Tag Archives: sheep cheese

January Cheese Club: Iowa

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Cheese ClubPetit-agour-cheese-wheelAgour 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.

La-Petite-Cave-Roquefort-cheeseGabriel 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.

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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Cheese ClubBuenalba-White-WineArtequeso Buenalba Vino Blanco Semicured Sheep Cheese with White Wine Tembleque, Spain

Buenalba Vino Blanco is an artisan cheese crafted from La Manchega sheep’s milk and infused with white wine. This cheese was developed for a client seeking a Spanish wine-flavored cheese without the usual purple hue. The addition of wine from the Airén grape varietal (widespread in La Mancha) imparts a gentle acidity and lactic note to the flavor. Matured for 6 months on the “Finca la Prudenciana” farm in  Tembleque (Toledo), it is a pressed cheese, with marks on the rind of the flower and pleita. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: For wine, try this cheese with an Albariño white wine (what grows together, goes together).  This white wine from Spain offers bright acidity and citrus notes that complement the cheese’s lactic flavor while enhancing its wine character. For beer, try a Saison — farmhouse ale with fruity and spicy notes. Saison will balance the richness of the cheese and elevate its flavors without overpowering them. WINESTYLES: Crisp wines BEERSTYLES: Fruity & Spicy beers

buenalba_pimentoArtequeso Buenalba Al Pimentón Sheep Cheese with Paprika Tembleque, Spain

Buenalba al Pimentón is crafted from La Mancha sheep’s milk sourced from the Tembleque (Toledo) region of Spain. The addition of smoked and sweet paprika gives the cheese its distinctive reddish-orange hue. While the raw sheep’s milk provides a sharp and lactic flavor, the paprika introduces a subtle spiciness that balances the cheese’s richness. Matured between 3 and 4 months at “Finca la Prudeniana” farm in Tembleque, it is a hard cheese, with rinds marks from the ‘flor’ and ‘pleita’.  This well-rounded cheese can be savored on its own or sliced and paired with exquisite jamón and crusty fresh bread. WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRINGS: Another “what grows together, goes together”—try pairing this cheese with a Garnacha. This Spanish red wine, known for its juicy red fruit flavors and moderate tannins, complements the sharpness of the cheese while enhancing the smokiness of the paprika. For beer, try with an Amber Ale; the malt sweetness and caramel notes of this beer work well with the richness of this cheese. WINESTYLES: Fruity red wines BEERSTYLES: Malty & Sweet 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 >

August Cheese Club: Iowa

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Cheese Clubmorbier-cheeseJean 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.

Ossau-Iraty-AOC-CheeseOnetik 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.

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 >

January Cheese Club: Iowa

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Cheese ClubZamorano-cheeseCecilia 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

Tomme-Pur-Chevre-cheeseOnetik 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.

Cheese_springDon’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 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 >