Food
Charcuterie and Wine Pairing Guide
Whether you’re planning a quiet lunch for two or a party of 20, you can’t beat a shared charcuterie platter for a casual meal at its best. Super tasty, social, varied and easy to prepare, it’s an Aussie favourite, and when paired with the right wines, the result is simply sensational.
But what wine goes with a charcuterie board, red or white?
You’ll want to pick the right wines that will pair well with charcuterie and complement the flavours nicely. A decadent charcuterie platter tends to lend itself to spicy, medium weight reds, however, richer whites like Chardonnay and Fiano can also work really well, as do savoury Rosés.
What pairs well with charcuterie? Follow our guide to charcuterie and wine matching and you’ll enjoy the perfect combinations every time.
CHARCUTERIE AND WINE PAIRING GUIDE
STEPS TO MAKING A GREAT CHARCUTERIE BOARD
Creating a captivating charcuterie board is an art of delicious possibilities. The beauty lies in its lack of rigid rules; you’re free to assemble a canvas of flavours with foods that you enjoy and have on hand. Embrace the diversity, from savoury meats and cheeses to fruit, nuts and assorted dips. A great charcuterie board includes a range of elements of varying colours, flavours and textures – variety is the spice of life!
Another great tip is that charcuterie platters are perfect for stress-free entertaining as they can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated. Just remember to allow your masterpiece to bask at room temperature for at least a brief moment before serving. This allows the cheeses and meats to warm up enough to unveil their full flavour potential. If you’d prefer to stick to just cheeses, check out our guide for pairing wine with cheese.
STEP 1
Gather your tools and decide on the scope: Start by selecting a board or platter for your cheeses and charcuterie. You’ll also need some ramekins to hold any dips, honey, olives, or other messy items you might want to include, as well as serving utensils like cheese knives. Determine how many guests you will be serving, as this will help with the size of the board, and think about what type of wine you plan to serve with the charcuterie board. In terms of ingredients, variety is key; aim for a mix of colours, textures, and flavours.
STEP 2
Artful arrangement and variety: Arrange your chosen ingredients on the board one at a time, placing them thoughtfully for visual effect. Start with the larger items like cheeses – we recommend a combination of cheeses to add colour and texture, so you might include a soft cheese like brie, a blue cheese for colour and depth of flavour, and a harder selection for texture like vintage cheddar or gouda. Next add your meats – aim for approximately one meat for every two cheeses, and layer them in slices so it’s easy for your guests to grab a single slice.
STEP 3
Enhance with detail: Add in a selection of crackers and breads so you have varying textures, then fill in the gaps with smaller bites like grapes, cherries, blueberries and nuts. Tip – if you include sliced apple or pear, brush them with a little lemon juice to prevent them from discolouring. Fill your ramekins with dips, hummus, or salty foods like olives or pretzels, and add finishing touches like fresh herbs, drizzles of honey, or artistic knife cuts. Presentation matters, so let your inner artist shine through. Pour a glass of wine to complement your platter, and enjoy!
WHAT WINES PAIR WITH SALAMI?
Choose a spicy yet juicy red like Grenache for a perfectly balanced partner to a range of salami from mild through to spicy.
Best wine pairings with salami: Grenache, Nero d’Avola, and Grenache Shiraz Mataró blends.
WHAT WINES PAIR WITH JAMÓN AND PROSCIUTTO?
Sangiovese falls in the spicy middle ground of the red varieties ensuring a savoury pairing when enjoyed with cured meats like jamón and prosciutto.
Best wine pairings with jamón and prosciutto: Sangiovese, Tempranillo, and Grenache.
WHAT WINES PAIR WITH CHORIZO?
Robust reds, such as Malbec, are classically matched with spicy pork-based sausages like chorizo.
Best wine pairings with chorizo: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Tempranillo.
WHAT WINES PAIR WITH PORK TERRINE AND COLD PORK PIES?
Silken red varieties like Pinot Noir are delicious with terrines, roulades, and savoury pies.
Best pairings with pork charcuterie: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Nero d’Avola.
WHAT WINES PAIR WITH MANCHEGO, AGED CHEDDAR AND PARMESEN CHEESE?
Tempranillo’s medium-bodied but generous character sits in the middle ground making it a beautifully versatile red that’s perfect with strong cheeses.
Best pairings with strong flavoured cheeses: Tempranillo, Cabernet Merlot and Chardonnay.
WHAT WINES PAIR WITH CORNICHONS, OLIVES AND ROASTED RED PEPPERS?
Rosé is always an excellent all-rounder and makes for a versatile partner to not only all charcuterie, but also their traditional accompaniments. This includes small bites like roasted red peppers, marinated artichokes, pickled onions, olives and cornichons.
Best pairings with charcuterie accompaniments: Rosé, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
LEARN MORE ABOUT WINE
If you’d like to take your wine, cheese and charcuterie pairing skills even further, come along to one of our fun, informative and flavour-packed masterclasses. We’ve also got some great Wine 101 videos for you to take you wine knowledge to the next level. Check out Adam Walls’ Wine Hints and Tips.
For more great food and wine combinations, be sure to check out our dedicated Food and Wine Pairing pages.