October Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on September 30, 2025 by mcginnessalex

Alemar Cheese Company
Apricity
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Apricity, meaning “the warmth of the winter sun,” is Alemar’s newest cheese, crafted from grass-fed cow’s milk and inspired by cheesemaker Charlotte’s time working with small goat’s milk cheeses. Weighing just four ounces, this fluffy, delicate geo-rind lactic-set cheese has been described as the champagne of cheeses—light, airy, and crisp, yet full of flavor and warmth. Its buttery, tangy body reveals notes of tahini and fermented fruit, while aging brings a denser, fudgier texture and the development of a cream line with a balanced barnyardy funk. The rind, reminiscent of a small apple, is both delicate and flavorful, and intended to be eaten. With no single “ideal age,” Apricity offers unique character whether enjoyed fresh from the ripening room or after a few months. Each cheese is hand-portioned and shaped, and the subtle variations between batches highlight its truly artisanal, hand-crafted nature.

Awards: American Cheese Society – 2023 Best in Class

WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS:
Apricity is delightful when paired with white wines, ciders, honey, crisp or sour beers.

WINESTYLES: Crisp
BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean or Sour, Tart & Funky

About the Creamery:
Alemar Cheese Company, founded in 2008 by Keith Adams and named after his daughters Alexandra and Mariel, began in southern Minnesota with a single Camembert-style cheese, Bent River, made from gently pasteurized milk from grass-fed cows, and quickly gained national acclaim. Over time, it expanded its line to include cheeses like Blue Earth Brie, Good Thunder, St. James, Boom Island, and Apricity—each still made from grass-fed cow’s milk produced by their trusted local farm. In 2019, Alemar relocated to the Food Building in Northeast Minneapolis, joining a community of artisan food makers, and in 2021 brought on Head Cheesemaker Charlotte Serino to bring precision and new creativity to its offerings. Today, Alemar centers its mission on crafting fine, small-batch cheeses in Minnesota, rooted in wholesome milk, careful technique, and continuous experimentation. Learn more here.

Firefly Farms
Cabra La Mancha
Maryland

Inspired by cheeses produced high in the Pyrenees mountains of northern Spain’s Basque region. As the cheese ages for 90 days, the cheese makers hand wash, dry brush, and flip each one of these brined orange beauties over and over again until they’re ready. Bello!

WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS:
Try this cheese with an Albariño for some bright acidity to balance the tanginess of the cheese. For beer, try with a Belgian Saison whose dry, slightly peppery notes can cut through the creaminess of the cheese.

WINESTYLES: Crisp
BEERSTYLES: Fruity & Spicy

Additional Notes:
The semi-soft, washed-rind favorite with a Spanish accent. Tilting at Iberian windmills seemed overrated. Instead, Firefly Farms tried tilting at Iberian creameries (no cheesemakers were harmed in the process). Lo and behold, as they rode off into the sunset, they realized they had speared wheels of washed-rind cheese on their lances (aka tongues). The fruit of their bravery and their quest: to recreate the taste of those wheels and avoid the necessity of further armed conflict.

About the Creamery:
Not all milk is created equal. Firefly Farms works with local farmers to create fair pricing, long-term sustainability, and most important of all, happy goats and cows whose milk makes for delicious cheese and a thriving local economy. They test every load of milk from every farmer; and as the components and quality of their milk improves, so does their cheese. They use only four simple ingredients to make their cheeses, and they are free of additives, preservatives, or stabilizers. All the cultures and enzymes used in cheese making, including vegetarian rennet and surface ripening cultures, are free of bio-engineered or genetically modified ingredients. They always use fresh, local milk and never use frozen curd. Learn more here.

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 >

October Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on September 30, 2024 by mcginnessalex

Delitia Parmigiano Reggiano Butter Italy

We’re switching it up this month by featuring a—drum roll please—BUTTER!! Not just any butter, this sweet-smelling and gentle-flavored Reggiano Butter is made from the cream that remains after the production of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. The butter is of exceptional quality because the milk used—collected from Parma and Reggio Emilia family-owned farms in the area where Parmigiano Reggiano is produced—is strictly selected according to the extraordinary rules imposed on the production of the famous cheese. Enjoy on your next cheese and charcuterie board, on breads or other baked goods, over pasta or in sauces. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Delitia Butter pairs well with Malvasia dei Colli di Parma or a white aromatic and slightly sparkling wine. For a beer, most will pair beautifully, but try a light Lager or Pilsner; or go for a Belgian Dubbel, its malty sweetness and fruity notes will enhance the flavor of the butter. WINESTYLES: Fruity or Crisp wines BEERSTYLES: Crisp or Malty beers Information © Delitia and Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

