Best Wine for Charcuterie: Our 7 Favorite Pairings

  • Last Updated - 3/21/23
best wine with charcuterie

Quick Answer: Any wines will work, so pick your favorite wine. A charcuterie board has many diverse flavors that typically include different types of cheese; therefore, most, if not all, wines will pair nicely with the board.

Are you hosting a party and want to know what wines to serve with you charcuterie board? If so, we got you covered. In this post, we will be discussing the best charcuterie wine pairing.

And we’ll be sharing our top seven (7) favorite wine pairings that you must try. So whether you’re a wine lover or not, we promise that you’ll find something to love in our list!

Table of Contents

What is a Charcuterie Board?

fresh cheeses

A charcuterie board is a platter of meats, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables. The word “charcuterie” is a French term for a branch of cooking devoted to preparing meat products, specifically pork products.

This dish originated in France and was traditionally made with cured meats like ham, sausage, and bacon. Nowadays, you can find charcuterie boards with all sorts of foods. See below for some recommendations.

Charcuterie boards are the perfect party food because they’re easy to make and can be customized to suit any taste. They’re also great for sharing!

Charcuterie Board Recommendations

  1. Variety of meats: Choose a mix of cured meats such as prosciutto, salami, and ham.

  2. Cheeses: Choose a mix of soft and hard cheeses such as brie, cheddar, gouda, and blue cheese.

  3. Crackers and Bread: Offer a variety of crackers and bread such as baguette slices, crostini, and water crackers.

  4. Fruits: Add fresh fruits like grapes, berries, figs, or sliced apples or pears to balance the saltiness of the meats and cheeses.

  5. Nuts: Offer a variety of nuts like almonds, cashews, and walnuts.

  6. Olives and pickles: These can add a salty and tangy flavor to your board.

  7. Dips and Spreads: Include dips like hummus or baba ganoush and spreads like honey, mustard or jam.

  8. Garnish: Use fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme, or edible flowers to add some color and visual appeal to the board.

Remember to arrange your board in an attractive and visually appealing way, allowing each item to stand out while complementing each other.

WineO Tip: Have you ever tried Trader Joe’s delightful goat cheese with honey? Even if you’re not a fan of goat cheese, it’s been a crowd-pleaser at our wine events! Give it a shot!

Now that we’ve whetted your appetite, let’s get to the best part: the wine! Here are our top seven (7) favorite wine pairings for charcuterie boards.

What are the Best Wines for Charcuterie Boards?

goat cheese pinot grigio semi soft cheeses red and white wines

1) Riesling (Most Versatile)

Riesling is a versatile white wine that pairs well with many different types of food. It’s a great choice for charcuterie because it can stand up to strong flavors without being overpowering. Riesling is also a good choice if you’re serving multiple types of cheese on your board, as it will complement most cheeses.

If you’re looking for a specific Riesling to pair with your charcuterie board, we recommend trying a Dry Riesling or an off-dry Riesling.

Dry Rieslings are known for their high acidity, which makes them a great pairing for creamy cheeses. An off-dry Riesling will go well with the sweetness of the jams and honey or any sweet components of the platter. And it can also mellow out the sharp and tangy flavors of the cheeses. Even the earthier cheeses, like blue or goat cheese. 

2) Sauvignon Blanc (Best of White Wine Lovers)

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wine taste

Sauvignon Blanc is a dry, light bodied white wine that pairs well with many types of food. It has high acidity and refreshing qualities makes it a great choice for a charcuterie board/cheese board. The herbal and vegetable flavors in the wine will compliment the earthy flavors of the cheese.

We recommend trying a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or a Sancerre. A Sancerre has mineral and earthy elements to it, while a New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are known for their high acidity and citrus flavors.

3) Prosecco (Best Sparkling)

champagne sweetness levels

Prosecco is a sparkling wine that’s made from the Prosecco grape. It’s light and refreshing, and the bubbles in the wine will help to cleanse your palate between bites. Prosecco is a perfect wine pairing with the meats and cheeses on a charcuterie board. Sparkling wine is excellent with a wide range of dishes.

