboard with grapes, nuts, crusty bread your favorite crackers.

A Cheeseboard for 10: Guidelines

5 oz. Colby, cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
5 oz. Swiss cheese
5 oz. PHILADELPHIA Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Spread
5 oz. goat cheese, gruyere, gouda, blue cheese or brie
Variety of crackers
1/2 lb. each red and green seedless grapes

Wait! We have even more great tips to share on how to make the perfect cheeseboard.

Making a Cheeseboard

Eight Steps to the Perfect Cheeseboard

Choose three to five cheese types for an impressive display. Select different ages, flavors, textures and colors. For instance, try a soft goat cheese, with a medium cheddar, and sharp blue.
Remove soft, semi-firm, firm and hard cheeses from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving.
Arrange cheese on a large platter, wooden board or tray. Avoid placing strong, pungent cheese (such as sharp cheddar or blue) next to a mild cheese (such as feta).
Cut firm cheese into bite-size cubes, sticks, squares or triangles.
Serve fresh and soft cheeses as whole blocks or rounds. Serve with a small sharp knife so guests can serve themselves.
Garnish board with grape clusters, apples, pears, dried fruits, nuts or olives.
Jazz up your cheeseboard with a cheese appetizer, such as the Mini Cheese Balls.

Cheese Selection

Choose cheeses that vary in flavor, texture and visual appeal.

Types of Cheese

Choosing cheese is easy since most fall into these five basic categories:

Fresh
Characteristics: rindless; soft texture, often spreadable; mild flavor; white in color; often flavored with herbs and other seasonings; melts quickly at low temperatures.
Try: Goat Cheese, Cream Cheese

Soft
Characteristics: ripened; soft edible rind; smooth texture; mild to medium, creamy taste; yellow color; melts quickly at medium temperatures.
Try: Brie, Camembert

Semi-soft
Characteristics: ripened or unripened; rindless; yellow or white in color; mild to sharp flavor; melts quickly at medium temperatures.
Try: Mozzarella, Havarti, Blue, Fontina

Firm
Characteristics: ripened and aged; rindless; salty, nutty taste; smooth or crumbly in texture, ivory to yellow color; withstands higher temperatures; good for browning.
Try: Cheddar, Gouda, Swiss Cheese

Hard
Characteristics: ripened and aged; hard and dry rind; pale yellow color; hard and granular in texture; withstands higher temperatures; good for browning.
Try: Parmesan, Asiago, Romano

Cheese Flavors

For variety, choose from each of these categories:

Mild Cheeses	Medium Cheeses	Strong Cheeses
Colby	Brie	Blue
Mozzarella	Camembert	Sharp Cheddar
Farmers	Edam	Extra Sharp Cheddar
Monterey Jack	Gouda	Goat Cheese
Marble	Havarti	Feta
Mild Cheddar	Muenster	Parmesan
	Swiss

How Much Cheese?

The amount of cheese to serve depends on the type of function you are hosting. The recommended serving of cheese is 2 oz. per person. If you are serving cheese for an appetizer party, supplement the cheeseboard with a vegetable tray.

More Great Cheese Tips

Wine & Cheese - A Perfect Pairing!

Wine and cheese are a natural combination for any entertaining occasion. In general the lighter the wine, the milder the cheese and the more full bodied the wine, the stronger the cheese. Below we've partnered some cheeses and wines to give you the best flavor.

	Mild Cheeses	Medium Cheeses	Strong Cheeses
Cheeses	Colby, Marbled, Farmer's or Monterey Jack	Edam, Swiss, Gouda, Brie or Havarti	Extra Sharp Cheddar or Blue
Wines	Red Burgundy, Chablis, Zinfandel or Riesling wines.	Red Burgundy, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer or Merlot.	Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay or Beaujolais.

Learning how to make a cheeseboard is a fantastic way to display your cheese selection. The key to preparing the perfect cheeseboard is variety. Variety in cheese, texture, flavor and shapes.

Creative Cuts For Cheeseboards

Cheeseboards are ideal for easy entertaining. Include a variety of colors, textures, light and regular cheeses in mild, medium and strong flavors. Knowing how to cut different shapes of cheese can add variety to boards, too.

Cheese bars can be cut into slices, triangles, cubes or small sticks.
Flat rectangular shapes can be sliced or cubed, cut into squares, triangles, rectangles or sticks.
For cutting ease, cut cheese soon after removing it from the refrigerator. Since cheese is best when served at room temperature, allow the cheese to set for 30 minutes before serving.
Each time the cheese is cut, always re-wrap cheese in fresh plastic wrap to help prevent mold growth and keep the cheese fresh longer.

Easy Entertaining With a Cheeseboard

Cheeseboards are ideal for easy entertaining anytime. Include a variety of colors and textures. Try reduced fat and regular cheeses in mild, medium and strong flavors. Offer a variety of crackers and add some fresh fruit or colorful vegetables for extra appeal.

For best flavor, remove cheese from the refrigerator 30 min. prior to serving. Keep cheese wrapped in plastic wrap so it doesn't dry out and unwrap it just before serving. If the cheeseboard is made ahead, simply cover the cheese with plastic wrap until serving time.