Ruby Red Wine Cheese Board (Printable View)

An elegant cheese and meat spread enhanced with red wine-infused ingredients and arranged for visual impact.

# Ingredient List:

→ Cheeses

01 - 7 oz drunken goat cheese, red wine-soaked, sliced
02 - 5.3 oz red wine BellaVitano or similar, 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 seedless grapes
07 - ¼ cup red wine-infused dried cherries
08 - ⅓ cup 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)

# How to Make:

01 - Place a clean, empty wine bottle with label removed in the center of a large wooden cheese board or platter.
02 - Position sliced drunken goat cheese and cubed red wine BellaVitano around the base of the bottle, allowing some pieces to lean against it for visual impact.
03 - Fan out red wine-cured salami and torn prosciutto if using, arranging them in small piles around the cheeses.
04 - Spoon red wine jelly into a small bowl and nestle it among the cheese selections on the board.
05 - Distribute red wine-poached grapes, wine-infused dried cherries, and marinated olives in clusters across the board.
06 - Lay out baguette slices and wine crackers in arcs or lines for easy access.
07 - Place fresh rosemary sprigs and edible flowers for added aroma and visual appeal.
08 - Present immediately and encourage guests to mix and match flavors as desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks absolutely breathtaking on the table—the kind of centerpiece that makes guests stop mid-conversation to admire it
  • Everything is prepared ahead, so you can actually enjoy your guests instead of disappearing into the kitchen
  • The wine-soaked ingredients create a sophisticated flavor profile that tastes far more complicated than the minimal effort required
  • It works beautifully for both intimate gatherings and larger parties without any additional stress
02 -
  • Timing matters more than you'd think: assemble this within an hour of serving so cheeses don't dry out and the jelly stays set. Everything should be at cool room temperature—not cold from the fridge, which mutes flavor
  • The wine bottle isn't just decoration; it's essential balance. Without it, the board lacks a focal point and feels flat. With it, everything else has a reason to exist in its particular spot
  • Red wine-poached grapes must cool completely before assembly or they'll weep liquid everywhere. I learned this the hard way at my sister's event and caught it just in time
03 -
  • If you're making red wine-poached grapes at home, use a seedless variety and don't skip the cinnamon stick—it adds sophistication that guests will taste but won't quite identify
  • Assemble everything on a slightly chilled board so cheeses stay intact longer and the overall composition holds through the entire gathering
  • The absolute secret that changed everything for me: arrange this board about 45 minutes before serving, then cover it loosely with a kitchen towel and let it rest in a cool place. The flavors meld and the presentation settles into something even more beautiful than fresh arrangement
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