How to Create a "Can't Go Wrong" Charcuterie Board + 5 Classic & 5 Crazy Wine Pairings

From the versatile array of cheese and chocolate to the savory delights of salami, prosciutto, and the nuanced touch of fruit, crackers, and bread, charcuterie boards offer a canvas for your creativity at your next wine-tasting party.

 

While the classic cheese plate will always be a natural complement to wine, imagine the excitement of your guests when they see a beautifully arranged charcuterie board at your next party.

 

Derived from the French words chair ("flesh") and cuit ("cooked"), pronounced "shar-koo-tuh-ree," charcuterie describes a wide range of cured meats. Serve it on a platter as a starter course for formal occasions, adding a touch of sophistication, or as a light meal at casual gatherings.

 

Here are 5 tips to get you started, followed by the charcuterie board's grand highlight—the cheese pairings:

 

1. Start with various cured meats such as coppa, Prosciutto, and Lardo and salami like Spanish Dry Chorizo, finochietta, and Casalingo.
2. Include paté, terrines, or mousse, which are mixtures of ground meat with additions like vegetables, truffles, cognac, and nuts, then cooked either to form a mold (paté and terrine) or a smooth, silky spread (mousse).
3. Add pickled vegetables such as gherkins (tiny pickles), red onions, okra, olives, carrots, cauliflower, or pickled mushrooms.
4. Savory dips and sweet spreads like apricot or cherry preserves and savory ones like brown or stone ground mustard pair perfectly with cured meat or paté. A drizzle of honey is always a welcome flavor for any wine-tasting event. 
   
5. Finish with a selection of crackers and bread, such as a sliced baguette, croissants, table crackers, breadsticks, pretzels, and wafers.

 

Bonus Charcuterie Board Additions: Sprinkle in sweet and salty morsels, such as grapes, blueberries, raspberries, dried fruits, almonds, cashews, chocolate-covered nuts and fruits, dark chocolate squares, and creamy gourmet caramel.

 

Speaking of caramels... a few types of wine pair wonderfully with the buttery sweetness of caramels, creating a cozy, decadent flavor experience. Here are some top choices:

1. Riesling (especially Late Harvest or Ice Wine): Riesling’s natural sweetness and notes of stone fruit, honey, and citrus complement the caramel’s richness, adding layers of fruity and floral complexity.

2. Port: Tawny or Ruby Port wines with caramel, dried fruit, and nutty flavors blend seamlessly with the buttery notes of caramel, enhancing each other beautifully.

3. Chardonnay (especially oaked varieties): The creamy, vanilla, and butterscotch notes in an oaked Chardonnay echo the richness of caramel, creating a smooth, indulgent pairing.

4. Moscato: This sweet, lightly sparkling wine brings a refreshing contrast with its floral and fruity flavors, balancing out caramel’s density without overpowering it.

5. Zinfandel: For those who enjoy a bit of spice, a rich, jammy Zinfandel with hints of blackberry and pepper pairs surprisingly well with caramel, especially if the caramel has a touch of sea salt.

Each of these wines can bring out unique notes in the caramels, making for an enjoyable pairing experience!

While meats, spreads, and pickled vegetables create a mouthwatering base, the cheeses you select will be the star of your charcuterie show. The combination of wines and certain cheeses can create magic in the mouth. For a can't-miss cheese plate, consider these pairings:

 

• Cabernet Sauvignon and Aged Gouda: Tannic and full-bodied, Cab boldly stands up to the nutty flavors of aged gouda.
• Chardonnay and Gruyere: Whole or melted, this cheese is an ideal mate to Chardonnay's fruity, nutty flavors.
• Riesling and Ricotta: Sweet, creamy ricotta pairs perfectly with tangy Riesling.
• Gewürtzraminer and Morbier: The wine's sweetness gracefully cuts through the intense aroma and flavors of this gourmet, stinky cheese.
• Pinot Noir and Brie: Brie's distinct flavors require a light-handed wine.
• Merlot and Monterey Jack: Lighter, fruitier Merlot is a classic accompaniment to the classic American cheese.

 

Now that you have the foundation for creating an "elevated" meat and cheese platter—the charcuterie board—for your next wine-tasting party, here are Five Classic Wine Pairings and Five Crazy Wine Pairings for a memorable dinner party.

 

Five Classic Wine Pairings —

 

A t-shirt and jeans, milk and cookies, rock and roll, mac and cheese... some things are—irresistible, undeniably—better together! The same is true of the following classic wine pairings.

 

1. Champagne and Caviar
2. Muscadet and Oysters
3. Riesling and Duck à l'Orange
4. Cabernet and Black Pepper Steak
5. Vintage Port and Stilton

 

Five Crazy Wine Pairings —

 

Feeling adventurous? Try these renegade wine pairings and decide if they're the new classics. These pairings might seem unconventional at first, but their surprising harmony will surely win you over.

 

1. Fried Chicken and Champagne
2. Prosciutto and Prosecco
3. Grilled Swordfish and Pinot Noir
4. Indian Food and Rosé
5. Burgers and Beaujolais

 

We hope this inspired you to plan for your next great wine gathering. Whether you are the host or a guest, we invite you to check out these fool-proof Gifts for Wine Lovers found at RONNINGS that will elevate any wine-tasting event, intimate or grand.