I don't know about you, but I am always down for a classy affair. Always. Give me some wine and cheese and little black dress and I am in my element. Any time I have guests over, I whip out the wooden platter, a few types of cheese, and a bottle of red and a bottle of white. It takes little effort, looks fabulous, and tastes amazing.

We took the liberty of diving into the world of small dinner party etiquette to bring you a simple wine and cheese pairing guide. (It is your lucky day!) There are a few good guides out there for wine and cheese, but not many for all three. (We all know that there is more involved in a tasting party than just booze and dairy. Fig jam anyone??) So, here are a couple tips and tricks:

1) Soft cheese, like goat, works well with melon and a fruity nut like pistachios. Try grinding some pistachios and placing that and the goat cheese on top of a crostini. Top with honey. (wine pairing: Chenin Blanc)

2) Ripened cheese like Brie is best when paired with berries, or jams. Hence the baked brie that we all know and love! (wine pairing: Shiraz)

3) Due to it's pungent flavor, blue and gorgonzola cheeses are best paired with a sweeter wine like riesling, and grapes, to bring balance to the palette. (wine pairing: Riesling)

4) Havarti is a semi soft cheese that melts in your mouth. It pairs well with grilled vegetables like asparagus, and pepper jams like Harry and David's Pepper Relish. (wine pairing: Chardonnay)

5) Gouda (one of our favorites) works well with fruits like apples and pears. (wine pairing: Pinot Noir)

6) Hard cheeses like parmesan and romano go well with meats and grilled veggies. Make sure to have space on your table for a meat and veggie platter. (wine pairing: Merlot)

Now go throw the classiest wine and cheese party ever! And we want to hear about it. ;)