With summer in full swing, there’s no better time than now to gather friends and family for a summer soirée to sip, savor and smile the day or night away. Certain to put a smile on your guest’s face is delicious cheese and charcuterie victuals served up in fabulous form … and with a side of bubbles, to boot. Here are four ways to hit a home run with your next get together this season.

Carando Premium All-Natural Dry Sausage (https://carando.sfdbrands.com/)
Summertime is meant for A-plus snacks. Carando’s Premium All-Natural Dry Sausage, the company’s new addition to its line of artisan Italian meats, is sure to shine on any charcuterie board this season. Carando’s dried cuts include three varieties: Italian Dry Salame, Pepperoni and Genoa Salame and a delicious duo pack of Genoa Salame and Pepperoni. All are made from superior meat and all-natural ingredients, while also being conveniently pre-sliced and ready-to-plate—making them the perfect addition to any entertaining spread. Even more, the Premium All-Natural Dry Sausage utilizes Carando’s time-honored recipe and is crafted with top-quality cuts of uncurled meat for a classically well-seasoned Italian flavor.

Each five-ounce pack contains 6-10 grams of protein per serving without adding MSG, artificial flavorings and ingredients or colorings. The brand suggests pairing the product with an array of dishes, including everything from charcuterie board creations to pizzas and sandwiches. Since its start, Carando centers its food around the old-world recipes that inspire the feel and taste of Italy. From desk-friendly snacks and pass-around crowd pleasers, to weeknight dinners and more, the company hopes its customers turn to its various meat products to help them savor moments big and small—and celebrate everything that makes life so delicious.

The Premium All-Natural Dry Sausage joins the brand’s extensive group of Fresh Italian Meatballs, Fresh Italian Sausage Links and Ground Sausage, Classic Italian Deli Meats, Premium Dinner Hams and Grab and Go favorites like Calzones and Rip-N-Dips. The packs are now available at select retailers across the country.

‘Wisconsin Charcuterie Box’ from Cheese Brothers (https://www.cheesebros.com/)
When Cheese Brothers set out to build a charcuterie pack, they wanted the ultimate in flavor variety. So they started with the savory: Classic summer sausage from our own Barron Sausage Co. and Smoked Gouda. They then added the rich and sharp: 8-year-aged cheddar, the Italian-style Fratello, and its limited edition Door County Duet. Finally, they topped it off with the sweet: cherry lavender jam from Wisconsin’s own Bushel and Peck. A perfect assortment for wine and cheese parties or a gourmet gift.

Contents include: Four 6 oz. blocks of Wisconsin cheese (Dill havarti, Fratello, smoked gouda, and smoked Adelheid, eight included in Deluxe Pack); One 5 oz. block of Wisconsin reserve cheese (8-year Aged Cheddar, two included in the Deluxe Pack); One 8 oz. Wisconsin summer sausage from our very own Barron Sausage Co. (two included in Deluxe Pack); One 8 oz. jar of Cherry Lavender Jam from Bushel and Peck of Beloit, Wisconsin; The Deluxe Pack also includes: One 8 oz. jar of Bier Hall Mustard., plus one 5 oz. package of Classic White Organic from Potter’s Crackers of Madison, Wisconsin.

Cheese Brothers proudly honors its roots by following in the cheese-making traditions established by one of the founders’ great grandfathers when he immigrated to the U.S. from Switzerland in 1919. None of the business’s products are ever processed or artificial—sourcing milk from local family farms and utilizing only natural and simple seasonings to enhance its gourmet products. The eight-year-old company ships cheese and gift packages nationwide.

Sparkling Pointe’s Summer Wines (https://sparklingpointe.vinesos.com/)
Raise a glass to the warmest time of year with a refreshing pour of Sparkling Pointe’s Wines. Perfect for summer, these bubbly blends showcase the unique terroir of Long Island, New York. Its 2019 Brut, for example, offers drinkers a lovely expression of lemon-lime, apple blossoms and ripe pear. On the palate, expect a symphony of tiny bubbles that contribute to a generous and lingering mousse. Its floral and fruity notes also add to its full and zesty finish. Another sparkling wine that provides just the right amount of relief from the heat is Sparkling Pointe’s 2019 Blanc de Blancs.

This bright, gold-colored bottle presents toasty aromas of marzipan, freshly baked brioche and comice pear. Wine enthusiasts may note a subtler palate than the 2019 Brut—exhibiting a soft, mineral-driven experience that leads into a long, satin finish with hints of citrus rind and starfruit. The grand finale of this featured trio, the 2021 Topaz Imperial Brut Rosé is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It offers pronounced aromas of white flowers and mandarin with hints of cantaloupe and nectarine—delicate and persistent on the palate with a pinkish-peach hue. Sparkling Pointe wines are grown on three vineyard sites, comprising 40 acres within the North Fork of Long Island American Viticultural Area. This maritime climate provides the winery with unique glacial soils of sandy loam and excellent drainage to create its exclusive line of Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines. Even more, Sparkling Pointe is committed to reducing its environmental footprint and is certified as sustainable by the Long Island Sustainable Winegrowers Organization.

From its state-of-the-art Net-Zero Wine Storage Warehouse, to its drip irrigation system, the brand’s everyday operations focus on resource conservation and the reduction of greenhouse gases. Sparkling Pointe encourages customers to visit its New York-based winery to experience the production process firsthand—with stunning vistas overlooking the tank room and cellars to gaze upon as you sip on the sweet, sweet fruit of the facility’s labor.

Customizable Cheese Boards and Platters from Lynn & Liana Designs (https://lynnliana.com/)
Lynn & Liana Designs offers Customizable Cheese Boards and Platters that will serve as art in your home, while also helping serve up delicious cheese and charcuterie to guests. Not only do the boards come in nine colors, but no two boards are alike. Lynn & Liana Designs uses eco-friendly resin to create stunning pieces that are unique to each board.

These one-of-a-kind items are hand-poured and meticulously crafted—making for a beautiful charcuterie spread and great conversation items at dinner parties. Singer Meghan Trainor even shared her love for the cheese boards in her viral TikTok video, which garnered seven million views. The small Manitoba family business has grown tremendously since starting in 2018 from a garage set-up. Lynn & Liana Designs went from producing 100 boards in its first year to well over 100,000 boards in 2022 alone.

Now available in 2,000-plus stores, 28-year-old founder Melissa Funk has done more than jump on the charcuterie board craze. She’s reinvented it by crafting elegant boards and platters that stand out and bring a piece of nature into people’s homes. Even more, a portion of the brand’s sales go toward the replanting of trees across North America.

***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided at no cost and/or arranged to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way as per the disclosure policy on our “Legal” page***