Wine Marinated Cherries with Cheese
A wine pairing recipe for picnics and grazing boards
Dried cherries are a favorite accompaniment to cheese boards. But why serve ordinary cherries when you can transform them into something sensual with hints of wine and savory herbs with less than five minutes of effort? These wine-marinated cherries are sure to be the hit of your grazing board, especially when they’re served with a wedge of white cheddar.
Why this is a recipe for romance
Although some studies show that the scent of cherries is not favored by women, the general consensus on cherries is that these crimson fruits are aphrodisiacs. Sweet, with the faintest tart bite, cherries can make a wonderful companion to many foods, not to mention wine. Here, cookbook author Jill Silverman Hough presents wine-marinated cherries as an accompaniment to medium-sharp cheddar cheese.
The recipe comes from her book, 100 Perfect Pairings: Small Plates to Enjoy with Wines You Love. As the book’s title implies, this is a recipe designed for pairing with wine. Cherries and red wine are among our favorite aphrodisiacs. (In fact, our Editor-in-Chief, aphrodisiac foods expert Amy Reiley refers to cherry as the food world’s sex symbol.) With all this in mind, we feel this recipe will make a surefire gateway to romance.
You can make these marinated cherries in advance
The recipe is one of built-in simplicity. You just make the wine-soaked cherries a few days in advance and head to a cheesemonger for a quality slab of white cheddar. Then pack yourself a picnic or pencil in a little afternoon delight at home.
Pair this cherry recipe with red wine
As we mentioned, this recipe comes from a wine-pairing cookbook. Silverman calls for soaking the cherries in Merlot and recommends serving the same wine as a pairing for this marinated cherry dish for the best pairing experience. Enjoy!

White Cheddar with Wine-Soaked Cherries and Herbs
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup Merlot or other dry red wine
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp herbes de Provence see below
- 1/4 tsp coarse kosher salt
- 2/3 cup dried Bing or other sweet not tart dried cherries, coarsely chopped
- 8 oz medium-sharp white Cheddar cheese
- Whole wheat crackers for serving
Instructions
- In a medium glass or stain-resistant plastic container, combine the wine, olive oil, vinegar, herbes de Provence, and salt, whisking to dissolve the salt.
- Add the cherries, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 days, stirring occasionally. (You can refrigerate the cherry mixture for up to a week, stirring occasionally.)
To serve:
- Place the cheese on a platter and let it and the cherry mixture come to room temperature. Spoon the cherry mixture over and around the cheese.
- Serve with the crackers on the side.
Notes
Love this recipe? Get Jill Silverman Hough’s wine pairing book:
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Thank you for sharing my recipe and books, Amy! Have a delicious day!!!