December Cheese Club: Iowa

Cheese ClubAlpha-Tolman-Cheese-ImageJasper Hill Farm Alpha Tolman Greensboro, Vermont

Alpha Tolman has a buttery, fruit and nut flavor when young, developing bold meaty, caramelized onion flavors as it matures. The texture is dense and pliant, easily portioned and ideal for melting. Curds are cooked and pressed before being aged for 8-11 months to achieve a tight, elastic texture and robust, complex flavors. The texture, aesthetic, and flavor make Alpha an ideal choice for fondue or onion jam. For a satisfying and novel meal, follow the lead of Swiss/French raclette: melt it onto a plate of fingerling potatoes, cured meat, and natural sour pickles. HISTORY: Alpha Tolman is a Jasper Hill original, inspired by classic Alpine cheeses of Europe. Its name pays homage to Mr. Alpha Tolman, a philanthropic dairy farmer responsible for – among other notable works – building the town library in 1900. Alpha’s grandfather, Enoch Tolman, was an original settler of Greensboro, Vermont. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Try pairing with a robust Ale or other bock beers, or plummy red wines, such as a Barbera or Cabernet Franc. WINESTYLES: Mellow or Bold BEERSTYLES: Malty Info and photos © Jasper Hill Farm – All Rights Reserved.

Cambozola Balance-Cheese-BowKasseri Champignon Cambozola Classic Triple Creme Blue Bavaria, Germany

It’s not a brie, it’s not a blue. This creamy, soft ripened cheese has a rind that is bloomy and white, while the paste is soft and creamy with flecks of blue. It’s a nice way to introduce someone to a blue style cheese as the flavor is mild and not overwhelming. Use this cheese when making our December Secondary Red wine pairing recipe. WINE & CRAFT BEER RECOMMENDATIONS: Enjoy with a rich Porter or Stout beer, or reach for a light-bodied Pinot Noir or sparkling wine made using the traditional method, such as a French Champagne or Spanish Cava. WINESTYLES: Mellow BEERSTYLES: Malty Information © Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved. Photo © Gourmet Foods International – 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 >

June Cheese Club: Iowa

Liuzzi Burratacheese_club_logo-1240x1240Liuzzi CheeseBurrata Hamden, CT

Liuzzi Cheese develops their Burrata authentically with a recipe that dates back over 5 generations. Their semi soft “Pasta Filata” cheese is made with Fior di latte cows milk cultures. They then fill their Burrata with fresh Stracciatella cream. This is often served with a sprinkle of salt and drizzle of olive oil. Scoop up the stracciatella cream with slices of Italian bread or spread the inside of the cheese onto crackers. Serve up with fresh tomatoes and basil, or it’s also a decadent and delicious topping for pizza.

WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Liuzzi Burrata Cheese pairs well with wines from our CRISP wine style category. Also pairs well with light beers, such as Wheat Beers in the CRISP & CLEAN beer style category. WINESTYLES: Crisp BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean ABOUT LIUZZA CHEESE: Liuzzi Cheese started back in 1826 in the Puglia region of Italy with their founder, Pasquale (Lino) Liuzzi.  He had a dream to establish his own enterprise, producing premium quality cheeses and fine foods. Lino, along with his brother Nicola, eventually moved to the United States and opened up a modest store, Liuzzi Market, in North Haven, CT.  Since then, their family continues to serve the local community with the most outstanding products this side of Italy.  Their Artisan cheese is made with the highest quality and standards using only fresh ingredients from local farms.  All products are made without the artificial growth hormone (rBST) which guarantees the freshest, healthiest options for your family.  Their customers are still the bedrock of their accomplishments.

Clothbound Jasper Hill FarmClothbound Cheddar Greensboro, VT

Clothbound is an approachable but complex natural-rind, bandaged cheddar with a crumbly texture and nutty aroma. The flavor is deeply savory and slightly tangy with caramel sweetness to the finish. Clothbound has a signature tang and caramel nuttiness with a rustic crystalline texture that becomes creamy on the palate. This savory-sweet balance of flavor makes a perfect match for charcuterie, apple jelly, or a rich chestnut honey. Pair with an off-dry sparkling apple cider, hoppy ale, or an oaked Cabernet Sauvignon. Clothbound is an award winning cheese, including American Cheese Society’s 2006 Best in Show.

WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRING: Jasper Hill Farm Clothbound Cheddar pairs well with SILKY or MELLOW wine styles.  It also matches well with India Pale Ales (IPA) or hoppy English Ales. WINESTYLES: Silky or Mellow BEERSTYLES: Hoppy & Bitter or Fruity & Spicy ABOUT JASPER HILL FARM: Jasper Hill is a working dairy farm with an on-site creamery in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Jasper Hill is driven to be the standard bearer of quality and innovation in the artisan cheese industry, while promoting their regional taste of place. Their underground aging facility maximizes the potential of cheeses made by the creamery, as well as those made by other local producers. Leftover whey from the cheesemaking process is fed to heritage breed pigs, roaming the woodlands beyond the cows’ pasture. Their mission is to make the highest possible quality products in a way that supports Vermont’s working landscape.