Charcuterie boards are one of the best ways to start off a meal and if you really want to get creative with it, you can even make a full meal out of it. The concept can be understood via the origins of the French word – charcuterie which means “cooked meat” hence the abundance of meats on a typical board. Other foods which can now generally be found on a charcuterie board are cheeses, fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, olives, pickled foods, spreads and more. There’s one more thing that absolutely must accompany any charcuterie board – wine!
The best way to go about creating your board is to choose foods that complement each other which can be accompanied by a wine to match.
What Dominates Your Board?
Young Cheeses & Fatty Charcuterie with Full-Bodied, Acidic Whites
If you’re opting for fresh fatty cheeses like ricotta, mozzarella, feta, stracchino and meats such as salami, bresaola, pate spreads, you will want to pair it with bold flavors and acidity. Opt for wines such as Chardonnay or a Vermentino or Spumante Brut.
Soft Cheeses & Full-Bodied Whites or Rosato
If your cheeses of choice is brie, camembert or robiola or similar nutty like cheeses and charcuterie meats are prosciutto, mortadella, soppressata, sausage, your best bet is to pair your board with a Chardonnay or Spumante Brut or a Rosato.
Hard Cheeses & Tuscan Cured Meats
If your board is dominated by cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano and Tuscan cured meats like finocchiona or cinta senese then go for a bold red such as a Sangiovese based Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva or a structured Cabernet Sauvignon.
If your board is a mixture of young, aged, smoked, fatty and more then consider a variety of boards to match your wines or simply just enjoy being in the company of friends, family and fine wine and enjoy a toast to happiness and health.
