Build A Catalan Charcuterie Cheese Board & Wine Pairing (V/VG Options)

This is a hands-on food workshop without a stove. Zara, a Barcelona resident with WSET Level 2 wine training and a sommelier diploma from the Gremi de Restauracio de Barcelona, shows you how to turn local meats, cheeses, fruit, vegetables, preserves, and crackers into a board that looks ready for a dinner party. You then eat it as your evening meal, with wine pairings along the way.

I like two things right away: you learn a useful skill instead of simply sitting down to a tasting, and the small maximum of 10 people should keep the evening personal. The board is also substantial enough to count as dinner, which makes the $106.04 price easier to weigh against a restaurant meal and a separate wine class.

The main consideration is that this is not a traditional cooking class. If you want to chop, sauté, or prepare a Catalan dish from scratch, this will feel light on technique. It is best for food lovers who enjoy presentation, conversation, and wine more than kitchen work.

Key points at a glance

• A no-cooking class: You assemble the board rather than prepare a hot dish.
• Catalan ingredients: Expect Barcelona embotidos, Spanish and Catalan cheeses, local preserves, seasonal produce, dried fruit, and crackers.
• Wine guidance included: Zara explains how to pair the wines with the finished board.
• Dinner is part of the class: You eat the food you create, so this is more than a small tasting.
• Small group setting: The class accepts no more than 10 people, with group discounts available.
• Vegetarian and vegan choices: Ask about these options before booking or attending.

Building a Catalan board at 8 pm

The class starts at Savour Academy, at Carrer del Farell, 12, bajos, in the Sants-Montjuïc district. The scheduled start is 8 pm, and the activity ends back at the same address. Since the class lasts about two hours and includes enough food for a meal, it fits neatly into an evening in Barcelona.

You begin with the basic question behind any good board: how do you combine different tastes, colors, textures, and shapes without making the whole thing look random? Zara takes you through the process step by step. You are not expected to arrive with cooking skills, and the format suits you if you would rather learn by arranging and tasting than by following a demanding recipe.

The finished spread includes several types of food. Barcelona embotidos bring the cured-meat element, while Spanish and Catalan cheeses add different textures and levels of richness. Local preserves provide sweetness or sharpness, and seasonal fruits and vegetables keep the board from becoming a parade of meat and cheese.

Dried fruit and crackers complete the practical side of the meal. These ingredients give you simple ways to change the bite from one mouthful to the next. That may sound basic, but it is exactly the sort of lesson you can use at home when you need to feed friends without cooking a full dinner.

What makes the local ingredients useful

A board like this can easily become a generic collection of imported products. The Catalan focus gives the class more purpose. You get a look at the products used in the region, rather than only learning a decorative arrangement that could be made anywhere.

The menu also has a good spread of contrasts. Cured meats bring salt and intensity. Cheese gives the board body. Preserves and fruit add sweetness, while vegetables and crackers offer a fresher or plainer counterpoint. The point is not simply to pile attractive food onto a wooden board. It is to make each part work with the others.

I especially like that you eat the finished board as a meal. Many food workshops offer a few bites, then leave you to find dinner elsewhere. Here, the food you assemble is the center of the evening. You should arrive ready to taste, compare, and share rather than expecting a formal restaurant service.

The exact products can change because the class uses fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients. That is a strength for anyone who wants a more connected sense of Catalan food, though it means you should not book expecting a fixed selection of particular cheeses or meats.

Wine pairing with Zara

Wine is not a side note here. Zara explains how to pair wine with the board and gives you wines to try during the meal. Her WSET Level 2 certificate and sommelier diploma support the educational side of the class, but the tone described for the academy is social and accessible rather than stiff or academic.

You can expect the pairing discussion to help you think about why a wine works with a salty cured meat, a creamy cheese, a preserve, or dried fruit. That is more useful than memorizing a list of brands. You leave with a way to judge combinations for yourself.

The wine portion also helps justify the price. A $106.04 experience is not a casual snack stop, especially when compared with a simple tapas meal. You are paying for instruction, a full board, several wine tastings, and a small-group setting. If you already plan to order a good dinner and wine that night, the added value comes from the lesson and the social format.

You should still keep the drinking element in mind. The class includes wine, and the food is served with it, so this is a better choice for someone who wants an evening of tasting than for someone avoiding alcohol. The supplied details do not state that nonalcoholic pairings are available, so ask Zara directly if that matters to you.

A social evening, not a formal lesson

The workshop is designed to be enjoyable even if you cannot cook. That makes it a friendly option for couples, friends, and small groups with mixed kitchen confidence. One person can be enthusiastic about food, while another can simply enjoy the wine and help build the board.

The small size matters. With a maximum of 10 participants, you are more likely to have time to ask questions and take part in the assembly. It also makes the activity suitable for a private group, and group discounts are available. One private gathering described the atmosphere as relaxed and intimate, which fits the format well.

