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Pairing Wine With Charcuterie Boards

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You have probably attended a party or event with a brilliantly bountiful Charcuterie board. If you are unfamiliar, you should be sure to add it to your ‘must-do’ list. A Charcuterie board is a delightful mix of savory, cured meats, and decadent cheeses, and often includes other accouterments like bread or crackers, olives, fruit, jams, nuts, or honey making for a seemingly endless number of flavor combinations. 

So how does one choose the right wine with such a bounty of flavor? We’re glad you asked!

Best Red Wine to Pair with Charcuterie Boards

One does not typically think of red wine as being universally food-friendly, so finding the right red to pair with something as complex as a Charcuterie board can be a challenge. You will want a red with good flexibility, meaning they either have good acidity or are very fruit-forward and low on tannins. Here is what we recommend:

  • Lambrusco: a slight bubbliness with strong berry notes.
  • Chianti: medium-body, highly acidic, tart, juicy red with cherry overtones.
  • Beaujolais: also known as Gamay, it is very similar to Pinot Noir in flavor. 
  • Grenache: floral with strong berry flavor and notes of citrus.
  • Cabernet Franc: medium body with tart fruit flavors, similar to Pinot Noir.

Best White Wine to Pair with Charcuterie Boards

White wines do tend to be more diverse when it comes to food pairings, but that doesn’t mean any old white will elevate your Charcuterie board. A light, crisp, aromatic white with decent acidity will pair well with most charcuterie offerings. Try one of these:

  • Riesling: light, sweet, crisp, and highly acidic. It’s also highly versatile.
  • Gewürztraminer: a rich bouquet of exotic fruits, spices, and rose tones.
  • Chenin Blanc: high acidity with floral aroma and notes of apple. 
  • Prosecco: dry, sparkling wine with sweet, fruity grape notes.
  • Pinot Blanc: very light, and floral with notes of citrus and peach. 

Pairing Wine With Cheese

Cheese can be broken into several different types and styles, with each paired best with specific types of wine. Some of the most common wines to drink with cheese are Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Cabernet, Viognier, and Zinfandel.

Pairing Wine With Cured Meats

Charcuterie is actually the term for the branch of cooking devoted to prepared meat products; over time, it’s come to include cheese, crackers, and the like. However, if you have a specific meat selection in mind, you may want a specific wine, as well. Some cured meats like salami and prosciutto are actually cured with red wine to add flavor to the meat.

Mild Charcuterie

If you’re new to charcuterie, or just prefer something light, mild, salty meats like prosciutto, mortadella summer sausage, or soppressata are big on flavor but mild in spice.

These meats will do well with acidic, fruity whites, or light to medium-bodied reds. Try a Riesling, Albariño, Grenache or Beaujolais. 

Moderate Charcuterie

You broaden your range of wine options by going with more moderately-spiced meats. Pastrami, speck, chorizo, coppa and guanciale introduce more spice and flavor to your board. 

Light, fruit-forward white wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc make good choices. For reds, you can choose something light and fruity, such as a Malbec, or if you’re feeling bold try a Zinfandel to match the bolder flavors of the meat.

Bold Charcuterie

If you want bold, superbly flavored meat with spice and complexity, black truffle salami, Jamón serrano, bresaola, or Jamón Ibérico de bellota will deliver what you are looking for.

These meats can stand up to full-bodied wine, and need a well-structured wine that can hold its own. Full-bodied reds, such as Syrah or Nebbiolo will make an ideal pairing with bold Charcuterie. For whites, chose a Chardonnay or Roussanne.

At the end of the day, Charcuterie should be fun and explorative. The flavor and texture combinations abound and it’s virtually impossible to mess it up. Grab two or three different bottles of wine to mix and match with the different flavors of the board, and you’ll ensure that everyone will find a pairing that pleases their palate.


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