How to Make a Fall Cheeseboard

Whether it’s just Thomas and I hanging out on a Saturday night, hosting friends for dinner, or if I’m having a solo night with a glass of wine and a movie, you can bet I have everything on-hand to throw together a quick cheeseboard! They look beautiful, you can make them festive with each season like this one for Valentine’s Day, and who doesn’t love cheese, right?! Here is everything that I use and a how to make a Fall cheeseboard this season!

What to put on a Fall Cheeseboard

The cheeses:

I always like to choose 2-3 types of cheese – usually 3 if I am being honest – because CHEESE. Try and go for different textures no matter what the season, but for Fall I especially love a Strong Stilton Blue, a French triple crème, and a sharp aged cheddar or gouda.
– Blue Cheese – I go for Stilton or Trader Joe’s has a great Cave Aged Blue. I love the soft crumbliness of blue cheese and at first taste it’s almost a little sweet with a nutty salty finish. Figs and pears pair perfectly with blue cheese in the Fall.
– Triple Crème – This has been my go-to cheese lately. I go for the Delice de Bourgogne which is a French cheese originating from Burgundy. It’s rich, creamy, buttery, and tangy.
– Aged Cheddar or Gouda – Before I think I could walk I remember my love of sharp cheddar! Maybe weird for a child, but I distinctly remember always eating sharp cheddar with my dad. I love that it almost has a hazelnut flavor that’s a little tangy and sweet.

Meats

Cured sausages, salami, prosciutto, and pâté’s are always on our cheeseboards. If you’re doing a small board I would pick 1-2 meats, and for bigger displays choose 3-4 varieties including a pâté or terrine which is always fun for people to try!

Crackers

I try and have a a couple different cracker options as well as some thinly sliced baguette that’s been toasted. For Fall I love the Fig & Olive crisps from Trader Joe’s, and any other thin crackers will do the trick!

Accompaniments for the Fall!

This is the fun part! Here are my favorite things to add to your cheeseboard in the Fall to make it festive!
– Pumpkin seeds – These are great to snack on in-between bites of cheese and are the perfect salty snack. You can also get the cinnamon sugar toasted pumpkin seeds if you want a sweet option.
– Fruit – sliced pears, figs, apples, dates, persimmons and pomegranate seeds are great for Fall!
– Chutney or Fig Butter – This time of year, I love adding a dollop of fig butter or chutney to the board.
– Herbs – adding in springs of rosemary, sage, and thyme around the board give it a festive feel and add a great aroma as well!

Fall wine pairings

I’m a believer to drink what you like no matter what food you’re eating, however during the Fall here’s my list that will pair perfectly for any Fall day or holiday cheeseboard.

Cabernet Sauvignon – Always my go-to and especially great for this time of year with its vanilla and dark fruit flavors. A bold wine can stand up to a bold cheese, so I love this with Stilton or Roquefort.

Pino Noir – I mean I just moved from Oregon so how could this not make the list? With classic Pino noir there’s notes like fresh black berries and baking spices like cinnamon. I love this with a more mild cheese like the Delice de Bourgogne that I listed above.

Chardonnay – White wine isn’t just for summer my friends. The smooth vanilla notes will definitely have you wanting to curl up by a fire. A cheese like Camembert or Garrotxa is great with Chardonnay since they are buttery, earthy, and nutty.

Tell me, what are your favorite cheeses, wines, and other snacks for Fall?!