October Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on September 30, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Fontina Val d’Aosta Semi-Soft Cheese Cow’s Milk Aosta Valley, Italy

The production of this cheese dates all the way back to the middle ages. The recipe has been passed down from generation to generation in the Aosta Valley. It is a classic Italian cheese and its name is protected to keep the true form of the cheese. The paste is smooth and buttery, essential for making Italian Fonduta (fondue) and perfect for gratins. Milk: Cow Country: Italy Pasteurization: Raw Region: Aosta Valley, Italy Age: 90+ days Fat: 45% Protection: D.O.P. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: For wine, pair this cheese with this month’s Wine Club Primitivo. For beer, look for a lager. WINESTYLES: Bold BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean Information © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

Divina Market Marinated Olives with Sicilian Herbs Greece

A dynamic duo of buttery, pitted Mt. Athos green olives gently marinated with their custom blend of zesty, aromatic Sicilian herbs and spices. PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS: A great pairing with almost any cheese, as well as a variety of lighter beers and crisp white wines. WINESTYLES: Crisp BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean About Divina Market: Divina believes that great food should give back. Beginning with their partnerships in the fields with family-owned, sustainable farms, they help preserve timeless culinary heritages while their collection of olives, preserved vegetables and spreads simplify the joy of cooking and entertaining. Learn more > Information © Zuercher & Co., Divina Market and Food Match – All Rights Reserved.

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If you enjoy pairing cheese with wine, this is your club! Each month you’ll discover specialty and artisan cheeses to pair with your Wine Club. Monthly cheese selections are chosen by your local WineStyles participating location. It’s the perfect opportunity to Taste, Learn and Enjoy® amazing artisan cheese every month! Only $19.99/month and your wine won’t be lonely! Click to learn more >

September Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on August 30, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Nettle Meadow Artisan Cheese Fig and Honey Fromage Frais Thurman, New York

Fromage Frais is a light and fluffy combination of cow’s and goat’s milk. The flavor is fresh, clean and mild – the cow’s milk provides sweetness, while goat’s milk adds a refreshing lemon-y finish. Nettle Meadow’s high quality milk and ingredients are what really makes this an exemplary fresh cheese. Use as a spread on bagels and sandwiches, salads or as a dip for crudités. Likewise, try experimenting with it as a filling for stuffed French toast, crêpes, blintzes, chicken breasts, ravioli, or pierogies. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: For wine, pair this cheese with this month’s Wine Club Heron Hill Riesling. For beer, look for a crisp pilsner. WINESTYLES: Crisp BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean NETTLE MEADOW ARTISAN CHEESE: Nettle Meadow Sanctuary Farm is home to over 130 farm sanctuary animals and a cheese company in Thurman, New York. Originally founded in 1990, it is now owned and operated by Lorraine Lambiase and Sheila Flanagan. Today, Nettle Meadow is a dairy farm and cheese company renowned for its exquisite handcrafted cheeses. With a focus on sustainable and humane practices, they specialize in goat and sheep milk creations. Through their passion for quality and environmental responsibility, they have created a diverse range of award-winning cheeses that reflect their commitment to artisanal excellence. Learn more > Information © Nettle Meadow Artisan Cheese & Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

Fromager d’Affinois Le Fromager Rhône-Alpes, France

Similar in appearance to a brie cheese, both the white rind and the creamy interior of Le Fromager are milder in flavor. Made by ultra-filtration, a relatively modern process that claims a very high percentage of nutrients and butterfat from the milk during the making of the cheese. The ultra-filtration gives the cheese a silky-satin texture that many connoisseurs really enjoy. In addition, the cheese has a clean, rich and creamy taste. It’s a crowd pleaser for sure! Best enjoyed when the rind starts to bulge, and the center is oozing with rich, buttery aromas. It matches beautifully with crispy, crunchy Lavosh crackers and a bit of quince paste, or fig, prune and walnut log. Its oozy, spreadable texture will make an awesome grilled cheese indulgence. PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS: Bubbles are a must to pair with this cheese. It can be as simple as sparkling water or wine, or go all out with Champagne! It will also pair beautifully with this month’s Riesling as well as any crisp and clean beer. WINESTYLES: Crisp BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean FROMAGER D’AFFINOIS: Fromager d’Affinois, originating in France, produces exquisite cheeses using traditional craftsmanship combined with modern techniques. With a commitment to quality, they create soft and creamy varieties like Brie and Camembert. The company’s success is attributed to the collaboration between skilled artisans and local dairy farmers, resulting in a range of delectable cheeses that embody French cheese-making expertise. Learn more > Information © Fromager d’Affinois and Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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August Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on July 26, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Central Coast Creamery Goat Gouda Paso Robles, California

