12 Best Wines For Charcuterie: Expert Guide (2023 Updated)
Last Updated on April 17, 2023 by Lydia Martin
Looking for the best wine for charcuterie dishes you plan to have? You’re on the right page.
If you want your meal to be more savory and enjoyable than ever, here’s a list of the perfect wine and Charcuterie pairings you should not miss.
Top 12 Wines Perfect For Charcuterie Pairings
12. Pinot Noir
Best Paired With:
- Salami, Chorizo, or Roasted Pork
- Nutty cheeses, mushrooms, and green olives
- Crackers with thyme or rosemary
- Balsamic spreads
Why We Like It: For any experience level, we suggest having a good Pinot Noir pairing.
This complex red wine has robust red fruit flavors, which taste great with various food.
“Drinking wine is just a part of life, like eating food.”
– Francis Ford Coppola, American Film Director
While fresh Pinot Noir is often associated with raspberries, strawberries, and cranberries, aged versions have hints of vanilla—perfect for Charcuterie.
11. Zinfandel
Best Paired With:
- Blue cheese
- Aged Cheddar, Gouda, Asiago, and Dry Jack
- Smokey Charcuterie and sharp-flavored cheeses
- Pepperoni, Pork Salami, or Mortadella
- Sopressata, Capicol, or Prosciutto
Why We Like It: This Italian red is a perfect pairing for Charcuterie dishes as it’s a fortified wine full of sweet flavors.
We like Zinfandel’s bold and brambly characteristics, and it’s fruit-forward or jammy. There are smoky tobacco, pepper, and spice notes.
So, this wine pairs well with a wide range of food, especially Charcuterie dishes.
10. Red Wine
Best Paired With:
- Jamón Ibérico and chicken liver mousse
- Finnochiona and prosciutto
- Guanciale and lardo
- Coppa or spicy coppa and pastrami
Why We Like It: Red wine is often paired with Charcuterie boards, giving off powerful fruit flavors that contrast well with classic cheeses and meats.
Some reds are better suited for certain dishes because they balance tannins and acidity.
9. Dry Sherry
Best Paired With:
- Parmesan, Cheddar, and Cheshire cheeses
- Cured meat like grilled kielbasa
- Smoked meat or sausages
- Smoked meat
Why We Like It: Sherry is an underrated sweet drink. Some of our favorites are Amontillado, Manzanilla, and Fino.
We like Dry Sherry’s nutty aromas and flavors, with hints of apple, pear, and lemon.
The combination of these flavors will also hold up to the Charcuterie’s savory and meaty characteristics.
8. Prosecco
Best Paired With:
- Salty meats
- Soft cheeses
- Tart fruits
- Slightly bittersweets
- Grilled chicken/veggie sausage kebabs
Why We Like It: We like Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine, as it’s a perfect accompaniment to a Charcuterie board, especially those with cured meat and savory ingredients.
The robust bubbles of Prosecco help remove fat from the food quickly, which makes the meal more savory and enjoyable.
7. Sauvignon Blanc
Best Paired With:
- White and semi-soft cheeses
- Prosciutto or mortadella
- Salted white crackers or buttered sourdough bread
- Kale, spinach, or toasted artichoke hearts
- Tomato basil sauce over toasted rounds
Why We Like It: One of the most acidic white wines is Sauvignon Blanc, which has a tangy flavor. It’s a good pairing with a Charcuterie board with a lot of salty notes.
While it’s great both at room temperature and as a cold drink, Sauvignon Blanc is especially refreshing when consumed with fatty cheeses.
6. White Wine
Best Paired With:
- Prosciutto, Soppressata, or Mortadella
- Cured meat with robust smoky notes
- Salty cheeses
Why We Like It: Wine lovers often prefer white wines over reds due to their high acidity and smooth texture.
A bright and refreshing white wine contrasts savory and fatty dishes like a Charcuterie board.
To enhance the flavor notes, try chilling it for around twenty or thirty minutes before drinking.
5. Syrah
Best Paired With:
- Blue cheese (Roquefort & Gorgonzola)
- Artisan-cured meat & cheese platters (with olives)
- Goat cheese and Cheddar
- Fatty lamb belly kebab
Why We Like It: The versatile flavor profile of Syrah wines makes them an ideal partner for various cuisines, particularly Charcuterie boards.
The famous Rhone Valley in France is known for its abundant Syrah grapes.
We specifically like this region’s wine for its intense black pepper notes and vibrant acidity.
4. Barbera
Best Paired With:
- Ground Pork, Salami, or Pepperoni
- Blue cheese or smoked Cheddar
- Toasted rounds
- Creamy hummus and olives
- Vegetarian pâté over pita bread
Why We Like It: While most red wines have robust levels of tannins, Barbera is an Italian variety that’s fruit-forward with high acidity, making it a great addition to most Charcuterie dishes.
We like the flavors of dried cherries, raspberries, and strawberries, along with its pepper, herbal, or vanilla notes.
3. Riesling
Best Paired With:
- Salty Cheeses and Aged Gouda
- Edam
- Feta
- Halloumi
- Imported blue cheese
- Processed cheeses (mainly string cheese)
Why We Like It: We always recommend white wines such as Riesling for pairing cheese. You can use this versatile wine with various types of Charcuterie cheese.
If you enjoy cheeses, pairing them with Riesling wine can make the experience more savory.
2. Rosé
Best Paired With:
- Mildly savory vegetables
- Brie, mozzarella, or goat cheese
- Marbled and fatty meats
- Juicy fruits or chocolate-dipped strawberries
- Sea salt crackers/soft pita bread
Why We Like It: This wine [1] is incredibly enjoyable due to its combination of sweet red fruit notes and a dry yet refreshing taste.
We recommend chilling it before drinking it to create a crisp, refreshing finish.
Typically, Rosés has bright, sunny flavors. So, if you plan on having a little fancier Charcuterie, pair it with pan-fries, grilled vegetables, or meats.
1. Beaujolais
Best Paired With:
- Fruits like raspberries, strawberries, cherries, and cranberries
- Patés, terrines, rillettes and saucisson sec
- Soft and semi-soft cheeses like Comté, Brie, Swiss Cheese, Camembert, and Feta
Why We Like It: Beaujolais is a great pairing with Charcuterie, as it’s low in alcohol and can be enjoyed before a meal.
It doesn’t clash with the heat found in the dishes, like cured meat with hot pepper.
We recommend serving Beaujolais cold, as its refreshing acidity helps cut through food’s fat and salt content.
FAQs
What makes wine a good pairing for Charcuterie?
The acidity of wine makes it a good pairing for Charcuterie dishes. Mild Charcuterie pairs well with the acidity of wines, especially white wines.
How do I choose the right wine for my specific Charcuterie board?
You can choose the right wine depending on the Charcuterie board you’ll eat. Go for reds for Charcuterie [2] with bold flavors like red meat and whites for light-flavored Charcuterie.
In Conclusion
Now that you know the best wine for Charcuterie dishes, your meals will surely be more satisfying and enjoyable.
With the perfect wine and Charcuterie pairing, there’s no dull and boring meal.
Regardless of the type of wine you’ll opt for, there’s always a good food pairing to accompany your favorite drink.
References:
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/wine
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/charcuterie
Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where you’ll find some of the best cocktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! Contact at [email protected] or learn more about us here.