Tag Archives: Brie

October Cheese Club: Cedar Rapids

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Cheese Club Fromager florette goat cheese Fromager d’Affinois Florette Goat’s Milk Brie Cheese Pélussin, France

Florette is a goat’s milk cheese with a stark white paste and a dimple-edged rind, folded over itself like a freshly baked pie crust. It’s the brightest, freshest-tasting cheese in Fromager d’Affinois’ lineup, with notes of tangy lemon yogurt and a clean, fresh scent, reminiscent of grass after a morning rain. 

PAIRINGS: Best paired with fresh, springtime flavors, like lemon marmalade, Granny Smith apples, and Marcona almonds. Or ripe blueberries, honey and fresh basil. Also great with spiced fig jam. This cheese pairs beautifully with Sauvignon Blanc wines, cool-climate Chardonnay, sparkling wines, or Beaujolais and light Pinot Noir wines. 

WINESTYLES: Silky or Mellow

BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean

ABOUT THE CREAMERY: In the 1980s, Jean Claude Guilloteau and his wife settled in Pélussin, a picturesque village in France’s Rhône-Alpes region, near Lyon. Surrounded by vineyards, mountains and a rich culinary tradition, Guilloteau set out to rethink the art of French cheesemaking.

Drawing on his experience in yogurt production, Guilloteau pioneered the use of ultrafiltration, a process that removes excess water from milk while retaining its natural richness. Combined with years of research into unique cultures and rennet, this innovative approach created the signature silky, creamy texture and delicate flavor found in Fromagerie Guilloteau cheeses, like Florette. What began in a small French village eventually found its way to cheese lovers around the world. Learn more about the history of Fromager d’Affinois here> Information © Fromager d’Affinois – All Rights Reserved.

Coopers-Hill-Header-Product-485x485Cooper’s Hill Double Gloucester Great Britain

Cooper’s Hill celebrates a famous cheese rolling tradition enshrined in English folklore.  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. 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. Learn more about this fun tradition > 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.

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

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 >

Broken Earth Winery Grenache Blanc

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WINE CLUB

Broken_Earth_LR_20_GrenacheBlanc_BottleSilky styleBroken Earth Winery
Grenache Blanc
Paso Robles, California

SILKY WINE STYLE

The wine is austere at first, but as it opens up, the fruit flavors emerge beautifully. It has a smooth texture that adds weight to the mouthfeel without the expected high alcohol. At 12.01% alcohol, this variety balances ripeness without excessive warmth on the palate. Enjoy with similarly subtle weighted dishes that highlight its bright, fresh personality.

Varietal: Grenache Blanc
Appellation: Paso Robles, California
Alcohol: 12.01% by volume
pH: 3.29
TA: 5.9 g/L
Residual Sugar: 1 g/L
Winemaker: Chris Cameron

WINEMAKER NOTES:
Grenache Blanc is closely related to Grenache Noir, originating in Spain before migrating to France. Historically, it has been a blending component for Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône wines, but recently it has gained popularity as a stand-alone variety. The Grenache Blanc Block 2D-N (1.5 acres) was grafted onto original Merlot vines in the late ’90s. The vines are prolific, ripening later than some reds like Syrah and Grenache. The fruit is harvested at 22 Brix, gently pressed, and fermented at 58°F for 33 days. No malolactic fermentation or oak aging is used to preserve its delicate fruit characteristics. – Chris Cameron, Winemaker

ABOUT BROKEN EARTH WINERY:
Located in Paso Robles, California, Broken Earth Winery embraces the region’s pioneering spirit. The estate, originally known as Rancho Tierra Rejada (Spanish for “land of worked earth”), has a rich history of cattle ranching and grape growing. Today, it spans over 700 acres of vineyards. Established in 1973 as Continental Vineyards, it was among the first large-scale vineyards in the area. The winery remains committed to sustainable farming practices.  Learn more about Broken Earth Winery.

Try this wine with the following recipe…

Baked Brie with Apricot Preserves

Baked Brie with Apricot Preserves

INGREDIENTS:

  • 8 oz wheel double cream brie
  • ¼ cup apricot preserves
  • 2 tbsp chopped roasted salted almonds
  • ½ tsp brandy (optional)
  • ¼ tsp chopped fresh rosemary

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place brie on an oven-safe dish or a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  2. Combine preserves, rosemary, brandy (if using), and almonds in a bowl.
  3. Top brie with the mixture and bake for 12-15 minutes, until soft.
  4. Let rest for 5 minutes, then serve with crackers.

