Hosting a holly jolly holiday party isn’t as as simple as it looks on Instagram or Pinterest, but with our tips, it IS entirely possible to throw a stress-free festive function that’ll wow your guests.

PLAN: Think big picture and nitty gritty. Overall plan and details. They key to any event is to plan, and plan properly. Set aside a date and stick to it. Make lists of what you’ll need from food to drink, decor and activities. Don’t forget to think about set-up and clean-up, and what will make YOU enjoy the party just as much as your guests.

In order to create an atmosphere that’s comfortable for everyone, it’s important to be organized. Where do coats and boots go? Do you have enough seating? Where will the main serving area be? If you think about all these elements in advance, the party will be seamless from the start.

ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE OR SILENT NIGHT?: What’s the atmosphere of your party? Once you nail down the theme or feel, you can begin shaping the party.

INVITES: Formal printed invites may not be completely necessary, but a beautifully created online invite definitely makes your event stand up against the rest. Think about reflecting your party theme through the invite design (think: Katerina’s Kris Kringle exchange, or The Anderson’s Holiday Open House). Indicate the guest arrival time, or if it’s a drop-in party. Mention if kids are welcome and any other special notes, like parking locations or if Santa is visiting, for example.

FOOD & DRINK: What’s a party without good food? Not much of a party IMO. Planning a menu can be time consuming and the most stressful part of planning. Whether you’re having a sit-down dinner, buffet, or cocktail party, it’s important to have a variety of Christmas Party food. We love the Krinos Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Mini Rolls. These little morsels of crunchy fillo are the perfect holiday app that will save time and also taste great. They’re crispy on the outside and warm and creamy on the inside with a hint of jalapeño spice, plus, they’re super simple — just bake for 30 minutes from frozen — and they are great for munching while chatting with other guests.

When it comes to bevvies, offering a custom Christmas Party drink is a beautiful stand-out detail — a candy cane cocktail or a mistletoe mojito perhaps. To save time the day/eve of your celebration, premix the drink and serve in a large canister or drink dispenser. Remember to offer both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, and ensure there is a safe way for all of your guests to get home by offering up taxis or an uber service.

DECOR: Time to put all those hours surfing and scrolling to use. Plan your decor in advance; think table cloths and napkins, garland and jingle bells. The best Christmas party decor is noticeable and deliberate, but not over-the-top (unless that’s your theme of course!) Arrange small vases with fresh flowers, or use poinsettias or sweet little Grinch firs as centre pieces you can pick up in advance at your local florist or grocery store. If you’re feeling ambitious, try tying in your party theme into the décor (i.e. Rosemary Christmas trees for a festive foodie soiree).

MUSIC: Don’t forget about Christmas party music! Using a ready-made playlist will give you hours of Christmas carol favourites in minutes. If you’re hosting a dance party, take that into consideration and find a separate playlist.

LITTLE ELVES: Don’t forget the kids. Think about your specific Christmas party and its guests. If you have lots of children coming to your party, reserve an area for easy arts-and-crafts, colouring or cookie decorating. Gingerbread men and women (and houses) are also tons of fun.

GIFT GIVING: Sending your guests off with a party favour is a welcome reminder of the celebration. Again, think simple, ready-made, stress free: A beautiful Christmas ornament, a holiday mug or a sample of your favourite winter tea or hot chocolate mix, a chocolate Santa or even a pair of cozy socks. It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, just from the heart.

THE CLEAN UP: No one wants to think about the clean-up after a Christmas party, regardless if it’s a big or small one. Think about cutlery and dishes: rent or purchase recyclable plates, cups and cutlery — there are endless options for good quality and design. This will eliminate a lot of clean up time. Also, ensure there are enough visible disposal areas so guests have a place to throw their tableware. If you can afford it, plan ahead and arrange for a cleaning service to help you out, and don’t discount the value of hiring bartenders and servers for the party itself. This will allow you to mingle and enjoy your guests and they take care of all the clean-up throughout the event.

Most importantly, HAVE FUN: A happy host or hostess is a great one. If something doesn’t go entirely as planned, let it go and enjoy the party.

Happy Holidays!

A classic, tried-and-true wine and cheese party is a great way to bring people together, and Krinos has some ideas to take your standard cocktail gathering and make it a little bit extra.

FROM OUR FRIENDS AT TWO SISTERS VINEYARDS – CHECK OUT SUGGESTED PAIRINGS BELOW

TIP: Think about the style of your cheese and wine party: do you want it to be casual and informal, or more structured? Are you hosting a drop-in party or a set time? Tailor your party style to your liking.

