A delight to both palate and eye, the carefully crafted charcuterie board is always the belle of the ball at any social gathering. The delightful appetizer takes your entertaining to the next level, going far beyond the old standards of crackers and cheese. From casual, small get-togethers and intimate cocktail parties to large gatherings and formal celebrations—no matter the occasion or dress code, there is a charcuterie board here that fits the bill perfectly. There are dozens of options within each category—meats, cheeses, breads, condiments, fruit, preserves, and more—making a myriad of amazing possibilities for your finished culinary creation.
HOW TO MAKE CHARCUTERIE FOR YOUR OWN FOR A PARTY
The fabulous thing about serving charcuterie at your own party is that there are no rules! You can keep it as simple as you like, maybe just cheese, or dress it up with fresh or dried fruits, a variety of artisan breads and crackers, olives, spreads like honey, preserves or jams! You can also keep it budget friendly by setting out a small plate or go all out with a huge platter! It really is your choice. This is your party!
Putting together a charcuterie board is a snap which is why it is perfect for any party. Just visit the specialty department in your grocery store and pick and choose what looks amazing and then set it on a board! Honestly when something is this easy and delicious why would you make anything else?
What you will need: Not much! A serving board, I love a farmhouse style board or a round board. You’ll need and cheese knives. When I am making a board, I use a grill pan to grill the baguette and love to use almonds, and some type of spread on a creamy cheese! It’s amazing! I’ll give you a recipe for some things to use on your own board for your next party.
Making your own Charcuterie Board
Meats
My favorite picks for charcuterie meats are below. Have about 2 ounces of meat per person on the charcuterie board. Remember to take the meat out of the fridge about 30 minutes before serving so it comes to room temperature. Get ready to stun your guests with a beautiful and delicious charcuterie board!
- Sopresatta Salami
- Calabrese salami
- Mortadella
- Prosciutto
- Genoa salam
Of course, I’ve given you my favorites, but you will create favorites of your own, add things like slices of rolled ham, summer sausage, pepperoni, or whatever you fancy. This IS your creation!
Cheeses
The cheese is my favorite part! I LOVE aged hard cheeses like gouda, cheddar and Manchego, but I also love soft cheeses like chevre and brie. Also, don’t be afraid to add herbed cheeses. The beauty of the board is you can mix it up to fit everyone’s taste! And if you’re unsure, ask the people behind the cheese counter at your local store!
Fruits and Veggies
Add dried mango, apricots or dates to your platter as well as fresh fruits like grapes, sliced apples, pears, berries or melon. For the holidays: pomegranate seeds, fresh figs and persimmons add a festive touch! Of course all sliced veggies are welcome aboard and adding an assortment flavorful olives and pickles brings a nice salty element to the board.
Breads and Crackers
Breads are a must! They balance the board. Go for artisan breads and gourmet crackers with different shapes, textures and flavors to keep things interesting! I love a great toasted baguette sliced, And the thin bread sticks are always a winner. You can place them in a fun container on the side or even wrap them with prosciutto.
Honey, Spreads, Oils and Vinegars
Honey or honeycomb is a must have! Set it right on the platter or place in a small dish. Dab a generous amount of Adriatic fig or another fruit spread on top of a log of goat cheese or another spreadable cheese for spreading on bread and crackers. Set out a plate of olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping bread! That is always a winner.
Nuts and Seeds
Go big or go home, dried salted nuts are great but I also encourage you to try Marcona almonds, spicy nut/seed mixes, caramelized nuts and even chocolate covered nuts or raisins.
Decorating with greens
To complete your board add greens like lettuce leaves, basil, rosemary sprigs or thyme!
Pairing your Cheeses with Wines
Now that my charcuterie board is well under way, it is time to think about the wines I want to have available. Being that I LOVE to entertain, I think I mentioned that once or twice, my husband and I are members of this amazing Wine of the Month Club! We get 4 Awesome bottles of wine a month for the fraction of what it costs to get a “really” great bottle of wine at the liquor store. And most of that stuff is mass produced and has artificial sulfates. This is private label, no artificial sulfates, and the best part of all is it comes right to my front door. AND, if I refer 3 people, which I have, my wine is FREE!! Yes, you read it, FREE!! I haven’t paid for my wine in months!!! Read more about it here!
