7 Trader Joe's Items for a Wine & Cheese Night

Grab these TJ’s items for an easy, festive celebration.

With the release of Trader Joe’s holiday-themed Fearless Flyer, we couldn’t resist dreaming up the perfect wine and cheese night. The grocer has an array of exquisite cheeses, crackers, breads, meat, fruit and more available year-round, but these seven must-haves are especially great for the holiday season and are only available for a limited time. From truffle-packed cheeses and Parisian-inspired pastry-like crackers to a variety of wines and sparkling wines from around the globe, we're taking our wine and cheese nights to a whole new level.

Related: How to Build the Perfect Cheese Board

Italian Truffle Cheese

The first item we’re adding to our carts is Trader Joe’s Italian Truffle Cheese. Truffles have inspired an obsession for the ages, and for good reason. Their distinctive and intense flavor is difficult to replicate, their aroma is unmatched, and they’re challenging to cultivate, making them quite pricey. To make the truffle experience more accessible, TJ’s blended concentrated truffle oil and pieces of Italian black truffles, straight from central Italy’s Umbria region, into a mild 15-day aged cow’s-milk base. The noteworthy combination of a subtle base with punchy flavor pockets makes it the perfect contender for the front and center position on a cheese plate. You can find the cheese in random-weight pieces for $13.99 per pound.

TJ's Grand Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

Now, what is a wine and cheese night without the wine? TJ’s Grand Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex red that hails from one of Chile’s first wine grape-growing areas. Each full-bodied sip of this bold cab lingers with oak and light pepper from its year and a half maturing in French and American barrels. Made for enjoying alongside grilled meats or bacon-wrapped treats, it also proves a robust pairing for aged cheeses. At $12.99 per bottle, it brings a taste of South American wine country home for a fraction of the plane ticket.

Related: 4 Ways to Open a Wine Bottle Without a Corkscrew, According to Wine Experts

L’Éclat Sparkling & TJ’s Platinum Reserve

Starting off any wine and cheese soirée with a glass of bubbles sets the tone for celebration. If you’re a fan of sparkling wine, Trader Joe’s has a number of interesting and budget-friendly sips this year for $14.99 per bottle. Each has its own vibe, offering a quality sparkler at a great price. If you’re looking for something crisp and fruity or light and bright with a spirited sweetness, the L’Eclat Sparkling Blanc de Blancs or Brut Rosé are excellent holiday choices. And the Platinum Reserve Sonoma County Brut and its sister sparkler, the Brut Rosé, are said to be the “very definition of a fine wine,” according to the grocer. With their subtle fruitiness and crisp but smooth drinking profile, TJ’s options offer delicate and enjoyable bubbles for everyone on your guest list. Of course, for those not imbibing, Trader Joe’s Something Spritzy is the festive, citrus-forward mocktail you need to keep on hand all season.

Figgy Cheddar

Add a little sweetness to your cheese board with this seasonal sensation, available in random-weight pieces for $10.99 per pound. Trader Joe’s Figgy Cheddar starts out by marinating sweet, mini Spanish figs in a white wine and rum marinade with warming spices like cinnamon and ginger before mixing them right into the rich, creamy base. All the way from Leicestershire, UK, this mild Cheddar studded with booze-soaked fig pieces is a unique and fun addition to any cheese board. Aside from unwrapping the packaging, the only thing to do is to let it sit out for about a half an hour before serving to let the flavors come together. Bonus: If you have any leftovers, TJ's recommends including a slice with your apple pie.

Scalloped Cracker Trio

Every cheese board needs a canvas of crackers, and the Scalloped Cracker Trio is a great place to start. There’s no need to buy multiple packages of crackers, as this assortment offers a range of different flavors, including savory garlic, aromatic rosemary and delicately spicy chili. Neither too delicate or too hearty, this cracker trio plays the ideal supporting role to stars like the bold Figgy Cheddar and Italian Truffle Cheese. Pick up a 16.4-ounce box for $3.99.

Onion Confit Swirls

The Onion Confit Swirls marry the sweet, flaky swirls of a Parisian palmier cookie with the savory richness of French onion confit into one delectable bite. This irresistible caramelized onion spread is rolled into puff pastry with Emmenthal cheese, and each slice bakes up with a crispy palmier cookie texture. With a nod to two iconic culinary traditions, these golden pastry swirls are the ultimate cheese board accessory and are sold in a 2.64-ounce box for $2.49.

Dark Chocolate Stars

While these Dark Chocolate Stars are not a traditional addition to a cheese board, trust the vision. Close your eyes and imagine these stars scattered around the board for an aesthetically pleasing and festive look. Not only do they elevate the look of the board, they offer a sweet something for guests to nibble on. These chocolate-covered cookies have been shining as a festive staple for more than 15 years at Trader Joe’s. Not only are they pretty to look at, and delicious in their own right, the cocoa notes provide a nice counter to creamy cheeses like Brie or chèvre. However you constellate them, these glittering chocolate stars create holiday magic bite after bite for $4.99 per box.

Read the original article on Eating Well.