Cheese Lovers’ Day: Do cheese lovers really need a day to themselves? If you ask any cheese lover—and that’s a lot of us—the answer is yes, of course! Cheese always deserves celebration, and with the nation in full celebratory swing, we’re going all out. We asked our Head Cheesemonger & Buyer, Emilia D’Albero, for five cheeses she thinks are worthy of celebration.
Uplands Cheese Pleasant Ridge Reserve
Pleasant Ridge Reserve from Uplands Cheese in Wisconsin has the honor of being named the most awarded cheese in American history, and with good reason! After 12-18 months aging, these babies are filled with Tyrosine crystals, those crunchy bits we all love. Flavors of Brazil nuts and tropical fruits dominate in this Gruyere-inspired wheel. Pleasant Ridge carries the honor of being the USA's first raw milk cheese to be exported to England!
Does’ Leap Caprella
This delicious organic goat's milk cheese is in the Camembert family with the characteristic bloomy rind and mushroomy flavor! Caprella is aged 3-5 weeks in the Doe's Leap cheese cellar before arriving at the Greene Grape.
Alta Langa Castelbelbo
Castelbelbo, from Caseificio Alta Langa in Italy, is made from an old farmer’s recipe and named for the famous stream that runs nearby the dairy. The cheese is made from equal parts cow's, sheep's, and goat's milk, with cream added in for a luxuriously pudgy texture! This fluffy masterpiece is sweet and creamy, with subtle tangy and lactic notes from its very thin rind. An absolute superstar!
Rodolphe Le Meunier Ossau Iraty Montagne, AOC
6 months of careful aging by affineur Rodolphe le Meunier ensure that this traditional raw sheep's milk cheese is golden, deeply savory and nutty. A true expression of both local terroir and centuries of Basque cheesemaking.
Springbrook Tarentaise Reserve
Springbrook Farm in Vermont specializes in raw milk French-style Alpine cheese, and Tarentaise Reserve might be the best example of just how excellent their cheeses can be. Made with raw cow's milk and aged for a minimum of 18 months, Tarentaise Reserve is firm and sharp, with flavors ranging from floral to brown buttery to brothy. These wheels are hard to come by—only 5% of Tarentaise wheels are deemed suitable for additional aging—so this is a really special treat!
