Charcuterie, Cheese, and Wine: Interesting Options for Your Next Date Night

If you’re planning to enjoy a date night with your significant other at home, a charcuterie board served alongside the perfect wine pairing can be an interesting, fun, and different way to enjoy one another’s company and try new things. Below, you can learn more about what a charcuterie board is, how to put one together, and how to choose the right wine to pair with it. 

What is a Charcuterie Board?

To put it simply, a charcuterie board is a platter that consists of a wide variety of meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, or any combination of these. If you’ve ever purchased a meat and cheese platter from your local deli, this is an example of a remarkably simple yet effective charcuterie. When you make one at home, you can provide all of your (and your significant other’s) favorites on awooden bar board or, for an even fancier night in, acustom-etched slate server.  Just put the tray on the coffee table, pour a glass of wine, and enjoy. 

Putting Together Your First Charcuterie

To put together a simple, yet delicious (and eye-appealing) charcuterie board, start with a clean bar board or slate server and add the following:

• Cured Meats:Simpler options include pepperoni, ham, or salami. If you want to try something new, opt for mortadella, calabrese, or prosciutto. 
• Cheeses: Ideally, you should include a variety of three or four different cheeses that range in flavor from mild to bold. You might also choose to include at least one soft spreadable cheese alongside one harder sliced cheese. 
• Olives: Options include pimento-stuffed green olives, black olives, or any sort of olives you enjoy. These salty options pair nicely with most cheeses. 
• Crackers and Breads: Include two or three cracker varieties, including a buttery cracker, a thin wafer-like cracker, or something hearty such as a whole grain option. 
• Condiments: Mustard, flavored mayonnaise, jams, and jellies are all fantastic choices. Browse your local specialty markets for things like hot pepper jam, chipotle mayo, and hand-ground brown mustard. 
• Dried Fruits: Popular options include cherries, apricots, and dates, but any dried fruit is a great option. 
• Nuts: Pecans, walnuts, and almonds are the most popular nuts for charcuterie, but you might choose Brazil nuts, peanuts, cashews, and more. 

Pairing Your Charcuterie with Wine

If this is your first charcuterie experience, the best (and safest) option involves sticking with one bottle of white and one bottle of red. In almost every situation, a bottle of pinot noir and a bottle of pinot grigio will satisfy this and pair nicely with just about everything on the board. Remember that red wine will pair best with the stronger flavors, such as salami or a sharp cheese, while white wine pairs nicely with milder flavors, such as cashews or dates. For a touch of class, and for better tasting wine, decant your bottles into stunningcustom wine carafes that feature your favorite city maps. 

A charcuterie board is a delicious and surprising way to enjoy a night in with a special someone. It provides a broad range of tastes and flavors, and it may just give you both the opportunity to try new cured meats, cheeses, or wines that you will love.