As autumn paints the landscape with brilliant reds, oranges and golds, there’s no better way to embrace the season than with a leaf-peeping adventure paired with a beautiful fall charcuterie board featuring California Table Grapes as the star. These sweet, juicy gems not only provide the perfect contrast to rich autumn cheeses and savory cured meats, but heart-healthy grapes are a convenient and easy take-along on your fall fun adventures. Whether you’re hiking to a scenic overlook or settling in for a picnic among the fallen leaves, California grapes bring vibrant, visual appeal and fresh flavor to your fall spread. Let the season’s bounty inspire your next fall adventure with a charcuterie board that celebrates both the beauty of fall foliage and the peak harvest season of California’s supreme grapes.
Why Choose California Grapes?
California Grapes are a Fall Fruit: With a season that starts in May and runs into January, fresh California grapes are widely available throughout the fall, delivering crisp, juicy sweetness.
- Vibrant Variety: Mix red, green and black grapes for a visually stunning charcuterie board.
- Pairing Power: Their natural sweetness balances salty cheeses, savory meats and crunchy nuts.
- Healthful and Crowd-Pleasing: Not only are California grapes incredibly delicious, they’re nutritious too. Grapes have no fat, no cholesterol, virtually no sodium and no added sugar! Grapes are also a good source of Vitamin K and a natural source of antioxidants and other polyphenols. Research shows that table grape consumption helps support heart health and may help promote healthy aging.
Build Your Board
Ingredients:
-1 bunch each of red, green and black California grapes (clip into small, easy-to-grab clusters)
-2-3 types of cheese (try a mix of soft brie, sharp cheddar and creamy blue)
-Swap out a blue/roquefort for these Grape Roquefort Canapés for a perfect blend of sweet, salty and nutty flavors.
– 2-3 cured meats that range in flavor from mild to spicy and vary in texture (salami, prosciutto, soppressata, Spanish chorizo)
-Nuts (almonds, walnuts or pistachios)
-Sweet (honey, fig jam or homemade preserves) and/or savory spreads (mustard, caramelized onions)
-This simple relish adds both a naturally sweet, gently tangy pairing for your charcuterie spread.
-Crackers, crostini, and sliced baguette
-Olives and pickled vegetables
Assembling Your Board
-Start by placing clusters of grapes in several spots on the board to anchor your charcuterie display with color and freshness.
-Add cheese wedges or cubes, spacing them around the grapes.
-Layer in meats, rolling or folding meats like salami into a triangle or get creative and make a salami rose or rolling slices for visual appeal. (check out one of the many online tutorials)
-Fill small bowls with spreads, nuts and pickled items, then tuck them among the larger items.
-Use nuts to fill gaps and add texture.
-Serve crackers and sliced baguette on the side or in dry areas on the board to keep them crisp.
-Garnish if desired with fresh rosemary for a festive touch.
With their crisp sweetness and refreshing bite, California grapes bring balance to every charcuterie board and joy to every gathering – the perfect way to savor fall’s finest flavors and the season’s simple pleasures.
Create the Perfect Charcuterie Board!
Mia Teal
Marketing Coordinator, Paid Media
What is better for snacking than a big, beautiful charcuterie board? Whether you are having a friend and family gathering, holiday party, or some sort of celebration, a charcuterie board is a great option. The best part is, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to create one, and you can theme the board to match the occasion.
What exactly is a charcuterie board? A charcuterie board typically contains some type of assortment of the following: Meats, cheeses, crackers, artisan toasted bread, fruits, veggies, olives, nuts, dips, desserts and whatever else you choose! Of course, you tailor your board to what you and your guests prefer. Additionally, with the holidays right around the corner, there are many fun desserts you can sprinkle onto your board.
Unsure of where to begin? We have you covered. The volume of items you need depend on how many guests you are providing for. Here are a few popular items for each category:
Meats: Prosciutto, salami, pepperoni, ham, smoked salmon
Cheeses: Goat cheese, Feta cheese, Swiss cheese, blue cheese, Brie Cheese
Crackers: PICS Oil & Herb Crackers, Wheat Thins, Ritz Crackers, pretzels
Artisan Bread: Ciabatta, sourdough, French, rye
Fruits: Grapes, blueberries, raspberries, apricots, figs
Veggies: Carrots, celery, snap peas, grape tomatoes, broccoli, pickles
Olives: Castelvetrano olives, Kalamata olives
Nuts: Walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans
Dips: Hummus, cream cheese, salsa, guacamole, honey, fig spread
Desserts (for holidays or any occasion): Chocolate covered strawberries, jellybeans, mints, candy corn, Hershey kisses, mini cookies, mini candy canes, peppermint bark, M&Ms
Charcuterie boards are a fun way to let your creative mind flow, as well as giving your guests something to admire. Enjoy!
How to Build Your Own Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie boards present a thoughtful selection of meats, cheeses and accompaniments that make for low maintenance, snack-style meals. They’re perfect for entertaining and encourage mixing and matching of ingredients that create unique, flavorful bites. The art of composing a charcuterie board can be as simple or as sophisticated as you’d like. Use these quick tips to create your ultimate charcuterie board.
Meats
The heroes of the board, charcuterie meats range in taste from mild to spicy and come in varying textures from delicate to thick and chewy. Rich, cured charcuterie meats are excellent in small doses, so choosing two to three meats to feature is sufficient. Try melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto, smoky salami, spicy chorizo or zesty pepperoni.
Cheeses
When selecting cheeses, consider texture, flavor, type and style. Draw inspiration from your meats – mellow out rich meats with soft cheeses like mozzarella, Brie or goat cheese. Pair milder varieties, like prosciutto, with complex cheeses that have eclectic profiles such as pungent blue cheese or sharp Manchego.
Fruits & Preserves
Seasonal eating applies to boards too! Sliced fresh fruit and berries are perfect for summer boards while winter boards give citrus, grapes and dried fruits a place to shine. No matter the season, our home.grown. produce offers the freshest, locally sourced, in-season fruits year-round. For a spreadable, fruity component, give our Pear Mostarda recipe a try!
Bread & Nuts
Slices of toasted bread or assorted crackers can balance the tastes of your board’s strongly flavored ingredients. Nuts can also intensify the crunch factor. Use shelled and salted varieties such as pecans, hazelnuts, pistachios and almonds.
The best charcuterie platters have a little bit of everything – so don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with different components. For more charcuterie inspiration, see page 30 of our Ready magazine!