OUR SEPTEMBER CHEESE & ACCOMPANIMENTS

Manchego is a tricky cheese. There are so many on the market, so how do you decide what is good, Manchego? We have tasted dozens and enthusiastically decided on Manchego 1605. This is one of the few Manchegos that is handmade with unpasteurized milk from a single herd of sheep and then aged with an unwaxed rind. Maria José produces it at Finca Sierra La Solana, a ranch from 1878 that also grows grapes and almonds. For us, it is not about age but flavor. These wheels taste of hay, green olive, and almonds. Manchego 1605 is truly artisan and authentic.
Farm/Producer/Importer: Finca Sierra la Solana/Queseria 1605/Essex St. Cheese Company
Place: Ciudad Real, Spain
Style: Firm
Milk Type: Raw sheep
Rennet: Traditional
Age: 6-8 months
Pairing: Albariño, sour beer

Farms for City Kids Foundation is a program that brings students from nearby cities, most of whom have never had the chance to travel, up to the farm in southwestern Vermont to spend time helping with farm chores while learning. The farm also produces cheese, which helps support the foundation. Cheesemaker, Jeremy Stephenson, crafts Reading in a raclette style, so it is also an excellent melting cheese. The flavors of the cheese are buttery and nutty, and the texture is smooth. The cheese is washed with brine, which contributes some funkiness. Reading is the cheese we can't get enough of, and we love the idea that when we buy it, we are supporting a farm that contributes to the lives of kids.
Farm/Producer/Importer: Spring Brook Farm/Jeremy Stephenson
Place: Reading, Vermont
Style: Semi-soft
Milk Type: Raw cow
Rennet: Traditional
Age: 3-5 months
Pairing: Pinot Gris, Belgian blond ale

Oma is an American original, made by Sebastian and Molly von Trapp on their family's dairy farm in Waitsfield, Vermont. Oma means grandmother in German and is named in honor of their grandmother. It is an approachable washed-rind cheese and is made from the organic milk of the von Trapp's Jersey cows. Oma's flavor balances sweetness and pungency with flavors of ham, roasted nuts, and cultured butter. The interior is soft and pudding-like.
Farm/Producer/Importer: von Trapp Farmstead Cheese
Place: Waitsfield, VT
Style: Washed
Milk Type: Cow
Rennet: Traditional
Age: 10-14 weeks
Pairing: Grüner Veltliner/Belgian Dubbel Ale

Made from apricots grown in sunny Greece, this jam is a perfect match to all cheeses.

Only the finest cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil is used for this truly unique cracker. Incorporating farm-fresh butter creates a smooth and creamy texture that provides the perfect complement to any cheese.