Transform your next gathering from ordinary to unforgettable with the ultimate (not-so) secret weapon, a show-stopping charcuterie board. While throwing together any combination of meats and cheeses works in a pinch, the perfect wine pairings elevate your spread from a simple snack to a culinary masterpiece. The expert tour guides at Winery Guys Tours share some tips to create a charcuterie experience your guests won't stop talking about.
What is a charcuterie board?
A charcuterie board is a platter that features a selection of cured meats, cheeses, and other complementary items like fruits, nuts, crackers, and spreads.
Although the term originally referred to cold, prepared meats, its modern use has broadened to include a variety of ingredients artfully arranged on a board or slab for an appetizer or light meal.
How To Create Your Charcuterie Board: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Decide Which Board to Use
The board's style sets the vibe, from rustic wooden boards to elegant marble or textured slate for an industrial feel. But if you lack options, a simple piece of butcher paper works.
Step 2: Put Down Small Bowls for Your Condiments
Since meats and cheeses are the main features, place condiments and accompaniments on the board first, then arrange everything else around them. Use pinch bowls or ramekins for the condiments, and remember, odd numbers are more visually appealing.
Step 3: Position Your Meats & Cheeses
Include a variety of meats like hard salamis, spicy options, cured hams, and others. Then offer cheeses with different textures, origins, and milk types, such as soft, hard, and semi-firm varieties.
Step 4: Add Crackers or Bread
Offer two or three options for your guests to enjoy with the cheeses and meats, such as sliced baguette, ciabatta, water crackers, olive oil flatbreads with sea salt, and nut and seed crackers. You should also think about including a gluten-free option.
Step 5: Add Some Colour with Fruit
Fresh fruits like sliced green apples, red grapes, and pomegranate seeds bring vibrant colour. Dried fruits such as apricots, cranberries, or cherries add great texture.
Step 6. Fill in Any Empty Space with Nuts
You should aim for a lush appearance, so fill any empty space with almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans, or walnuts.
Step 7: Garnish with Green
Fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme are the ideal finishing touch for your board. Be sure to take plenty of photos of your beautiful food board before you dig in.
Wine, Cheese, & Meat Pairings
You've created a beautiful board, now it’s time to pick the perfect wine. The key is matching the intensity of the wine and the food. Delicate wines pair well with mild cheeses and lighter meats, while bold wines pair well with aged cheeses and hearty charcuterie. Let's go over some of the wine, meat and cheese pairings and their flavour profiles.
Sparkling Wines & Crisp Whites
Bright, refreshing wines characterized by vibrant acidity and subtle notes of citrus, green apple, and minerals. Light in body with a clean, crisp finish that invigorates the palate without leaving a heavy coating. These include sparkling wines (especially those made using the traditional method), Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio/Gris, Riesling, and Vidal.
Pair these wines with:
Meats: Delicate, silky textures. Buttery prosciutto with subtle sweetness, smooth liver mousse with mild richness.
Cheeses: Fresh, mild, and creamy varieties including tangy goat cheese, milky ricotta, soft mozzarella, rich double-cream brie with mushroomy undertones, La Tur's subtle creaminess, and Cambozola's mild blue flavour.
Light-to-medium-bodied Whites & Rosés
Fuller, rounder wines featuring ripe stone fruit, honeydew melon, and delicate floral aromatics. They are more textured than crisp whites, with balanced acidity and a pleasing mid-palate weight. These include Chardonnay (unoaked and oaked styles), Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, and dry rosé (particularly Baco Noir and Pinot Noir rosés). Their fuller body and richer fruit profile allow these wines to handle more flavourful selections.
Pair these wines with:
Meats: Richer, more complex flavours like fatty salmon rillettes, sweet-salty prosciutto, smoky speck, and robust soppressata with a peppery kick.
Cheeses: Semi-firm with distinct character, including nutty Gruyère, sweet Comté, mild Fontal, approachable cheddar, creamy Brie, and pungent Taleggio with meaty undertones.
Light-bodied Reds
Fresh, fruity wines that showcase bright red berries such as cherry, cranberry, and raspberry, complemented by earthy undertones and smooth, delicate tannins. Juicy acidity balances subtle savoury flavours. These wines include Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Baco Noir, and Maréchal Foch.
Pair these wines with:
Meats: Slightly rich with umami flavour, similar to earthy truffle salami, gamey duck prosciutto, and creamy pork rillettes.
Cheeses: Nutty Alpine styles and semi-firm varieties like sharp white cheddar, buttery fontina, and firm Manchego with caramel notes, as well as complex options like Gruyère.
Medium to Full-bodied Reds
Robust, concentrated wines featuring bold dark fruit flavours like blackberry, plum, and black cherry. They have robust tannins and a bold structure, often complemented by layers of spice, tobacco, leather, and rich savoury complexity. These wines include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah/Shiraz, and Malbec. Their bold structure and firm tannins complement the most intense flavours on your board.
Pair these wines with:
Meats: Richly flavoured and intensely savoury, such as garlicky saucisson sec, lean bresaola with mineral notes, luxurious truffle pâté, and bold soppressata.
Cheeses: Aged and assertive with a crystalline crunch, including sharp Double Gloucester, nutty aged cheddar, caramelized aged Gouda, salty Parmigiano Reggiano with umami flavour, and granular Asiago.
Discovering New Wines Ahead of Your Event
If you are new to the world of wine or just looking to find your new favourite to share with everyone during your gathering, then our expert guides at Winery Guys Tours are here for you.
We offer several different winery tour options to suit any occasion. From private VIP tours for you and your nearest and dearest to shared tours with a larger group. Our tours include wine and charcuterie pairings, providing a chance to explore ideas for creating your own charcuterie board.
Reach out to our team at Winery Guys Tours to book an unforgettable wine tour experience and discover some new favourites for your next event.