Alpine cheese board: the definitive guide for a perfect result
A well-composed alpine cheese board is much more than a simple starter: it is a journey through the flavors of the Italian mountains, a story of territories, seasons and millennia-old cheesemaking traditions. Here is how to build it at its best, from the choice of cheeses to the pairings.
How many and which cheeses to choose
The golden rule is variety: a good alpine board should include at least three or four cheeses with different characteristics in terms of paste, aging and flavor intensity.
- Fresh or young cheese — creamy and delicate, to start lightly. The young Formagella Tremosine or a soft goat cheese is perfect
- Semi-aged cheese — the heart of the board, with a more defined flavor. Ideal choices are Montasio mezzano or Asiago pressato
- Aged cheese — intense and grainy, to enjoy in small shavings. The Bagoss or Piave Vecchio are excellent choices
- Special cheese — the surprise of the board: a truffle cheese, with herbs or aged in wine, to delight your guests
The right accompaniments
Alpine cheeses are enhanced by simple accompaniments that highlight their nuances:
- Honey: chestnut honey for aged cheeses, acacia honey for fresh, mountain honey for semi-aged
- Jams: fig, blueberry or red onion jam for a sweet-savory contrast
- Dried fruit: walnuts, hazelnuts and toasted almonds
- Bread: rye, mountain or spelt crackers — never bread that is too aromatic, which would overpower the cheese
- Fresh fruit: grapes, pears and seasonal figs
The tasting order
To best appreciate each cheese, always start with the most delicate and fresh, progressing towards the more aged and intense. Between one cheese and the next, cleanse the palate with a sip of water or a piece of bread.
Wine pairings
An alpine cheese board deserves wines of equal standing. The general rule is to pair wines from the territory:
- Structured white wines: Lugana, Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, Müller-Thurgau from Alto Adige
- Light red wines: Pinot Nero, Teroldego, Lagrein for the more aged cheeses
- Sparkling wines: Franciacorta or Trento DOC for an elegant aperitif
The expert's tips
Take the cheeses out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving: at room temperature they will express all their aromas. Cut each cheese differently — in slices, cubes, shavings — to make the board visually appealing.
Discover our selection of artisan alpine cheeses and compose the perfect board at home.
Discover our Italian artisan cheeses.
