How To: A Spring Inspired Charcuterie Board with Wine Pairings
With Spring time starting and the snow finally slowly disappearing, I start to crave freshness. This means I'm gravitating towards salads, fresh fruit, and lighter dishes. Spring also causes everyone to come out of hibernation and celebrate the warmer weather. So it's the perfect time to invite friends over for a glass of wine and a fun night in. The perfect snack for a group? A spring inspired charcuterie board. I spent Saturday morning at Sunnyside Mall’s Pete’s where I picked out 3 delicious cheeses that are sure to be winners with guests. I also grabbed fresh berries, an amazing locally made sweet and tangy relish, and the most delicious olives I have ever had.
- Urban Blue Cheese By Blue harbour- a fresh and light blue cheese locally made here in Halifax. It's a great cheese for people who are afraid to try traditional blue cheese as it doesn’t have the blue ‘look’ to it. Its creamy and salty, going well with fresh berries and red wine
- Le Pleine Lune Brie by Fromagerie 1860 DuVillage- this Brie is like nothin I've had before. It's strong for a Brie with an earthy taste but also light and buttery in texture. Visually, it's appealing with a black tint to its rind. It pairs well with both the Reds and Whites that I'm testing out.
- Le Cendrillon Goats Cheese- I have never experienced a goat cheese with a rind, but was very pleasantly surprised. It's very creamy, rich and flavourful. It has more of a ripened cheese taste. It goes well with crisp white wines.
After I hade my yummy snacks in toe, I headed next door in the mall to Cristall Wine Merchants where the very friendly Manager picked out 2 red and 2 White wines that would go well with my cheeses as well as being fresh with fruit undertones to match that spring time theme. Another plus, they are all at amazing price point of under $20. Being affordable is something they strive for.
Reds:
- Nature Casa Rojo- this wine is made in Spain form organic grapes, which catches my eye before even tasting it. It is made with Tempranillo grapes, which makes it full-bodied with a fruity taste and berry aromas. It’s a very dry wine with tartness to it. It will go perfect with your early spring barbeque dinners.
- Domaine Chupin Anjou- a French wine made with Cabernet Franc. This wine is what Rob likes to call “dirty” with its earthy taste. You can taste pepper, blackcurrant and a smoky afternote. But, the crisp strawberry nose makes it surprisingly refreshing.
Whites:
- Rex Goliath Pinot Grigio- this wine is so crisp and fruity, with strong notes of apple. It really awakens the taste buds. I can picture curling up on the deck on the warmer spring nights with a glass of this wine to relax with.
- Nature Casa Rojo- Made with Airen grapes in Spain, this organic white is light and citrusy. It’s the epitome of fresh, like a spring crocus breaking through the snow-covered ground. It is a perfect wine for those warmer spring days and hot summer evenings.
A few hints for a good charcuterie board:
- Have a good balance of salty and sweet
- Do a mixture of both soft and hard cheeses as well as strong and light
- Have at least one condiment such as mustard or chutney
- Serve with both soft breads and crackers
Enjoy,Katie Rose xo