Central Coast Creamery’s flagship cheese bursts of fruity and caramel aromas that will transport you to the sun-soaked hills of California the moment you cut into it. Its ivory-colored paste is semi-firm, yet crumbly, tacky, and slightly chalky and crystalline. It has starchy flavors of tart apples, grass and crusty bread. This award winning gouda is made with 100% goat’s milk and is aged for 4 to 6 months. Awards:

2016 – American Cheese Society (ACS) – 2nd Place Award
2016 – World Cheese Championship – 3rd Place Award
2014 – World Cheese Championship – 3rd Place Award
2013 – United States Cheese Championship – Best of Class
2011 – United States Cheese Championship – 2nd Place Award
2010 – Best of Show – American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA)
2010 – American Cheese Society (ACS) – 3rd Place Award

WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: What grows together, goes together! All of our August Wine Club wines will pair beautifully with this cheese. As for beer, enjoy with a crisp Amber Ale. WINESTYLES: Bold or Crisp BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean CENTRAL COAST CREAMERY: Located near California’s coast in Paso Robles, Central Coast Creamery is gaining momentum in the domestic artisan cheese category. At the helm is Reggie Jones, a veteran of the dairy industry, who has worked in various aspects of quality control, production management, whey refining and sales of cheese cultures and enzymes. After considering their next venture, Reggie’s family decided to make the move to California’s Central Coast, well-known for its support of artisan foods and wineries. Looking back into the region’s history, one will find that the area was once home to a number of dairies. However, during the 1970’s, most of the region’s independent dairy farms lost their steam, and were extinct by the end of the decade. The Jones family, looking to rejuvenate these roots, started Central Coast Creamery. In true California spirit, all of their cheeses are made in primarily handmade, small batches using locally-sourced milk free from artificial growth hormones, and aged on pine racks. Learn more > Information © Central Coast Creamery and Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

PRiMO Raspberry Habanero Preserves Denver, Colorado

These raspberry habanero preserves have a straight up red raspberry flavor with delightful tropical heat that unfolds into a long satisfying finish. On average, PRiMO cooks their preserves for one minute or less, so the fruit’s natural flavor shines in every bite. PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS: Pairs great with this month’s Goat Gouda and a glass of wine from any of our August Wine Club selections. It also pairs beautifully with a soft-ripened buttery cheese- think Delice de Bourgogne, Camembert, Kunik (Nettle Meadow Farm) and semi-soft, washed-rind cheeses such as Epoisses and Taleggio. For beer, reach for a crisp Amber Ale as well. WINESTYLES: Bold or Crisp BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean PRiMO: PRiMO is a small independent producer that create their own unique flavors and recipes and lovingly hand-craft them in small batches. They obsess over every detail- from the ingredients they source to how they might pair with cheese, salumi and wine, and everything in between. Learn more > Information © PRiMO and Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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July Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on June 29, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Carr Valley Cranberry Chipotle Cheddar La Valle, Wisconsin

Made from pasteurized cow’s milk, this white cheddar has cranberries and chipotle peppers added, which contributes to the subtle heat and a very warm finish. Acclaims: Gold 2023 Los Angeles Int. Dairy Competition; Gold 2022 Los Angeles Int. Dairy Competition; 2nd Place 2017 US Championship Cheese Contest. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Pair this cheese with a Shiraz from South Africa (or even a sparkling Shiraz). For beer, reach for a lager. WINESTYLES: Mellow BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean CARR VALLEY CHEESE: Owned and operated by the Cook family, Carr Valley Cheese Company is over 100 years old. Nestled amongst the rolling hills and lush pastures of central Wisconsin, they remain one of Wisconsin’s traditional cheese plants, famous for making cheese the old-fashioned way! Information © Carr Valley Cheese. – All Rights Reserved. Information © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

