Who doesn’t love a cheese board? This is not only an easy appetizer to whip up, but also perfect to pair with all your favorite wines! Here is how to craft a beautiful cheese board that everyone will enjoy…

First things first: pick your cheeses. We went with a soft brie, that goes great with Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Noir, a Havarti with Dill to pair with the Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay, and a Syrah Soaked Cheddar that goes great with the Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (despite its name!).

Tip: You not only want a variety of types of cheeses but also an assortment of soft and hard cheeses on your board.

Tip: Place the cheeses with the rind in the center of the board so guests can easily access the cheese. It is also a good idea to cut into the cheese before guests arrive because no one ever wants to be the first to dig in!

Next, you can add crudités like veggies and olives to the board. Here, we went with rainbow carrots because they are just the right size and the color is beautiful!

Now, it’s time to garnish! Here, we like to use nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Pick a variety of colors and seasonal items when possible. For our board, we used walnuts and dried figs (which also go great with Pinot Noir) as well as fresh cranberries. Place them sporadically around the board for easy access and a slightly undone look.

As important as it is to have a variety of cheeses, you will also want to offer a variety of crackers. Serve them in bowls alongside the the board. You’re done! Don’t forget to have fun with it!

Tip: Have a separate cheese knife for each cheese so you don’t mix flavors, especially when pairing them with wine.

For cheese and wine pairing tips, visit the Entertaining section of our website.