Information & Photos © Broken Earth Winery – All Rights Reserved.

Recipe courtesy of Cup of Zest.


Join our WINE CLUB and enjoy amazing wines and pairing recipes every month. Plus, receive 10% off all retail wine purchases!

January Cheese Club: Iowa

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Cheese ClubBelletoile-cheese-wheelBelletoile Triple Créme Brie Lorraine Valley, France

In 1960, Belletoile was the first triple créme Brie exported to the USA.  It sets itself apart from traditional Brie and Camembert by incorporating extra cream in the production process, resulting in a delightful, creamy, and mellow texture.  Its protective rind allows for prolonged enjoyment, as it softens and ages.  Evolving flavor profiles start out fresh and mild, then transforms into a creamier and more aromatic taste as the cheese matures.  This triple cream cheese is light, airy and mild with 70% fat. It’s more savory and buttery than a traditional brie. Enjoy with this recipe for a crostini topped with cherry jam. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Pair with an unoaked Chardonnay or our January White Wine Selection. For beer, look for a crisp wheat beer, such as a Hefeweizen or an ale such as a saison.  WINESTYLES: Silky BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean, or Sour, Tart & Funky Information and photo © Belletoile – All Rights Reserved.

Cecilia-cheeseCastellano Cecilia de Castilla Castile-León, Spain

A traditional Spanish sheep’s milk cheese from the Castilla y León region. This cheese has a rich, complex flavor with buttery, nutty and sweet undertones – everything you love about Spanish sheep’s milk cheese! Aged for 12 months, it has a deep ivory to light yellow color with a firm and almost crumbly texture. The flavors are complex, deep and nutty with a slightly sharp and tangy finish. WINE & CRAFT BEER RECOMMENDATIONS: Enjoy with a fruity red such as a Tempranillo, or a bubbly wine such as a Spanish Cava. For beer, grab a Basque Cider.  WINESTYLES: Fruity & Mellow BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean Information and Photo © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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

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 >

November Cheese Club: Iowa

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Toma_cheesePoint Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.Cheese Club Toma Point Reyes Station, California

In Italian, ‘Toma’ means “wheel of cheese made by the farmer herself”; the perfect way to describe Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.’s most versatile, any time, any table cheese. Creamy and buttery in flavor with a grassy, tang finish, the Toma cheese is an all natural, semi-hard table cheese made from pasteurized, rBST-free cows’ milk coated in a waxed rind. It is made with microbial (vegetarian) rennet, aged for 90 days and is gluten free. FOOD PAIRING: Toma makes for the perfect anytime snacking cheese. It is great for melting into or onto pastas, risottos, grilled cheese sandwiches, grilled vegetables, burgers or soups. Pair with savory or sweet foods such as peaches, fruit compotes, toasted nuts, or sautéed greens. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRING: Serve with hop-heavy beers such as an IPA, and for wine, pair with our November Wine Club Wines: Estate Cellars Proprietary Red Blend or the Estate Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. WINESTYLES: Mellow or Bold BEERSTYLES: Hoppy & Bitter AWARDS:
  • 2017 World Cheese Awards in London – Bronze Medal
  • 2017 American Cheese Society, Farmstead – 1st Place
  • 2017 California State Fair – Gold Medal
  • 2014 Good Food Awards – Best Cheese
  • 2012 American Cheese Society, American Originals, Cows’ Milk Category – 2nd Place
  • 2011 California State Fair – Gold Medal
  • 2011 American Cheese Society, American Originals, Cows’ Milk Category – 1st Place
  • 2010 World Cheese Awards in London – Silver Medal
ABOUT POINT REYES FARMSTEAD CHEESE COMPANY: Stretching along the California coast, just about 40 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. is a family owned and operated business passed down from generation to generation for over 100 years. Today, the creamery is operated by the four Giacomini family daughters, whom all left their various business careers and returned to the creamery to transition the business into an artisan farmstead cheesemaking facility. Together they work to produce the freshest, highest quality milk. Learn more about their story here.

