Buy Gourmet Cheese Online -- Gourmet Cheese Gift Baskets

One of the most beloved foods out there is cheese. Almost every country in the world makes some form of it, and you can find a cheese for any taste from sweet to tangy.

Cheese is also a perfect party, holiday or picnic food. It travels well, generally isn't messy, lasts a long time, looks aesthetically pleasing and goes well with all sorts of foods, including wine, nuts, fruits or crackers. In other words, cheese is ideal for special -- and not so special -- occasions!

With so many cheeses available, making a choice of just one can be overwhelming. A great way to try many different types of gourmet cheeses is to purchase a cheese gift basket which comes with several different kinds. This way, you can sample French cheeses, Italian cheese, Spanish cheese or American cheese and see what type you like best. And even if you don't like a particular kind, it's fun to try!

Cheese samplers make great spreads for dinner or holiday parties, and it doesn't take much work to present it. Another wonderful way to make cheese the star of the party is to host a wine and cheese party. Guests can sample various gourmet cheeses, and if you're not sure where to start, buying a gourmet cheese gift basket is an easy way to get a variety all at once. Make sure to serve the cheeses with crackers, nuts and fruits and serve the cheese at room temperature. Also, serve a few different kinds that aren't too similar in taste.

As an admitted cheese addict, I think that cheese makes any occasion that much better. So try some gourmet cheeses. They make lovely gifts and perk up any party.

Ambitious cheese lovers won't want to pass up on these gift baskets that contain world cheeses from countries like France and Spain. As an avid traveler and cheese lover, I enjoy trying different types of cheese from around the world. There's nothing quite like bleu cheese that's actually made in France, for example. These cheese samplers offer an affordable way to try such foods -- and you don't need a plane ticket to get them!

The French Cheeses For The Connoisseur assortment comes with a variety of sharp, statement-making cheeses. There's Pont L'Eveque, which has a rind (like brie) and a strong aroma; Buche du chevre, which is a very flavorful goat cheese and one of my favorites (try it with wheat crackers - yum!); Fourme d'Ambert, which is a robust bleu cheese, not for the faint of heart, and Gruyere de Comte Reserve, which has a deep, nutty flavor. Of course, serve these with some good French wine!

The Spanish Cheese Assortment also comes with four cheese: Manchego, which is a rich, tasty cheese made from sheep's milk; Mahon Reserva, which has a sharp flavor; Idiazabal, which has a nutty flavor, and Murcia al Vino, which is a goat cheese.

The Scary Cheese Sampler has cheeses that are more unusual than frightening. There's Thai curry cheddar (amazing!), green pesto-infused cheese (perfect with pasta) and black crackers. While the cheeses provide some new and different flavors to your taste buds, the spread will also look colorful on your table.

The Irish Cheese Sampler has four hard cheeses, including an Irish blue cheese and a specialty cheddar. Because they're sharp and rich, these cheese are great to serve at the start of a meal or as a course by themselves.

Much as I love gourmet cheeses from around the world, there's nothing quite like cheeses from America. My husband and I often go up to a cheese farm in Vermont where we sample and purchase artisan aged cheddar. When we visited Wisconsin, we bought several bricks of cheddar to bring home as gifts -- and ended up eating all of it on the drive home. These cheese gift baskets have the best of American cheeses so you, too, can have this type of experience.

The Wisconsin Sampler comes with eight cheeses, including bleu and different types of cheddars. All are made in Wisconsin, so they're high quality and fresh.

The Artisan Sampler is also from Wisconsin and is for the ultimate cheese lover. This gift basket is a little pricier than the others, but has a dozen cheeses. This is ideal for an event where there's going to be a lot of people. The sampler has several different kinds of cheddar, which is an old stanby and favorite, so it's sure to be a hit.

The Wisconsin Nibblers collection contains different types of cheeses encased in wax. This sampler works well for picnics since the cheeses are packaged so neatly and travel well.

Cheese, of course, goes really well with any type of meat. Think about all of the classic dishes that you love: pepperoni pizza, ham and cheese, meat lasagna. The tastes of meat and cheese complement one another so well, which is why this combo remains a favorite. These gourmet cheese samplers play on that and offer gourmet meats along with the cheeses.

The Savory Sophisticated Gourmet Basket is more expensive than some of the others, but worth a splurge if you love caviar. This is the type of spread you put out for an upscale party, such as an engagement party or pre-wedding reception. It also makes a great gift for the foodie in your life.

The Meat And Cheese Lovers gift basket includes smoked salmon. The smokey flavor works very well with the tanginess of cheese and will only enhance the experience. My husband personally loves to eat sharp cheese and smoked salmon on a bagel, but this also works with a dark bread or crackers.

The cheese and sausage bars basket offers several types of cheeses and sausages, and is packed neatly for traveling. Also, because of the way the package is shaped, it's easier to wrap this one. As great as the other baskets are, many have an odd shape which makes wrapping a little difficult.

Next time you're at a loss for what to serve at a party or what to give someone as a gift, consider buying a gourmet chesse gift basket. Delicious cheese will never go out of style and is sure to be appreciated by whomever gets to eat and enjoy it!