The Ultimate CHARCUTIA Wine Pairing Guide

Written By Lisa Colman-Smith

Discover the perfect matches across our cheeses, charcuterie & small plates

At CHARCUTIA, we believe great food deserves great company, and there’s nothing quite like the magic that happens when the right wine meets the right cheese, charcuterie, or small plate. Every flavour tells a story, and pairing them well elevates your board from delicious to unforgettable.

With an artisan-led food menu and a carefully curated drinks list, we’ve created a pairing guide designed to help you enjoy CHARCUTIA at its very best. Whether you’re a wine lover, a cheese devotee, or simply curious, these are the combinations that make our food sing.

Cheese & Wine Pairings

Your guide to enhancing every bite.

Our cheese selection features award-winning British producers, small-scale artisans, and timeless continental classics. Below, we match each flavour profile with a wine from our own list — so you can enjoy perfect harmony every time.

Hard Cheeses

Cornish Yarg

Delicate • Fresh • Citrusy
Pairs beautifully with:

  • Grüner Veltliner (Weinwurm, Austria) – Elegant acidity mirrors Yarg’s citrusy notes.

  • Vinho Verde (Pardalito, Portugal) – Light, refreshing and gently spritzy.

Black Bomber (Snowdonia)

Rich • Robust • Creamy
Try it with:

  • Malbec (Finca Natalina, Argentina) – Dark fruit depth meets sharp cheddar intensity.

  • Shiraz (The War Horse, South Africa) – Pepper and plum complement mature cheddar beautifully.

Ribblesdale Manchego

Nutty • Creamy • Tangy
Perfect alongside:

  • Rioja Crianza (Bodegas Larchago, Spain) – A classic Spanish pairing with smooth oak notes.

  • Primitivo (Puglia, Italy) – Velvety, warm, and beautifully balanced.

Smoked Applewood

Smoky • Smooth • Comforting
Pairs with:

  • Chardonnay (Mailee Estate, Australia) – Caramel + vanilla echo the cheese’s smokiness.

  • Petit Chablis (Domaine Colombier, France) – Clean minerality cuts through rich smokiness.

Soft Cheeses

Ribblesdale Honey & Flower Goat’s Cheese

Tangy • Floral • Lightly Sweet
Pair with:

  • Pinot Grigio Rosé (Merry Mole) – Peach & raspberry highlight the floral honey notes.

  • Sauvignon Blanc (Giddy Goose, New Zealand) – Bright gooseberry cuts through the tang.

Cenarth Brie

Creamy • Buttery • Mushroomy
Try it with:

  • Crémant d’Alsace (Domaine Bernhard) – Bubbles and brioche meet soft, velvety Brie.

  • Petit Chablis – Sophisticated, elegant, and beautifully cleansing.

Rosary Goat’s Garlic & Parsley

Herbaceous • Citrusy • Fragrant
Perfect with:

  • Gavi (La Caplana, Italy) – Crisp stone fruit enhances fresh herbs.

  • Riesling (Otto Gorgen, Germany) – Honeydew and fine acidity highlight the cheese’s brightness.

Blue Cheeses

Roquefort Papillon

Salty • Tangy • Iconic
Match with:

  • D’Anjou Rosé (Douce Evasion, France) – Off-dry sweetness balances the salty punch.

  • Crémant d’Alsace – Bubbles offer luxurious contrast.

Stilton

Bold • Creamy • Savoury-Sweet
Delicious with:

  • Ripasso della Valpolicella (Enzo Vincenzo) – Forest fruit richness meets Stilton’s creamy depth.

  • Primitivo – Smooth and velvety against a punchy blue.

Tarporley Blue

Gentle • Creamy • Approachable
Pairs with:

  • Pinot Noir (Domaine Valent) – Soft cherry + gentle tannin = elegant balance.

  • Chenin Blanc/Pinotage Rosé (Simonsig) – Fresh, bright, and beautifully uplifting.

Charcuterie & Wine Pairings

Elevate the classics with well-chosen glasses.

Yorkshire ’Nduja

Smoky • Spicy • Luxuriously Rich
Best enjoyed with:

  • Vittoria Spumante – Bubbles calm the heat.

  • Grüner Veltliner – Crisp acidity cuts through the richness.

Garlic & Pepper Salami

Bold • Peppery • Aromatic
Pair with:

  • Cabernet Sauvignon (Aves del Sur) – Blackberry + spice is a perfect match.

  • Tempranillo (Mallee Estate) – Cedar and bilberry complement garlic and pepper beautifully.

Fennel Salami

Delicate • Sweet • Aromatic
Enjoy with:

  • Pinot Grigio (Merry Mole) – Clean fruit meets fennel’s gentle anise.

  • Rioja Blanco (Larchago) – Zesty apple and fennel = stunning harmony.

Bresaola

Lean • Elegant • Wine-Cured
Pair with:

  • Pinot Noir (Valent) – Earthy cherry complements cured beef.

  • Gavi – A crisp cut through delicate texture.

Coppa

Marbled • Sweet • Peppery
Perfect with:

  • Ripasso – Plush berry notes mirror the coppa’s richness.

  • Primitivo – Smooth, warming, beautifully balanced.

Air-Dried Yorkshire Ham

Sweet • Savoury • Delicate
Serve with:

  • Spumante Pink – “Summer pudding in a glass” pairs perfectly.

  • Gavi – Clean, citrus-led, and refreshing.

Small Plates & Their Perfect Partners

  • Honey & Flower Goat’s Cheese - Chenin Blanc (Simonsig)

  • Black Bomber Rarebit - Shiraz

  • Spiced Sardines - Vinho Verde

  • Smoked Garlic Herring - Riesling

  • Baked Camembert & Focaccia Duo - Crémant d’Alsace

  • Yorkshire Nduja Pizza Slice - Grüner Veltliner

  • Fennel Salami Pizza Slice - Pinot Noir

  • Bresaola, Manchego & Truffle Pizza Slice - Ripasso

Each pairing enhances flavour, balances richness, and creates a multi-sensory experience.

Sparkling Wines: The Ultimate Food Matchmakers

  • Vittoria Spumante – Perfect with honeyed goat’s cheese, fennel salami, or air-dried ham.

  • Spumante Pink – Exceptional with blue cheese and Coppa.

  • Crémant d’Alsace – A dream with Brie, Camembert, and smoked fish.

Sparkling wines are incredibly versatile, when in doubt, fizz it out.

Experiencing Pairing The CHARCUTIA Way

Whether you're building your own board, enjoying a small plate, or exploring new flavours, the right wine can transform your experience. Our team is always happy to recommend pairings tableside, or help you try something completely new.

Great food deserves great wine. At CHARCUTIA, we bring them together beautifully.

Lisa Colman-Smith
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The Art of Slowing Down One Glass at a Time