Neal’s Yard Dairy Montgomery’s Cheddar Somerset, England

Since 1911, Montgomery’s Cheddar has been handmade at Manor Farm with milk from the 200 Friesian cows that roam their 1200 acre farm and produced within twenty miles of the town of Cheddar. Montgomery’s Cheddar is dry and flakey with deep, rich, fruity and savory flavors with an incredibly long finish. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Pair with a red wine, such as a Pinot Noir, Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon. For beer, pair with an IPA or an English Cider. WINESTYLES: Bold BEERSTYLES: Hoppy & Bitter MONTGOMERY’S CHEESE: For over three generations, the Montgomery family has been farming in North and South Cadbury in Somerset since Jamie Montgomery’s grandfather purchased the farm in 1911. Elizabeth Montgomery took over in the 1960s, ensuring the high quality standards continued and nurtured the recipe for 30 years. When Jamie inherited the role of cheese master of the family, he commited every aspect of production to his cheese, from the quality of the grass his cows graze on to the taste and texture of the final product. Learn more > Information © Montgomery Cheese – All Rights Reserved. Information © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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June Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on May 30, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. TomaProvence Point Reyes Station, California

The rich texture and buttery flavor that make Toma a true American original provides a perfect base for a line of cheeses that are as unique as they are delicious. This pasteurized, cow’s milk cheese has a full, savory, Mediterranean flavor. Herbs de Provence – a blend that includes rosemary, basil, marjoram, savory and wild thyme – have been added to complement the creamy butter notes of Toma (thus the name, Toma Provence). Great as a snacking cheese, or pair with olives, a fresh baguette and an abundant charcuterie board and a buttery Chardonnay. Learn more about the history of the Giacomini family dairy farm and the new generation of sister cheesemakers at Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese. Be sure to check out Jane Pauly’s feature segment below, that aired on NBC’s Today show in July 2013. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Pair this cheese with a crisp Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, or a buttery Chardonnay. For beer, look for a hoppy IPA. WINESTYLES: Crisp or Fruity BEERSTYLES: Hoppy & Bitter Information © Points Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. – All Rights Reserved. © Video by NBC Today’s Show

PRFC Today Show from Great Matter on Vimeo.

Isigny Ste-Mère Abbaye Ste-Mère St- Paulin Normandy, France

This pasteurized cow’s milk cheese is a member of the Port-du-Salut family. Originally made by the Trappist monks of Saint-Paulin, it can be recognized by its fine, moist rind, its yielding texture and its slightly salty taste. With its semi-soft texture, this French cheese has a smooth, fruity taste with a slightly stronger finish. Its natural mildness gives way to both taste and character. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Enjoy this cheese with a Chenin Blanc or a Beaujolais. For beer, this cheese will pair beautifully with a Hefeweizen, Amber Ale, Belgium Ale (any Trappist Ale), or a Normandy Cider. WINESTYLES: Crisp or Fruity BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean or Fruity & Spicy Information © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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May Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on April 26, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Piave Aged Veneto, Italy

Aged for a minimum of 1 year, this Italian mountain cheese is made with pasteurized cow’s milk. It has a dense texture, similar to a young parmesan; at first rich, tangy, caramel-sweet and nutty in flavor, with a delayed component of citrus notes in its finish. Piave is regarded as a cheese that gains character as it ages. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: This cheese pairs beautifully with with Mellow or Bold Italian wines, such as Valpolicella, Amarone,or Chianti (Sangiovese). For craft beers, pair with a light Pilsner or Lager, such as Italian Peroni or a Saison. WINESTYLES: Mellow or Bold BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean Information © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

Cooper’s Hill Double Gloucester Great Britain

Cooper’s Hill celebrates a famous cheese rolling tradition enshrined in English folklore. Every year, a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese is sent down the hill and the first person chasing it to cross the finish line receives the wheel of the cheese and all the accolades. This year’s event is scheduled for May 29, 2023. Learn more about this fun tradition > This pasteurized cow’s milk cheese combines the creamy texture and rounded taste of a quintessential British Double Gloucester with the tang of added chives and onions. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: This cheese suits Mellow or Bold wine styles, such as a Syrah or Spanish Rioja wine. Silky white wine style, such as a Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre region in Loire Valley, France. For craft beer, a natural partner would be British or American Brown Ales. WINESTYLES: Bold or Mellow red wines or Silky white wines. BEERSTYLES: Fruity & Spicy Information © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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April Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on March 29, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Milton Creamery Morning Harvest Milton, Iowa