The host’s stories about Barcelona add a local layer to the food. This is not presented as a museum-style history lesson. Instead, the city comes into the conversation through the ingredients, the wines, and Zara’s experience as a long-time resident.

The academy has been open since 2017 and offers several workshops. That matters because this board class is part of an established food-school setting rather than a one-off arrangement. Still, the class is only about two hours, so you should expect a focused introduction rather than a full course in Catalan cuisine.

Vegetarian and vegan options

You can ask about vegetarian or vegan choices. This is important because the standard sample menu includes cured meats and cheese, but the experience specifically allows the host to discuss alternatives.

For vegetarians, the cheese, preserves, produce, dried fruit, and crackers already provide several board elements. The precise substitutions are not stated, so ask ahead of time rather than assuming the standard menu will be changed automatically.

For vegans, it is especially important to make the request before the class. Cheese and cured meats form the usual foundation of a charcuterie board, and the host needs notice to plan a suitable spread. The available information confirms that vegan options can be requested, but it does not list the exact ingredients.

This advance conversation is also useful for allergies or strong food dislikes. Only the vegetarian and vegan options are specifically confirmed, so do not rely on the class to meet other dietary needs without checking first.

Is $106.04 a fair price?

At $106.04 per person, this belongs in the special-evening category rather than the quick-bite category. The price includes the workshop, the food you assemble, wine tastings, pairing instruction, and a meal-sized board. It also buys you a small group experience instead of a large demonstration.

I see the value most clearly if you enjoy all three parts: local food, wine education, and social participation. If you only want to taste Catalan cheese, a shop or food market may cost less. If you want a full cooking lesson, another workshop may offer more practical kitchen technique for the same money.

The price makes more sense for a couple, a birthday, or a small group looking for an evening activity with a clear beginning and end. Group discounts can improve the calculation, particularly if several people are booking together.

One practical point: the activity starts at 8 pm. That makes it an evening meal, not a pre-dinner appetizer. Do not schedule a large restaurant reservation immediately afterward unless you plan to eat lightly during the class. The board is described as enough for a meal.

Getting to Carrer del Farell

The meeting point is Savour Academy, Carrer del Farell, 12, bajos, Sants-Montjuïc, 08014 Barcelona. The activity is near public transportation, and both the start and finish are at the academy.

Because the class begins at a set time, give yourself enough time to find the exact entrance. The address includes bajos, meaning the space is at street level or on the lower ground floor, but the supplied details do not specify the best station or route. Check your route before leaving and arrive ready for an 8 pm start.

Service animals are allowed. The activity is offered in English, which makes it a useful choice if you want food and wine instruction without needing to follow a lesson in Spanish or Catalan.

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not refunded, and the class requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this class if you like food but do not want a demanding cooking lesson. It suits you if you want to understand how a Spanish-style board comes together, taste local products, and learn wine-pairing basics you can use at home.

It is also a good fit for a small celebration. The activity has a relaxed social character, and the maximum of 10 people keeps the room from feeling like a large tour group. Friends can share the work, compare tastes, and leave with ideas for their next dinner party.

You may want to skip it if you dislike cured meats, cheese, or wine, unless you have confirmed that the vegetarian or vegan version meets your needs. You should also look elsewhere if your main goal is a serious cooking lesson with knives, burners, recipes, and technical practice.

Should you book the Catalan board workshop?

Book it if you want a two-hour evening built around Catalan produce, wine, and easy food skills. The strongest reasons are the meal-sized board, the small group, Zara’s wine background, and the chance to learn a format you can repeat at home.

Think twice if $106.04 feels high for a class without traditional cooking. The value depends on your interest in wine and presentation. For the right person, it is a relaxed way to spend an evening and a practical lesson in hosting. For someone seeking a full culinary course, it will probably feel too simple.

FAQ

Where does the charcuterie and wine class take place?

It takes place at Savour Academy, Carrer del Farell, 12, bajos, in Sants-Montjuïc, Barcelona, Spain.

What time does the activity start?

The scheduled start time is 8 pm.

How long does the experience last?

The class lasts approximately two hours.

What language is the class offered in?

The experience is offered in English.

What food is included?

The sample menu includes Barcelona embotidos cured meats, Spanish and Catalan cheeses, local preserves, seasonal fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, and crackers.

Do I eat the board I make?

Yes. The board you create is eaten afterward, and it is described as enough for a meal.

Is this a traditional cooking class?

No. It is a no-cooking workshop focused on assembling a charcuterie and cheese board, rather than preparing a hot dish.

Are vegetarian and vegan options available?

Yes. Vegetarian and vegan options can be requested. Ask the host about them before attending.

How many people can join the class?

The activity has a maximum of 10 travelers.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded.