How to Make Your Own Aussie Cheese Board

There are certain cultures that just know how to entertain. The Aussie’s are among the best at bringing people together for fun and friendship. And the locals in the Barossa Valley will bring you into their homes and lives while you are there so you can experience this Australian hospitality for yourself. 

You can bring this level of hospitality to your own table with an Aussie cheeseboard like the one we enjoyed at Abbotsford Country House in Lyndoch. 

Create our own Aussie cheese board

There really aren’t any “rules” for creating a great cheese board, but here are a few things to keep in mind to make a great sharing platter. 

• Offer a variety of sweet and savory items
• Offer a variety of textures – creamy cheese to spread on crackers as well as harder cheeses, honey and jams, crunchy nuts, and chewy dried fruit
• Use a variety of cheeses – aged, smokey, soft, semi-hard and cheeses made from different milks
• Bring the matured cheese to room temp so you can enjoy the full flavor profile. Fresh cheeses should be served cool, but not straight from the fridge. 
• Use labels so guests know what they are getting
• Don’t be afraid to leave a little space. Many of the boards you see online show an overflowing platter, but leaving a little space will allow room for your guests to cut into cheese and get to other items easier. Feel free to use multiple serving platters so items can have their chance to shine on their own. Put the cheeses on a platter, the crackers in a beautiful bowl, and jams in their jars. 

Great Australian Cheeses

It can be difficult to find Australian cheeses in the US, but if you can find them here are a few of our favorites.

Mandolin – a semi-hard cheese with a grassy earthy flavor

Riverine Blue – one of only a few blue cheeses in the world made with buffalo milk

Goat on a Hot Tin Roof – a slightly spicy goat cheese that uses locally sourced ingredients

Stokes Point Smoked Cheddar – a naturally smoked cheddar that ages for a minimum of 9 months

Using a mix of your favorite cheddar, blue, gorgonzola, and goat cheese is a great place to start. Pair your favorite cheese with the Tucker’s Natural Crackers, Pure Origins Manuka Honey, and Beerenberg jam from your B.I.T.E. Box and you’ll be well on your way to a Barossa Valley gathering.