Morning Harvest is an American original cheese. Made with pasteurized cow’s milk, it is slightly sweet with a nice hint of caramel and almond to finish. This softer body cheese melts like a dream! WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Pair this cheese with a Bold Red Blend or a Bold Cabernet Sauvignon, such as our April Club Selection – the Rangel Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon. For beer, look for something Fruity & Spicy; all three of our April Beer Club Selections would pair beautifully with this cheese. WINESTYLES: Bold BEERSTYLES: Fruity & Spicy ABOUT THE CREAMERY: The Musser Family has solely owned and operated Milton Creamery since 2006. Originally from Pennsylvania, Rufus and Jane Musser made the move to Southern Iowa for the opportunity to sell produce to dairy farming, which eventually led to their desire to make speciality cheeses. Today, Rufus III, his wife Jane, and their son Rufus IV “Junior” currently work with local Amish and Mennonite dairy farmers to create their award winning cheeses, while managing a team of nearly 30 people. Learn more about their family creamery and history here. > Information © Milton Creamery – All Rights Reserved.

Mitica Wild Lavender Honey Spain

This raw, wild lavender infused honey from Spain is smooth in texture with a beautiful amber color. It is light, floral, sweet and aromatic. Pairing: Serve on a cheese board paired with this month’s cheese club selection, drizzle over desserts and pastries, or even add to your favorite tea. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: This honey will marry beautifully with a Riesling, Pinot Gris, or a Sauvignon Blanc, such as this month’s Primary White Wine Selection – the Rangel Ranch Sauvignon Blanc. For beer, pair with any of our April Beer Club Selections. WINESTYLES: Silky BEERSTYLES: Fruity & Spicy Information © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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March Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on February 27, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Claddagh Bó Irish Cheddar Cheese with Porter Beer Limerick, Ireland

Made by the O’Doherty family at their award-winning Old Irish Creamery located in County Limerick on the west coast of Ireland. Their Irish Cheddar with Porter is a creamy pasteurized cow’s milk Irish Cheddar that is covered in original Irish Porter, giving both a deep flavor and beautiful marbled look to this stunning cheese. With superb taste and texture, this new Claddaugh Bó line represents the very best of the cheesemaking traditions from the Emerald Isle. Pairing: Add this stunning cheese to your charcuterie board and wow your guests. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: This cheese pairs beautifully with a Zinfandel wine. For beer, look for a Porter or a Stout (keep the flavors from the cheese going). WINESTYLES: Mellow BEERSTYLES: Dark & Roasty Information © Somerdale International and Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

Long Clawson Dairy Rutland Red Leicestershire, England

This clothbound Red Leicester cheese is produced by Long Clawson Dairy in Leicestershire, England. Made using traditional recipes using pasteurized cow’s milk, this cheese is buttered, cloth-bound and matured for six months to produce a flaky, open texture cheese with a slightly sweet, caramelized flavor and rich golden orange color from the addition of annatto seeds. Its flavors are mellow and toasty with lingering caramel notes. This Rutland Red is an award winning cheese – three gold medals at the Global Cheese Awards, four gold medals at the Tesco Red Leiscester Trophy and the International Cheese Awards. Pairing: Serve on a cheese board with pickles and rustic bread, or enjoy grated on top of biscuits, mashed potatoes, stews and Shepard’s Pie. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: This cheese suits a full bodied white wine such as an oaked Chardonnay. If you’re wanting a red wine, partner this cheese with a medium bodied Rioja. For craft beer, look for a Brown Ale. WINESTYLES: Bold and Rich BEERSTYLES: Fruity & Spicy Information © Long Clawson Dairy and Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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February Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on January 30, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Grupo Ganaderos de Fuerteventura The Smokin’ Goat Smoked Goat Cheese Canary Islands, Spain

This smoked, pasteurized goat’s milk cheese is made by a family-run dairy on the Canary Islands that aims to protect the strong cheesemaking traditions of that region. The Smokin’ Goat is made with local Majorero goat’s milk, creating a smooth paste that is naturally high in fat and protein. The cheese is lightly smoked over beechwood, adding toasted notes to this otherwise sweet and tangy goat cheese. The rind pattern is a nod to the palm leaves that were historically used as cheese molds in this region. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: What grows together, goes together. Pair this cheese with any of our 2023 February Wine Club wines from Spain. For beer, grab something crisp and clean, like a Pilsner. WINESTYLES: Bold or Crisp BEERSTYLES: Crisp and Clean