Lou Bergier Pichin Toma Piedmont, Italy

This 60-day aged Toma is crafted from raw Bruna Alpina cow’s milk and thistle flower, a rare pairing in the cheese world. Its name, which means “small mountain shepherd” in the Occitan dialect, honors Nonna Magno, the grandfather of producer Mario Fiandino. Following in his footsteps, the Bruna Alpina cows at the Fiandino farm are treated with exceptional care; they even listen to music at a specific frequency to soothe them and enhance milk production. The resulting creamy cheese boasts a subtle mushroom aroma and flavors of freshly cut grass and milk. It offers great value given its unique style and high quality. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Try pairing it with a light-bodied red wine, like a Pinot Noir, which will highlight the cheese’s delicate flavors without overpowering them. A Saison would be an excellent beer choice, as its spicy and fruity characteristics can balance the cheese’s richness beautifully. WINESTYLES: Mellow red wines BEERSTYLES: Fruity & Spicy Information © Forever Cheese and Zuercher & Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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

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.

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

October Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on September 27, 2022 by mcginnessalex

Tomme Saint Georges Midi-Pyrenees, France

Named after the town where it is made, in the Midi-Pyrenees region of France, this washed rind, pasteurized, sheep’s milk cheese is a cross between a traditional tomme and a sheep’s milk alpine cheese. The paste is moist and creamy, and the flavor starts with notes of toasted bread and finishes richly with notes of sweet cream, chives and leeks. The flavors are complex and exciting. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Pair with any of the wines from our October Wine Club Selections. For beer, look for a light or pale ale or lager. WINESTYLES: Bold BEERSTYLES: Crisp & Clean

Romero Fino-Buenalba Toledo, Spain

Made from raw sheep’s milk and aged for a minimum of 4 months, this cheese sets itself apart from other cheeses, as it has rosemary in the paste of the cheese (while most others only have the rosemary on the rind). The flavor is more subtle and less astringent, the rosemary perfumes the cheese beautifully. It is creamy in texture with a slight sweetness and a smooth lingering finish. Try some shaved on a ham sandwich, then warm in a sandwich press. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Pair with any of the wines from our October Wine Club Selections. For beer, pair with a dark ale or porter. WINESTYLES: Silky or Bold BEERSTYLES: Malty or Fuity & Spicy Information © zuerchercheese.com – All Rights Reserved.

Don’t let your Wine Club go home alone! Join our Cheese Club and bring home a match made in heaven!

October Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on September 29, 2021 by mcginnessalex

Reny Picot Cantar de Covadonga Spain

Cantar de Covadonga is a white, crumbly, yet creamy blue veined soft-cheese named after the region in which it originates in Northern Spain. Covadonga is located just Northwest of the Picos de Europa, a mountain range in the Heart of Asturias, Spain. Originally coming from the Latin name, “Cova Domenica”, meaning the “Cave of the Lady”, the term became abbreviated to simply, Covadonga. This region in Spain is known for its wide range of cheeses, especially their blue ones. The Cantar de Covadonga is made from a blend of carefully selected cow’s and sheep’s milk and is aged for 3 to 4 months until it obtains its outstanding flavor. FOOD PAIRING: The Cantar de Covadonga makes for a great addition to any cheese board; or it can be enjoyed with burgers, mushrooms, chicken or on a salad. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRING: For wine, pair with a Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel or Pinot Noir. For beer, reach for a Stout, Porter, or IPA. WINESTYLES: Crisp, Mellow or Bold BEERSTYLES: Dark & Roasty or Hoppy & Bitter ABOUT RENY PICOT: Reny Picot was founded in 1960 in Asturias, Spain. Today, it is a Spanish Dairy Group with major global presence in the US, Mexico, France, Portugal, China and Poland. Their mission is to bring their flagship brand to as many parts of the world as possible, while still providing consumers with the very highest quality of dairy products. Learn more about their story here.

La Alberca Queso Oveja al Romero Spain

This rosemary coated Manchego-style cheese is made with Manchega sheep’s milk from the La Mancha region of Spain. The center is reminiscent of a dense fudge that softens on the palate while the exterior has spicy, herbal notes. The rosemary infuses into the cheese and is balanced by the sweet walnut tones of the cheese’s center. This Queso Oveja al Romero exceeds the expectations of any cheese lover. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRING: The Queso Oveja al Romero will pair beautifully with a Cava, or with this month’s Red Wine Club Selections – Alella Vinícola Ivori Aged Red Wine and Alella Vinícola Costa del Maresme. For beer, look for a lighter style such as a Lager or an Ale. WINESTYLES: Mellow or Bold BEERSTYLES: Crisp and Clean HISTORY OF QUESO OVEJA AL ROMERO: Produced in the same region as Manchego, this style of cheese has been around just as long as Manchego itself. Creameries and families follow traditions of rubbing the cheese with Iberic lard and rosemary while the cheese matures. As the flavors continue to be absorbed, the cheese is brushed off, and more herbs are rubbed on until the process is complete.

