Ruby Red Wine Cheese Board (Printable Version)

Elegant cheese and charcuterie with red wine-infused ingredients arranged around an empty wine bottle centerpiece.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 7 oz drunken goat cheese, red wine-soaked, sliced
02 - 5.3 oz red wine BellaVitano or similar hard cheese, cubed

→ Meats (optional)

03 - 3.5 oz red wine-cured salami, thinly sliced
04 - 2.8 oz prosciutto, torn into ribbons

→ Accompaniments

05 - ½ cup red wine jelly
06 - ½ cup red wine-poached grapes
07 - ¼ cup red wine-infused dried cherries
08 - ⅓ cup red wine-marinated olives (kalamata or green)

→ Bread & Crackers

09 - 1 small baguette, sliced
10 - 1 cup red wine and rosemary crackers

→ Garnishes

11 - Fresh rosemary sprigs
12 - Edible flowers (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Place a clean, empty wine bottle with label removed at the center of a large wooden cheese board or platter.
02 - Distribute the sliced drunken goat cheese and cubed red wine BellaVitano evenly around the base of the bottle, allowing some pieces to lean against it for visual appeal.
03 - Fan out the red wine-cured salami and prosciutto, if using, in small piles around the cheeses.
04 - Spoon the red wine jelly into a small bowl and position it among the cheeses on the board.
05 - Scatter clusters of red wine-poached grapes, red wine-infused dried cherries, and marinated olives throughout the board to create contrast and flavor variety.
06 - Arrange sliced baguette and red wine and rosemary crackers in arcs or lines around the accompaniments for easy access.
07 - Decorate with fresh rosemary sprigs and optional edible flowers for visual charm and aroma, then serve immediately encouraging guests to mix and match.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It requires zero cooking—just beautiful arrangement and maybe 20 minutes of prep, leaving you calm and present when guests arrive.
  • The dramatic wine bottle centerpiece instantly transforms any table into something that feels intentional and special.
  • Every element brings a different texture and flavor: creamy, crispy, briny, jammy—there's something for everyone to discover.
02 -
  • Temperature matters more than you'd think: Bring the cheeses to room temperature about 30 minutes before serving. Cold cheese tastes muted; room temperature cheese sings.
  • The red wine-poached grapes must cool completely before the board is assembled or they'll weep juice and stain everything. (Sometimes a stain is welcome, but control it.) Chill them if needed, then add just before serving for that fresh-from-the-stove luxury.
03 -
  • Use odd-numbered groupings and let negative space breathe; boards crowded to every edge feel stressful to approach, while a thoughtfully sparse board feels generous and intentional.
  • If you're nervous about wine-stained boards looking messy, remember that the "staining" is the whole aesthetic—embrace the color story it tells. If jelly or juice drips, it becomes part of the narrative.
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