The Drunken Goat Semi-Soft Goat Cheese Queso de Murcia al Vino DOP Jumilla, Spain

The Drunken Goat is a semi-soft goat cheese bathed in red wine. It is made with pasteurized goat’s milk from the Murcia region of Spain and it’s smooth and mild with a beautiful violet hue – from soaking in Doble Pasta (DOH-blay PAHSS-tah) from the Monastrell grape. Aged for 6-8 weeks with 45-50% fat content, this cheese has a slightly fruity and herbal finish. The Drunken Goat is a great introduction to goat cheese as it doesn’t have the tangy or “goaty” cheese flavors that many people don’t like. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Same thing here – what grows together, goes together. Pair this cheese with any of our 2023 February Wine Club wines from Spain. For beer, grab something fruity and spicy, like a Belgian-Style Wheat Ale. WINESTYLES: Bold or Crisp BEERSTYLES: Fruity and Spicy Information © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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January Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on December 23, 2022 by mcginnessalex

Cecilia Zamorano D.O.P. Sheep Semibold Cheese Castile-León, Spain

Aged for 3-9 months, this DOP cheese is made from raw milk of its namesake region’s Churra and Castellano sheep. The rind has a familiar zigzag pattern – typical of many Spanish cheeses – but its flavor is all its own. This cheese is deliciously sweet and nutty with a touch of salt. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Pair with a fruity wine such as a Tempranillo or a mellow wine such as our January Wine Club wines: Chateau Govain Merlot and the Domaine de Lilotte Bordeaux. For beer, grab something fruity and spicy, like a Belgian-Style Wheat Ale. WINESTYLES: Fruity or Mellow BEERSTYLES: Fruity and Spicy

Onetik Tomme Pur Chèvre Goat Cheese Pyrenees, France

This natural rinded Tomme cheese is made from pasteurized goat’s milk. Similar in texture to Onetik’s Ossau-Iraty Cheese, however, the flavors here are clearer and brighter, with cool herbal tones to replace the nuttiness that you would get from a sheep’s milk Tomme. This is a great addition to any cheese board. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Pair with a crisp wine such as a Sancerre or a Sauvignon Blanc – try with our January White Wine Club wine – Chateau Le Prieur Cuvée Passion. For beer, pair with a crisp Basque Cider from the Basque region of Europe (think: “what grows together, goes together”). WINESTYLES: Crisp BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean Information © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

Fontina Val d’Aosta Semi-Soft Cheese Cow’s Milk Aosta Valley, Italy

Divina Market Marinated Olives with Sicilian Herbs Greece

Join our Cheese Club and bring home a match made in heaven!

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Nettle Meadow Artisan Cheese Fig and Honey Fromage Frais Thurman, New York

Fromager d’Affinois Le Fromager Rhône-Alpes, France

Join our Cheese Club and bring home a match made in heaven!

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Central Coast Creamery Goat Gouda Paso Robles, California

PRiMO Raspberry Habanero Preserves Denver, Colorado

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Carr Valley Cranberry Chipotle Cheddar La Valle, Wisconsin

Neal’s Yard Dairy Montgomery’s Cheddar Somerset, England

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Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. TomaProvence Point Reyes Station, California

Isigny Ste-Mère Abbaye Ste-Mère St- Paulin Normandy, France

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Piave Aged Veneto, Italy

Cooper’s Hill Double Gloucester Great Britain

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Milton Creamery Morning Harvest Milton, Iowa

Mitica Wild Lavender Honey Spain

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Claddagh Bó Irish Cheddar Cheese with Porter Beer Limerick, Ireland

Long Clawson Dairy Rutland Red Leicestershire, England

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Grupo Ganaderos de Fuerteventura The Smokin’ Goat Smoked Goat Cheese Canary Islands, Spain

The Drunken Goat Semi-Soft Goat Cheese Queso de Murcia al Vino DOP Jumilla, Spain

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Cecilia Zamorano D.O.P. Sheep Semibold Cheese Castile-León, Spain

Onetik Tomme Pur Chèvre Goat Cheese Pyrenees, France

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