Begin your event in style and wow your guests with this ultimate grazing platter. We’ve put together some tips and tricks to help you create a platter that looks amazing, tastes incredible, and pairs beautifully with a crisp, chilled glass of Villa Maria Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

You will need:

• • Assorted Crackers & Breads
• • Cheeses: Brie, Swiss, Feta, Gouda, and Gruyère
• • Cured and smoked meats: Prosciutto, salami, sliced chorizo, smoked Salmon
• • Dips: Smoked salmon, hummus, roasted beetroot and feta
• • Pickled Goods: Olives, baby bell pepper stuffed with cream cheese
• • Fresh seasonal fruits and nuts: Grapes, strawberry, blueberries, passionfruit
• • Condiments: Jams, honeycomb, pickles
• • Serving utensils: Toothpicks, serving tongs, small plates, napkins, spoons, cheese knives

To make:

1. Decide the location of your grazing platter: A clean countertop is a great location for a large grazing platter. You can put the items straight on the counter or use baking or parchment paper for easy clean up.
2. Add height: This adds a great visual effect as well as making it easy for people to access the dips and condiments. You can use anything from a pedestal server to a serving plate on top of an upside-down bowl.
3. Place bowls with dips and condiments: Place small bowls for dips, nuts and condiments and add a small spoon to each.
4. Add cheese: Cheese is truly the star of the show and always the first to be eaten. Place a variety of sliced and whole chunks to the table with a cheese knife beside each. People can be timid about being the first to cut into a whole chunk of cheese so have a few slices already cut beside it.
5. Add fruit: This adds a wonderful fresh element to the platter as well as some fabulous color. Choose whatever is in season and make sure it’s in easy to grab bite size pieces.
6. Add Meat: Now it’s time to add the meat. You can make tall piles of salami circles or lay meat slices around a chunk of cheese or even try a few salami roses for visual interest.
7. Add remaining items: Lastly add remaining nuts, crackers and bread. Fill all the gaps and if you don’t have space for everything, you just can replenish throughout your event.
8. Remember to give yourself enough time to get the grazing platter together, a large platter on a countertop typically takes up to an hour to get everything set up. Lastly, don’t forget to chill your wine so it’s ready to pour and enjoy with your grazing platter!