photo collage of three Jordan Winery New Year’s Eve Cocktail Party appetizers with image text "5 New Year's eve appetizer recipes for the ultimate party"

The Ultimate New Year’s Eve Cocktail Party Menu

Being the host for a festive occasion like New Year’s Eve can be a daunting task. The pressure is on to impress, entertain and serve elegant food worthy of each person’s final sips and bites for the year. To make this an easy task, I’ve put together a list of our favorite Jordan Winery appetizers to craft a delicious and exciting New Year’s Eve cocktail party menu. All are stress-free to eat and serve at a reception, and most are finger foods for clean-up convenience.

To really usher in the new year in style, be sure to read our 10 Tips for Home Entertaining for great advice on party set up and design.

A Luxury New Year’s Eve Cocktail Party Menu

Buckwheat Blinis with Caviar and Champagne — Jordan Winery’s buckwheat blinis are topped with Chef’s Reserve Caviar by Tsar Nicoulai.

Caviar and Buckwheat Blinis

Adapted from Chef Gary Danko’s famous blini recipe, these healthy and hearty buckwheat blinis are simple to make and definitely make a splash on any menu. I serve them with Jordan Chef’s Reserve Caviar by Tsar Nicoulai and the classic caviar wine pairing, Champagne.

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Cauliflower Caviar Cups

If you’re wanting to really surprise your guests, look no further than this small, yet flavorful dish. These elegant appetizers are an easy way to sneak veggies into your New Year’s Eve cocktail party menu. The recipe pairs fresh, seasonal cauliflower and curry with decadent caviar and will definitely wow anyone at any gathering. Pair with Jordan Cuvée by Champagne AR Lenoble or Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay.

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dungeness crab appetizer spoons — Ring in the new year with an elegant, seasonal Dungeness crab appetizer.

Dungeness Crab in Miso Vinaigrette

Is there anything more fun than eating a small bite from a spoon? A luscious appetizer featuring winter’s ocean delight, Dungeness crab, and Asian flavors of ginger, miso and mirin, this dish will sing with Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Minimally adorned, it also will complement any reception table.

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beef sushi nigri recipe — This beef sushi recipe is the perfect finger food for a holiday party where cabernet sauvignon is on the menu.

Beef Nigiri with Wild Mushrooms

In all the talk of Champagne, a New Year’s Eve cocktail party menu isn’t complete without an appetizer for red wine lovers. I perfected this beef sushi recipe over several years, experimenting with different cuts of meat and sushi rice. The result is an explosion of earthy savoriness from the mushrooms and sherry vinegar which complement Jordan Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon perfectly.

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olive oil marinated goat cheese appetizer — Winter citrus adds a seasonal kick to a party platter of olive oil marinated goat cheese.

Marinated Goat Cheese with Winter Citrus

This colorful vegetarian appetizer is always a huge hit with a crowd. Beautiful on a platter, it’s one of my favorites and is so versatile, you can make it all year round by changing out the seasonal fruit. You can also switch out the goat cheese for Spanish Manchego. The recipe marinates citrus rind, peppercorn and spices with the cheese for at least 8 hours, to meld the flavors together. The delicious results are definitely worth the extra time.