January Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on December 30, 2024 by mcginnessalex

Agour Petit Agour Pur Brebis Semi-hard Sheep’s Milk Cheese France

Made from pasteurized sheep’s milk from the Basque Pyreness region, it boasts a sweet, subtle flavor and a creamy yet sturdy texture. Its bright orange rind, dusted with the region’s speciality, Espellettes pimento, giving it a distinctive rusty red appearance, can be brushed clean before slicing. The method used making this cheese is claimed to be the oldest surviving tradition in the world, dating back 4000 year. Petit Agour offers a distinctly sheep-y character, with floral, nutty, and lanolin notes typical of rustic sheep’s milk cheeses—without veering into overly sharp or barnyard flavors. Pair it with cherry spread for a classic combination, or try shaving it over roasted vegetables or a salad of bitter greens. It’s equally delightful on its own, sliced wafer-thin. Aged: 3 months Region: Basque, France WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: For wine, pair with a Merlot or Pinot Grigio. For beer, reach for an amber or brown ale, the malty sweetness and caramel notes of an ale harmonize beautifully with the cheese’s subtle, nutty flavors. WINESTYLES: Mellow or Crisp wines BEERSTYLES: Dark beers Information © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

Gabriel Coulet Roquefort La Petite Cave Sheep’s Milk Cheese France

Gabriel Coulet is a family business and a well regarded cellar which proudly preserves an age old tradition. In 1872, Guilhaume Coulet built a wine cellar that later became a cheese aging cave. Roquefort is the undisputed king of French blue cheeses, and they don’t come much better than Gabriel Coulet. Their Roquefort has a wonderful creamy paste with a buttery texture, a peppery bite from the veining, and a nice salt finish. Aged: 4+ months Region: Auvergne, Midi Pyrenees Protection: AOC Fat: 52% WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: For wine, try this cheese with a Port. A ruby or tawny Port offers a bold, sweet profile with notes of dried fruit and nuts that counterbalances the salty, tangy richness of Roquefort. For beer, try with an Imperial Stout; the roasted malt flavors, dark chocolate, and coffee notes of an Imperial Stout will also pair beautifully with Roquefort’s salty and tangy intensity. WINESTYLES: Nectar wines BEERSTYLES: Malty & Sweet Information © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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December Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on November 26, 2024 by mcginnessalex

Lincet Le Délice de Bourgogne Triple Cream France

Lincet’s venerable Le Délice de Bourgogne is a cow’s milk, triple cream, soft ripened cheese. It has a thick, creamy paste with salt-balanced buttercream of its classic Burgundian forebears. It’s similar to Brie, but richer with a thinner rind. Mild and delicious, a real crowd-pleaser. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: For wine, pair with your favorite bubbly for the season. Try one of our December Bubbly Club selections. For beer, reach for a Stout. WINESTYLES: Bubbly wines BEERSTYLES: Dark beers Information © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

Divina Jalapeño Stuffed Olives Greece

The perfect mix of climate, soil, and terrain create the ideal conditions for the Halkidiki olives. The key to this intriguing duo is the playful contrast of flavor and texture. The buttery and meaty green olives perfectly complement the savory crunch of pickled jalapeños. Try them in tacos and quesadillas, or up your cocktail game by adding them to a margarita or sangria. BEVERAGE PAIRINGS: Bring all of your holiday cocktails to life with these jalapeño stuffed olives. Enjoy in a dirty martini, spicy margarita or sangria. For beer, try with a Mexican Lager to enhance the briny, salty notes. BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean Information © Divina and Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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August Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on July 29, 2024 by mcginnessalex

Jean Perrin Morbier AOP Franche-Comte, France

Morbier was behind Jean Perrin’s creation of their cheese dairy in January 1965. Produced in strict keeping with tradition, it is the only Morbier available in the United States. It’s made from raw cow’s milk and cellar-refined for between 45 and 130 days to create a creamy, ivory-colored texture, and a range of flavors from soft and creamy to those with more character for bolder cheese lovers. It is known for its distinct appearance, with a layer of ash running through the center. The ash used in Morbier cheese is vegetable ash, and it is primarily a traditional and aesthetic feature. The smell is legit; funky, washed and briny. The paste has a silkiness to it while still being firm. The flavor is multi-layered with a tannic finish. PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: Pair the Morbier AOP cheese with this month’s Maison Biotteau AOP Anjou Rouge. The delicate tannins and bright acidity of this red wine complement the creamy and slightly tangy flavor of Morbier. For beer, reach for a Belgian Dubbel. The caramel and dark fruit notes in the beer balance well with the creamy texture and earthy flavors of the Morbier. WINESTYLES: Mellow BEERSTYLES: Dark & Roasty Information and photo © Jean Perrin & Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

Onetik Ossau-Iraty AOC Pyrenees, France

A genuine AOC treasure, this cheese boasts a rich, fruity, and nutty flavor from the milk of Manech and Basco-Béarnaise sheep. Ideal for picnics, its semi-firm and smooth texture offers delightful notes of hazelnut, butter, and herbs. It pairs wonderfully with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and salty meats like Prosciutto di Parma. PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: Pair the Ossau-Iraty AOC with this month’s Maison Biotteau Anjou Blanc. The Chenin Blanc’s fresh acidity will enhance the nutty, buttery flavors of the cheese. As for beer, try with one of our August Beer Club selections, or another Belgian Saison. The farmhouse ale’s herbal and spicy characteristics complement the rich, nutty, and herbaceous profile of Ossau-Iraty. WINESTYLES: Crisp BEERSTYLES: Fruity & Spicy or Sour Information and photo © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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January Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on December 29, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Belletoile 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.

Castellano 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.

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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.

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January Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on December 31, 2020 by mcginnessalex

Blumenkäse Switzerland

An alpine cheese covered with wildflowers from the meadows of Switzerland. This floral beauty isn’t just pretty on the outside, it’s packed with flavors of French onion soup and sweet carrots on the inside. The rind is decorated in a long list of herbs and flowers, including: winter savory, dill, garlic, caraway, lovage, marjoram, mint, leek, chive, parsley, juniper berries, onion, marigolds, cornflower, roses, and strawberry leaves. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRING: When pairing wine with this cheese, reach for a Chardonnay, Viognier, Bubbles or Fruity Red Wines; for beer, look for something Hoppy and Bitter, such as an IPA. WINESTYLES: Crisp, Fruity, and Bubbly BEERSTYLES: Hoppy and Bitter Blumenkases

Marcel Petite Sagesse 24-Month Comté France

Selected by Essex St. Cheese Co., Sagesse Comté (formerly “Symphony”) represents the highest level a wheel of Comté can achieve at Marcel Petite; only 2% of all production reaches this point. Sagesse Comté is selected in line with the Essex flavor profile, but is bigger and broader in taste with a darker paste and immense tyrosine crystallization. This is an unpasteurized cows’ milk cheese with a powerful depth of flavor, similar to a great piece of dark chocolate. Sagesse Comté is available only once a year. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRING: When pairing wine with this cheese, reach for a Champagne, aged Chardonnay, or Pinot Noir; for beer, look for something Malty & Sweet such as a Milk Stout. WINESTYLES: Rich, Mellow, or Bubbly BEERSTYLES: Malty & Sweet

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Tag Archives: French Cheese

January Cheese Club: Iowa

Agour Petit Agour Pur Brebis Semi-hard Sheep’s Milk Cheese France

Gabriel Coulet Roquefort La Petite Cave Sheep’s Milk Cheese France

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