The Best Northern Michigan Charcuterie Board Ideas

Charcuterie is the perfect appetizer for a romantic dinner or a party with friends. Some of the staples to include are cheeses, meats, nuts, fruits, jam, mustard, crackers, bread, and grapes. It’s up to you to carefully choose ingredients that pair well together.

Not sure where to start? Here’s what you need to know to create an impressive charcuterie combo.

We’re focusing on ingredients from northern Michigan because the region has some of the best places to source all elements of your charcuterie board—including the wine!

Before we get into the tasty food options, let’s jump right in with the wine selections.

The Best Wine for Your Charcuterie Board

Choosing a wine to pair with your charcuterie spread can make a big difference in flavor. Here are a few wines that go well with charcuterie boards, and the flavors that taste incredible with them:

• 2020 Block Twelve: This specialty white wine with loads of flavor is a crowd favorite and goes great with most meats and cheeses on your board.
• 2019 Late Harvest Chardonnay: If you have blue cheese or an array of roasted nuts, this sweeter-style wine with a soft, creamy palate will bring out the flavors in each.
• 2016 Gamay Noir Reserve: If you’re looking for a balanced red wine to enjoy with any type of charcuterie, this is the one for you. This lighter-bodied, aromatic, fruity red wine pairs seamlessly with cheeses and breads.
• Cherry Reserve: Nothing says northern Michigan better than this delicious port-style dessert wine made from 100% northern Michigan cherries. This smooth, flavorful wine complements a variety of aged cheeses, as well as dark chocolate.

While these wines are our personal favorites for sipping with charcuterie, this list is not exhaustive. Feel free to explore our wine pairings and recipes to invent your own charcuterie board ideas.

Next, choose some tasty treats for your board!

4 Places to Go When Creating Your Northern Michigan Charcuterie Board

These are some of the best places in northern Michigan to find everything for a beautiful, delicious spread.

If you don’t live in the area and can’t visit soon, no problem—several of these places ship! Plus, the charcuterie ingredient ideas work for any region.

The Cheese Lady

First and foremost, start with high-quality cheese! The Cheese Lady, located in Traverse City, offers an array of artisan cheeses from around the world. Whether you go with the Blue Castello Cheese or the Honeybee Goat Gouda, you won’t be disappointed. The Cheese Lady has cheeses to go with any of our wines at Chateau Grand Traverse, and they even have a new cheese of the month offered at a special rate.

Grocer’s Daughter

Every charcuterie board needs something a little sweet, and who doesn’t love chocolate? Located in Empire, MI, Grocer’s Daughter has everything your sweet tooth desires, from chocolate bars to chocolate bark to chocolate-covered everything. Any of these treats will balance the rich flavors on your charcuterie board, and there is no better place to find all-natural chocolates than Grocer’s Daughter.

Maxbauer’s

Maxbauer’s Meat Market in Traverse City can supply the meats to make your charcuterie board hearty and flavorful. They sell ham, beef, pork, seafood, and more. Our personal favorites for charcuterie boards are the double-smoked beer salami and cheese snack sticks!

Benjamin Twiggs

When creating a charcuterie board, a common mistake people make is only including meats and cheeses. Adding some spreads will transform your board from good to irresistible. Benjamin Twiggs in Traverse City has all sorts of cherry treats and a variety of jams, jellies, and butters that will make your charcuterie board complete. You can also grab a some of their tasty treats directly in our gift shop!

Finding Your Favorite Wines

Choosing a wine to drink with charcuterie begins with personal preference and evolves through experimentation. In addition to our wines, we also sell fun bowls, platters, serving trays, cutting boards, treats, jams, and spreads to help you create your board. Come on over for a wine tasting so you can find what you love!

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