When it comes to picking a wine to go with your charcuterie platter, there are plenty of flavor options to consider, including salt, fat, and spice. Looking for the best wine with charcuterie? We turned to the pros for advice…
Charcuterie pairings, which are delicious, trendy, and a lot of fun to create, are a fantastic method to add mouth-watering taste to any gathering.
Charcuterie boards marry texture and flavor to entice your senses and produce brilliant discussion by complementing popular deli meats and exquisite cheeses.
Whether it’s the refreshing kick of cured soppressata or the creamy richness of an earthy brie, your custom board may take you on a tour through Italy’s flavors and scents.
Of course, a wonderful glass of wine is required to round out the meal. But what are the finest wines to use with charcuterie? Is there any difference between wine and cheese pairings? And meat pairings, too?
Let’s go through all of this and more in our Charcuterie Wine Pairing guide.
Charcuterie Wine Pairings with Meat
When it comes to matching charcuterie and wine, we suggest looking for a wine that complements the meat rather than the other way around.
The use of a backlit table cloth may be considered odd, as wine is frequently depicted as the crème de la crème of Italian cuisine. Still, the finest wines are generally built to complement meals rather than overpower them.
Let’s take a look at some well-known varieties of charcuterie, as well as the best wine pairings for each.
Light Charcuterie Wine Pairings
There are many lovely meats and wines to pair and enjoy if you adore delicious, cured meat with a strong taste but little spice.
Salty, mild meats like prosciutto, soppressata, or mortadella are all recommended for a beginning charcuterie platter.
Pairing these hearty meats with a light- to medium-bodied white wine (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio) or a red wine (Pinot Noir, Merlot) might be an interesting combination.
If you’re feeling brave, sparkling wines (such as Prosecco) and Rosé are excellent ways to liven up this sort of charcuterie.
Best Wine Reviews Tip: Make sure you focus on varietals with high acidity, no matter what wine you pick, since these create the most delicious matches with the delicate flavors of mild charcuterie.
Medium Charcuterie Wine Pairings
Charcuterie isn’t only a delicious way to enjoy your favorite meats. It also adds a little bit of zip to your board while broadening its repertoire of enticing wine pairings.
We recommend mixing things up on your plate with charcuterie that does not overpower your taste buds. Try guanciale, peppered salami, or chorizo picante to determine how much salt and spice you want in your dish.
If you’re searching for something to add to your selection, foie gras or lardo are two good options. They won’t compromise the flavor of your current selections while adding variety.
Light-bodied whites (Chenin Blanc, Verdejo) and fruity reds (Malbec, Gamay) are ideal companions for more powerful spices and meaty notes in this sort of more robust charcuterie.
Best Wine Reviews Tip: If you want to complement a more robust red wine with these meats, consider adding an intense cheese (such as an aged cheddar) to enhance the flavor profile.
Bold Charcuterie Wine Pairings
If you enjoy the finest meats and love to live life in full, spicy charcuterie is for you.
We recommend dipping your toe into the world of the boldest charcuterie with favorites like bresaola, black truffle salami, and Spanish dry chorizo, but be prepared for a significant jolt in flavor, spice, and complexity.
Balance the bolder charcuterie with an equally brave and well-structured wine that can stand up to your meat selection.
Reds (such as Syrah) or medium- to full-bodied whites (such as Chardonnay) that won’t be overwhelmed by the charcuterie should be chosen.
Best Wine Reviews Tip: If you want a fuller-bodied white with good flavor and spice, look for a pâté that is fatty.
Cheese and Wine Pairings
The most effective wine and cheese pairings begin with looking for a wine that compliments the cheese rather than the other way around, as it does with meats.
While there are many delightful and innovative wine and cheese combinations to discover, we’ll concentrate on a few key types of easy-to-pair cheeses in our guide:
Semi-Soft Cheese and Wine Pairings
Semi-soft cheeses, which have a water content of more than 36% but less than 45%, are an excellent place to start when it comes to cheese and wine pairings. These delicious cheeses have mild tastes and a thick, creamy texture that makes them ideal partners for many wines.
We like Gruyere, Havarti, or a young Gouda with dry white wines such as Chardonnay or a rustic red such as a young Bordeaux.
Fresh Cheese Wine Pairings
Fresh cheese is a fresh, unaged soft cheese renowned for its mild and tangy taste. This kid-friendly cheese may be found in most supermarkets and adds flair to any charcuterie platter.
Pairing feta, burrata, or goat cheese with whites like Sauvignon Blanc or a young Chardonnay and fruity reds such as Pinot Noir or Gamay is a good idea.
Hard Cheese Wine Pairings
Hard cheeses, unlike firm cheeses, are well-aged and have a low moisture content. This dryness contributes to a crumbling texture and a nutty flavor that makes this form of cheese ideal for grating on pasta or embellishing a beautiful charcuterie board.
We suggest using an aged Cheddar, Parmesan, or Manchego with well-aged, powerful red wines like a Chianti Classico.
Blue Cheese Wine Pairings
Blue cheese wine pairings are ideal for those with a creative side.
Blue cheese, while not everyone’s cup of tea, is notorious for its use of mold (Penicillium) and a unique crumbling texture with sharp and tangy tastes.
We suggest trying classics like Gorgonzola or Roquefort with sweet whites like Sauternes or fortified Italian reds like a Zinfandel if you’re new to blue cheese.
Charcuterie Wine Pairings with Nuts and Crackers
Nuts and crackers are the perfect charcuterie accompaniment. They provide a crunchy texture and subtle flavor that can enhance any charcuterie experience.
We recommend using almonds, pecans, or pistachios with a light-bodied wine like a Pinot Noir or Beaujolais.
If you’re using crackers, we suggest pairing them with a fruity white like a Riesling.
Best Wine Reviews Tip: When in doubt, go for a wine that is lower in alcohol and has good acidity. These qualities will help cleanse your palate between bites of cheese and charcuterie.
Happy pairing!