TIP: Start with a large harvest table; if you don’t have one, folding tables will work and cover them with a statement tablecloth or inexpensive kraft paper. Kraft paper gives a rustic flair, and allows you to write on the paper directly, if you like. If your home isn’t conducive to having a cheese and wine party in one area, perhaps you want to split it up into stations.

TIP: Boards are your friend. Use various wood boards to help design your party flow. Have lots of napkins, side dishes and resting areas available for guests.

TIP: You can’t have a cheese and wine party without cheese, and there’s no shortage of impressive Krinos cheeses. If you want to get people talking, offer up Barrel Aged Feta, either on its own or in a small appetizer salad. You don’t need a lot because this feta packs a punch of salty, rich ­­and dense flavour. Pair this with a full-bodied red wine, and let the blend of flavours come alive.

Conversely, you’ll want a cheese that’s smooth and silky; we suggest Artisan Grec Graviera. This premiere product is best served at room temperature, either on its own or with a simple cracker or crostini. The Graviera is creamy and mild and leaves a certain sweetness on your palate. Pair Graviera with a crisp white wine.

TIP: Add some sweetness to the table with Attiki Greek Honey and Artisan Grec Organic Sundried Figs for your guests to explore. A sweet and smooth dark honey, try drizzling Attiki Greek Honey on the Barrel Aged Feta, or enjoy over mixed nuts. Plump and meaty, Artisan Grec Organic Sundried Figs will be a conversation starter for sure. Offer them up whole or sliced on a cracker with Graviera cheese topped with a drizzle of Attiki Greek Honey. Wine Pairing suggestion: dessert or ice wine.

TIP: Add an olive to the party. Or multiple. Krinos Kalamata Olives are excellent in a little bowl served with toothpicks for easy grabbing. These perfectly salty, deep purple olives  are delicious and go with just about anything. A quick and simple way to elevate your olives – rise the olives from the brine and toss with a bit of EVOO and dried oregano.

TIP: There’s arguably no greater pairing than cheese and wine, but to amp up the party, we suggest adding complimentary offerings to the menu with an extensive line of deliciously sweet and savoury products from Krinos.

Hosting a cheese and wine party is a great way to allow your guests to sample and explore new and familiar flavours; use it as an opportunity to be creative and have fun!

 

---

 

Wine and Cheese Pairing

The most important rule in pairing wine and cheese is to remember that they are both living foods that will change from day to day. As a result, it’s best to use a few guiding principles rather than try to memorize lists of exact pairings for each wine or cheese. Furthermore, “perfect” pairings depend on individual preferences, so the right answer is the one that tastes delicious to the person eating and drinking it.

That said, there are some basic truths underlying food and wine pairing rules. Sweet, salt, fat and spice in food will affect the way wine tastes. In turn, acidity, alcohol and tannin in wine can be accentuated or diminished by these components. So pay attention to the dominant components. As my favourite Master Sommelier frequently says, “Structure never lies.” Think about whether you want to match or contrast whatever stands out about an individual food.

 

Barrel-Aged Feta and Merlot 2013

The salt in feta could overpower a delicate wine, and its intense flavor needs something similarly powerful to not be overwhelmed. Our Merlot is grown in the Niagara River appellation, sheltered from frost, allowing it to reach full ripeness – which creates a rich wine capable of standing alongside such a dominant cheese. The tannins are smooth and silky and should taste even more so alongside the salty feta – making for a flavourful and decadent combination.

 

Artisan Grec Graviera and Unoaked Chardonnay 2016

Silky-textured, flavourful cheese requires a wine with intense fruit and rich texture. Our Unoaked Chardonnay has bright fruit and floral aromatics and flavours supported by a full-bodied weight that allows the wine to stand alongside a high-quality cheese rather than be dominated by it.

 

Attiki Greek Honey, Artisan Grec Organic Sun-dried Figs and Riesling Icewine 2013

In general, wine should be sweeter than accompanying food or its acidity will make it taste sour. Our lusciously sweet icewine – a Canadian specialty of worldwide renown – can easily be sipped next to honey and figs. Riesling’s natural acidity creates the balance that makes this wine so special – intensely concentrated but never cloying. This is a luxurious and low-stress alternative to dessert after a meal or wine and cheese party.

 

Anya Spethmann, Certified Sommelier, Dip.WSET
Director of Marketing, Two Sisters Vineyards
https://www.twosistersvineyards.com