Furthermore, by being part of the wine club, I have learned so much more about wine. Not only from the wines we get delivered, but by wanting to gobble up more knowledge! I have looked up information on so many different things and want to share it all with you, my readers! So, below, you will find several different wines and what types of cheeses they pair well with when you are creating your charcuterie board.
Red Wines
A nice Cabernet Sauvignon typically has hints of herbs and dark fruits. When you pair it with extra sharp cheddar, the red wine pulls out the bold flavors of the cheese. That being said, this wine pairs well with other intense, firm and salty cheeses.
Merlot, on the other hand, pairs well with garlic and herb cheeses. These types of cheese bring out the black cherry, plum, and black tea flavors that you find in a medium to full-bodies Merlot. The garlic and herb cheese flavors are more heavily emphasized because of the Merlot’s dry fruitiness.
Pinot Noir is a perfect pair for Vermont Sharp Cheddar because is aged and needs to be paired with a wine that has earthy notes. Pinot Noir is a dry and light to medium-bodied red wine that has these characteristics along with ripe red fruit flavors. It also works well with a nutty cheese with medium firmness, such as Gruyere.
Red Blend Wines, those that are made from a blend of red grapes are usually medium-bodied and well-balanced. With their fruit, herb, and spice flavors, red blends work well with smoked or sharp cheese because all the flavors become enhanced significantly.
Aged cheese has intense savory flavors. Wines that are paired with them need to be equally intense and should also be rather dry. Syrah holds up well in this pairing because it is dry, medium to full-bodied, and has dark fruit and herb flavors. A Shiraz with tobacco notes works particularly well with smoked cheeses.
White Wines
Chardonnay is a dry, medium-bodied white wine with apple and pear notes, which makes it fruity and crisp. These features help enhance the characteristics of Mild Cheddar, Colby Jack or Triple Cream Cheese, particularly the creaminess and the sweetness. Many choose to pair pungent washed-rind cow’s cheeses, knowing that it will lose its stinky characteristics when paired with Chardonnay. I am not a fan of stinky cheese, but remember you can also opt for milder, traditional triple cream cheese to avoid the smell.
Sauvignon Blanc and Monterey Jack or French Goat Cheese. This cheese is known for its subtleness and needs to be paired with a wine that won’t overwhelm it. Sauvignon Blanc is a light-bodied, dry and bright white wine that has citrus and grassy notes that complement the cheese. This wine also works well with firmer French goat cheese that has developed spicy flavors.
Pinot Grigio and Mild Cheese. This is a light-bodied, dry white wine has refreshing pear and melon flavors. Its high acidity acts as a palate cleanser that prepares you for having mild cheese.
Riesling and Spicy and Powerful Cheeses. Riesling is a light-bodied, off-dry white wine that has stone fruit and peach blossom flavors. When paired with these cheeses, the acidity and sweetness of the wine works well with the cheeses’ stimulating characteristics.
Rosé
Sweet Rosé and Chipotle or Colby Jack. These spicy, full-flavored cheeses call for a wine that is sweet and has a creamy quality. Sweet Rosé is a pink wine that is off-dry and light-bodied. The watermelon and strawberry flavors make the wine a good partner with these cheeses.
Dry Rosé and Tomato and Basil or Mild Cheese. Dry Rosé is a pink wine that is dry and light to medium-bodied. The hints of cherry and raspberry in the wine bring brightness and acidity into the pairing with these mild yet flavorful cheese options.
With these tips, you should be able to make an awesome charcuterie board and pair it with an amazing wine or two. There are so many combinations to experiment and enjoy. Happy Party Planning!! And with all your new knowledge on wine, go here and check out the Wine of the Month Club. Become a customer today, and get your wine for FREE! You will not regret it!
