It is hard to believe that sun-drenched beach days are long behind us and the holiday season is quickly approaching. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we find ourselves searching for the perfect bottle of wine and ideas to keep guests entertained while the turkey is cooking.
We’re strong believers that you can’t go wrong with a sparkling wine and a full charcuterie board on any holiday, or any long weekend for that matter. Luckily, Thanksgiving falls into both categories, which makes the Traynor’s Sparkling Vidal an obvious choice for wine, and a charcuterie board made up from some local Prince Edward County gems.
The Sparkling Vidal is definitely not your typical sparkling, which makes it an automatic conversation starter between you and your guests. It’s light and crisp and actually considered a pét-nat, which gives it a bit of funk. This wine is also lower in alcohol content, which makes it the perfect bottle to pop open to start a full day of hosting.
Once you have passed around the bubbly your guests will likely want some snacks, and that’s where the charcuterie board comes in. Many people get intimidated by the idea of putting together a balanced board, but we’re here to tell you that it isn’t that hard! We like to visit some local County favourites to get our ingredients, including Bloomfield Public House Market, Fifth Town Artisan Cheese, La Cultura Salumi Inc. and some of the fruit and veggie stands. To keep things simple, we always keep our ingredients within the following categories and just pick a few from each based on what’s available or in season:
Cheese — always try to select a variety from hard to soft, sharp to mellow.
Meat — select a variety of cuts, including some turkey or chicken options for guests that don’t eat red meat.
Other Ideas — have fun with this part and let your imagination take over!
- Grapes
- Seasonal Berries
- Jelly
- Honey
- Olives
- Nuts
- Crackers or sliced baguette
To put the board together, we go one ingredient at a time, and then fill in the open spots as we go. Don’t be shy. Layer ingredients, stack them and let them spill over the edges. We always start by pouring ourselves a glass of wine! Next, place the cheeses evenly spaced out on the board, followed by the meats. Once the main ingredients are laid out let your artistic side take over and make it colourful! Fill in the empty spaces with a mix of berries, olives, smaller dishes of jams or honey. Last, but not least, fill the edges and any remaining empty spaces with your crackers or baguette slices. Voilà! You’ve created a perfectly balanced and beautifully curated charcuterie board!
If you’re hosting a large group we advise having extra cheese and meats portioned out and kept in the fridge so you can easily replenish.
There you have it — a surefire way to impress your guests and keep them satisfied until the main dish is ready. Cheers!
We can’t wait to see which bottle of wine you’re sharing with your friends and family this holiday. Be sure to tag us @traynorvineyard so we can share!