Petite-BreakfastMarin French Cheese Co. Petite Breakfast Brie Petaluma, California

Since 1865, Marin has been making their iconic Petite Breakfast Brie. Skipping the aging room, this cheese is fresh and young, and has a tangy flavor with a spongy texture – reminiscent of creamy cheese curds.  FOOD PAIRING: Versatile for hot and cold usages, such as pastries or salads. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRING: For wine, pair with a Sauvignon Blanc or this month’s Primary White Wine Club Wine: the Estate Cellars Chardonnay. For beer, grab something hazy or citrus wheat beer. WINESTYLES: Rich BEERSTYLES: Crisp and Clean ABOUT MARIN FRENCH CHEESE CO.: Since 1865, Marin French Cheese Co. has been producing artisan cheese that respects nature and their local environments. The cheeses are handcrafted and made with the highest quality milks sourced from local dairies. Being the oldest continually operating cheese company in California, Marin French Cheese Co. cheeses have distinctive, authentic taste that is true to their roots in Marin County.

Screen Shot 2021-06-28 at 7.24.47 PMDon’t let your Wine Club go home alone! Join our Cheese Club and bring home a match made in heaven!

If you enjoy pairing cheese with wine, this is your club!  Each month you’ll discover 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 cheese every month! Only $19.99/month and your wine won’t be lonely!  Click to learn more >

May Bubbly Club: Iowa

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Bubbly Wine Club2016ArgyleVintageBrutBottleWebArgyle Winery
Vintage Brut
Willamette Valley, Oregon

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

The 2016 sparkling wine vintage in the Willamette Valley was generous yet refined, highlighting the alluring precision the region has to offer. Knudsen Vineyard, in the protected Dundee Hills, brings supple depth and elegance.  While Spirit Hill Vineyard, in the windy confines of the Eola-Amity Hills, brings tension and mineral backbone. Fresh seashore, white peach, and toasted brioche are framed around a creamy center and long, graceful finish.

Analysis: 12.5% alcohol / volume
Varietals: 55% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier
AVA: Willamette Valley AVA
Harvested: Aug. 23 – Sept. 2, 2016
Brix at Harvest: 18.6
Barrel Aging: 70% Stainless Steel, 30% Neutral Oak
Dosage: 3 g/L
Malolactic: 0% Malolactic Fermentation
Critical Acclaim: 91 Points Wine Spectator; 90 Points Wine Enthusiast

FOOD PAIRING: Serve with creamy, salty, or lean and lemony cheeses, such as a Brie, Triple Cream or Bleu Cheese. 

ABOUT THE WINERY:
In 1987, Argyle was founded by Rollin Soles to produce sparkling wines in cool-climate of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Today, Argyle Winery produces sparkling wines, Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Rieslings. All Argyle Sparkling wines are 100% Argyle grown, vintage dated, made from hand-picked, cold press grapes, bottle fermented, aged on yeast for a minimum of 3 years and ‘disgorged on demand.’ They have earned acclaim for their elegance, character, and uncommon ageability. Learn more about their history here.

© Photo by Argyle Winery

MSC_SparklingBrutRose2020_Bottleshot_3000px_300ppiMcBride Sisters 
Sparkling Brut Rosé 
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

Grown sustainably in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Hawke’s Bay is one of the most prestigious fine wine regions in New Zealand and the source for McBride Sisters’ delicious non-vintage Sparkling Brut Rosé.

This Sparkling Brut Rosé has gentle floral notes of rose petals, strawberries and cream, and loads of freshly crushed red berries. The red fruits carry through the palate, where cranberry, peach, strawberry, and raspberry take center stage. There is a hint of toasty complexity and some creamy richness from time on lees that lead into a dry finish with lingering hints of spice.

Analysis: 12.6% alcohol / volume
Varietals: 64% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 6% Merlot
RS: 9.4 g/L
pH: 3.4
TA: 6.2 g/L
Critical Acclaim: 92 Points, Gold Medal, San Diego International Wine & Spirits Competition

FOOD PAIRING: Pairs beautifully with everything from seafood to fried chicken.  

ABOUT THE WINERY:
The McBride Sisters were raised separately among the vines of Monterey, California and Marlborough, New Zealand. Destiny led them to each other, and they quickly bonded over their shared passion for good wine and a desire to shake up the industry. In 2005 they started a wine company together. Today, the award-winning McBride Sisters Collection wines directly reflect the terroirs of the sisters’ youth, with wine styles and flavors designed for all palates. Learn more about the sisters’ story here.

© Photo by McBride Sisters

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