Don’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 >

October Cheese Club: Iowa

Posted on September 30, 2020 by mcginnessalex

Carr Valley Apple Smoked Cheddar La Valle, WI

This white cheddar is apple smoked and then hand rubbed with paprika. It has a light smoky flavor that balances very well with the flavors from the paprika. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRING: Merlot and Shiraz grape wines will bring out the mature flavor of the cheese. For beer, reach for a Hard Cider or a Porter when pairing with this cheese. WINESTYLES: Bold, Fruity, or Nectar BEERSTYLES: Dark and Roasty; or Fruity and Spicy

Photo by Carr Valley Cheese: Apple Smoked Cheddar

ABOUT CARR VALLEY: Owned and operated by the Cook family, Carr Valley Cheese Company is over one-hundred 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! Carr Valley Cheese has won numerous awards over the years and continues to offer delicious and unique Wisconsin Cheeses. Certified Master Cheesemaker, Sid Cook, has won more top national and international awards than any other cheesemaker in North America. As a fourth-generation cheesemaker, he received his cheesemaking license when he was 16, and now owns and operates four cheese plants and eight retail cheese stores in Wisconsin. As a company, Carr Valley Cheese began in 1902, and today is best known for producing high-quality, artisanal aged Cheddars. Using cow, goat, and sheep milks, Sid enjoys creating new cheeses, and Carr Valley now produces more than 50 original varieties. APPLEWOOD SMOKED CHEDDAR AWARDS:

1st Place 2016 Los Angeles Int. Dairy Competition
1st Place 2005 American Cheese Society
2nd Place 2007 World Cheese Competition
2nd Place 2012 American Cheese Society Competition

Maytag Dairy Farms 7 Year Aged Cheddar Newton, Iowa

This 7 Year Aged Cheddar has a robust cheddar flavor and an assertive tang that can be slightly acidic or even lactic. It showcases dense, fruit notes and a slightly earthy flavor. The aging process takes the cheddar from a smooth creamy texture to a drier, more crumbly style. This is the 2nd most popular cheese in America and is very versatile. Traditional food pairings include apple pie, or a salted caramel for a nice contrast.

HOW IT IS MADE: Made from cow’s milk, Maytag 7 Year Cheddar has gone through the traditional process of “cheddaring” which involves stacking the blocks of cheese on top of one another to press out moisture. The aging process makes the recognizable cheddar flavor of this cheese even more pronounced and concentrated. Typical “grocery store” cheddars only age 2-3 months, while this cheddar is aged for 7 years. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: For Aged Cheddars with earthy undertones, look for the yin and yang. This cheese pairs well with hoppy bitters and dryness, like an IPA Beer and a Cabernet Wine; or full bodied red, stout, or scotch. WINESTYLES: Fruity; Nectar; or Bold BEERSTYLES: Dark and Roasty; Fruity and Spicy; or Hoppy and Bitter

Photo by Maytag Diary Farms: Maytag Family

ABOUT MAYTAG DIARY FARMS: In 1919 E.H. Maytag, the son of Maytag Appliance company founder F.L. Maytag, purchased a single Holstein cow to provide fresh clean milk to his children. E.H. quickly developed a passion and determination to breed champion Holstein-Friesian cows that could supply milk to the community while also winning blue ribbon upon blue ribbon at livestock shows across the United States.

Photo by Maytag Diary Farm: Cave Wheels

Upon E.H.’s death in 1940, his sons Fred and Robert Maytag assumed leadership of the farms and Fred pursued his idea of creating a uniquely American blue cheese made from cow’s milk. Maytag Dairy Farms collaborated with Iowa State University to pioneer the first great American blue cheese that would compete with classic European cheeses such as Roquefort, made from sheep’s milk. The cheese plant and caves were completed a year later, and the first wheels of Maytag Blue Cheese were formed in October of 1941. Fred’s son Fritz Maytag assumed leadership in 1962 and helped guide the small family company for the next 50 years. In 2003, Fritz was awarded the James Beard Foundation Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional, and in 2008 won the Beard Foundation Award for Lifetime Achievement. Fritz now serves as Chairman Emeritus and a director with his brother, Ken Maytag, and their sister, Martha Maytag Peterson. Today, Seventy nine-years after the first wheels of Maytag Blue Cheese were made, the family tradition continues. Each wheel is handcrafted on the family farm in the rolling hills of central Iowa. Maytag Dairy Farm is still owned and operated by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of E.H. Maytag. His legacy is the pleasure and joy taken from good food shared with people you cherish.

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