Est. 2021 · Members in 40+ countries
Illustration of The Cheese Board
International · Board

The Cheese Board

A balanced board of soft, hard and blue cheeses with fruit, nuts and crackers.

Time
15 min
Serves
6
Skill
Easy
Heat
None
Diet
Vegetarian

Pairing at a glance

WineTaylor’s 20 Year Old Tawny PortComplement WineChâteau d’YquemContrast WineLa Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904Complement

The pairing logic

Salt and fat love sweetness: sweet wines, tawny port and sherried whisky are classic with cheese.

  • creamy
  • salty
  • sharp
  • sweet
What to pour

DRINK WITH THIS

Wine

Perfect matchComplement Taylor’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port Fortified wine · Tawny Port · 20.0% Nutty, caramelly tawny is a famous match with blue cheese. See the wine → Perfect matchContrast Château d’Yquem Sweet white · Sauternes · 13.5% Honeyed sweetness against salty Roquefort is legendary. See the wine → Great matchComplement La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 Medium-bodied dry red · Gran Reserva · 13.5% Mellow Rioja suits manchego and aged cheddar. See the wine →

Spirits

Great matchComplement The Macallan 12 Double Cask Scotch Whisky · 40.0% Sherried malt flatters aged cheddar and nuts. See the spirit → AdventurousComplement Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula Cognac · 45.0% Fruity Cognac works with hard cheese and fig. See the spirit →

Rules used: Complement — Similar flavours that echo and support each other. Contrast — Opposites that balance: sweet against spicy, acid against rich. Cut — Tannin or acidity that slices through fat and richness. Echo — One shared flavour or ingredient links the plate and the glass. Cleanse — Bubbles, acidity or cold that refresh the palate between bites. Regional — What grows together goes together: same place, same table. Learn more →

The recipe

HOW TO MAKE IT

Ingredients · serves 6

Method · prep 15 min

  1. 1

    Remove the cheeses from the fridge an hour before serving.

  2. 2

    Arrange cheeses on a board with space between them and a separate knife for each.

  3. 3

    Add fruit, nuts, honey and chutney around the cheeses.

  4. 4

    Serve soft cheeses first, then hard, then blue.

Cook’s tip

Serve at room temperature to unlock flavour.

MORE FOR THE TABLE

Pescatarian Scottish · Starter Cullen Skink 45 min Veg Italian · Main Wild Mushroom Risotto 45 min Non-veg Thai · Main Thai Green Curry 40 min · ●●●

Please enjoy responsibly. Pairings are suggestions based on classic flavour principles, not rules. Check ingredients for allergies and cook meat and poultry thoroughly.