SAY CHEESE! How do we create the perfect cheese board combined with drink pairings for our Christmas wedding? Meet the experts: Nicky and Greg Parsons are the owners of cheese specialists, Sharpham Dairy based in Totnes, Devon. The team offer award-winning artisan varieties hand-crafted in Devon. Greg says: There’s no right or wrong way to create the ultimate cheese board – it’s all about preference. It’s a good rule of thumb to pair cheese and wines with equal intensity. Generally, creamy soft cheeses pair beautifully with sparkling wines. If you’ve chosen a cheese with a delicate character, avoid overpowering it with a full-bodied red wine, As you venture into the realm of complex aged cheeses, look for bold or fortified wines to match. It’s also true what they say – what grows together, goes together. For example, Sharpham Wine and Cheese are made along the River Dart and the terroir shapes produce that pair well together. So, how much cheese do you serve at your wedding? If you plan to offer cheese as part of a meal, a typical recommendation is to provide 80g per person. However, over the Christmas period, guests may wish to savour the cheeseboard with drinks, so consider increasing the amount to 150g per person. What cheeses should you go for? Opting for a variety of textures and characters is a guaranteed way to please everybody. A classic choice includes blue cheese, soft cheese, semi-hard cheese, cheddar and goat’s cheese. Sharpham Dairy has gathered up some of the most popular cheeses in the Essential Devon Cheese Board, £30. It includes the Devon classics - Sharpham Brie, Sharpham Rustic, Sharpham Ticklemore Goat, Quicke’s Mature Cheddar and Ticklemore Devon Blue. When it comes to top pairings for the Christmas season, I love the delicate floral notes of our Sharpham Rushmore paired with a delicious light-bodied, aromatic white such as a sauvignon blanc. Christmas is a time for popping open the bubbly, which I would pair with one of my favourites – Sharpham Brie. A good brie is a Christmas cheeseboard essential. I’d also pair our Sharpham Brie with something with a little acidity like apple or plums. Final tips •Once cheese has been cut into, it’s best eaten within a couple of weeks. •Don’t forget to take cheese out of the fridge an hour or two before serving to come up to room temperature. •Do chat with your cheesemonger - they’re often a font of knowledge and eager to introduce you to new cheeses, offer tasters and help build the perfect cheeseboard. 01803 732 600; https://sharphamcheese.co.uk; www.facebook.com/sharphamcheese; www.instagram.com/sharphamcheese Turn to page 57 to see their new wedding cake of cheese designs. ALL THAT SPARKLES We’re newly engaged and want to invest in a sustainable engagement ring – what can you suggest? Meet the expert: Claire Ridley is the fashion editor across the County Wedding Magazines brand. Claire says: Fraser Hart, one of the UK’s leading purveyors of fine jewellery, is redefining affordable luxury with the launch of its Born Lab Grown Diamonds collection in 10 new stores nationwide including in its Plymouth store in Devon. Pieces can also be purchased online and through their dedicated concierge team of jewellery experts who will discuss cut, clarity, style and answer any questions to help you find your forever piece – whether that’s a beautiful engagement ring or a self-gift to mark a special milestone. Blending craftsmanship with innovation, Born Lab Grown Diamonds are stunning in their clarity, delivering the same sparkling wow factor as traditionally mined gems, but with a more accessible price tag. Visually, physically and chemically identical to an earth-grown diamond, cutting-edge technology is used to create timeless diamonds in a laboratory setting. The collection includes a stunning choice of buy now, treasure forever heirloom jewellery pieces, perfect for brides. With exquisite diamond rings starting at just £799, there are also diamond and white-gold stud earrings from £799 in the collection plus classic diamond pendant necklaces from £850. Fraser Hart’s Born Lab Grown Diamonds offers something for everyone, with a wide choice of cuts, carat sizes and settings, allowing customers to find the perfect diamond jewellery piece to cherish forever. www.fraserhart.co.uk; www.facebook.com/FraserHart. Jewellers; www.instagram.com/fraserhartuk Scan to view video ASK THE EXPERTS 51
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