We recommend pairing with a Brut or Extra Dry Prosecco. A Brut has less sugar than an Extra Dry, so it will be less sweet. And if you have Cava or Champagne, they should work as well.

4) Merlot (Best for Red Wine Lovers)

merlot descriptions medium bodied red wines

Merlot is a good choice for red wine lovers. It’s a versatile red wine that pairs well with many types of food, but it’s especially good with charcuterie meats. The tannins in Merlot will help to cut through the fat in the meats and cheeses, making it a wonderful pairing. Merlots go nicely with hard cheeses rather than creamier varieties. Plus this red wine pairing will bring out the savory flavors of the meat. 

We recommend trying a Merlot from Bordeaux or California. Bordeaux Merlots tend to be more full-bodied and earthy, while California Merlots are known for their fruit forwardness.

5) Zinfandel (Best for Spicy)

best zinfandel tasting notes

Zinfandel is a red wine that pairs well with spicy food. The sweetness from the fruit in the wine helps to offset the heat of the spices, making it a refreshing pairing. There are also some pepper elements in Zinfandel that can be a compliment to some of the spicier charcuterie meats. Plus the raspberry and red fruit flavors of the wine will also pair well with the sweetness of the jams and honey.

We recommend trying a Zinfandel from California. California Zinfandels are known for their high alcohol content and bold flavors which should pair well with the smoky and spicy flavors of the meats.

6) Grüner Veltliner (Best for Earthy Flavors)

gruner veltliner taste profile wine pairing options

Grüner Veltliner is a white wine pairing for earthier meats, such as smoked ham, other cured meat, or aged salami. It’s also a good choice if you’re serving earthier types of cheeses on your board. Because the herbal and mineral flavors in the wine will compliment the earthy flavors of the cheese. And finally the wine is known to be zesty and crisp, so it a palate cleanser as well.

We recommend trying a Grüner Veltliner from Austria.

If you want to try something different, another good option is an Albariño. Albariño is one of the lighter bodied white wines that pairs very well with seafood. So if you’re serving any type of cured fish on your charcuterie board or salty fresh cheese, this would be a good choice.

7) Rosé (Best for a Summer Day)

sparkling rose

Rosé is a versatile wine that can be paired with many different types of food. But it’s especially good with the medley mix of a charcuterie board, as the acidity in the wine helps to cut through the fat of the meats and cheeses. Rosé is also a good choice if you’re serving fruit on your board, as the fruit flavors of the wine will pair well with the sweetness of the fruit.

Another great option is to choose a sparkling Rosé. Now you have element of both a rose and a sparkling wine in one! And if you want to make it a bougie spread with quality wines, try a Rosé Champagne!

FAQs

What is the best wine pairing for a charcuterie board?

Your favorite wine! Our choice would either be a Dry Riesling or a sparkling wine. Both these wines are very versatile, so they should go well with the assortment of meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, jams, and anything else you put on the charcuterie platter.

What drinks go with charcuterie?

Wine, beer, cider, and cocktails all pair well with charcuterie. It really depends on what you’re in the mood for.

What wine goes with meat and cheese?

There are many different types of wine pairings with meat and cheese. It really depends on the flavor profile of the meats and cheeses you’re serving. Some good options include: medium bodied red wine like Merlot or Zinfandel. Or if you want more of a crisp wine, choose a Gruner Veltliner, and Rosé.

Does Pinot Noir go with charcuterie?

Yes, Pinot Noir is a good choice for charcuterie. It’s a versatile red wine that pairs well with many types of food, but it’s especially good with charcuterie meats. If we had a Top 10 list of wine pairings with charcuterie, Pinot Noir would be on the list!

Summary

Pairing wine with food can be tricky, but it’s important to find a balance between the two. The best way to do this is to experiment and find what you like best.

There are NO hard and fast rules when it comes to pairing wine with food, so don’t be afraid to try something new. The worst that can happen is that you don’t like the pairing. But who knows, you might just find your new favorite wine!

We hope you enjoyed this blog post on pairing wine with charcuterie. If you liked this article, be sure to check our other food and wine pairings like:

Cheers!

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