The Central Coast is known for its beautiful scenery and
award winning wines. But did you know we are fast becoming a world class
destination for cheese as well? Each unique terrior responsible for award
winning wines also plays a role in the local cheeses here. Any vineyard manger or winemaker knows that
great wine starts in the vineyard. The same is true with cheese in that
respect. What the animal eats directly reflects in the diverse flavors of their
milk that is used to make cheese. So just like wine, a cheese made from the
same animal but from another nearby farm, can produce cheeses that are
incredibly different and diverse in flavors. Many of our local cheese makers
will admit raising dairy animals on the central coast is incredibly challenging
and expensive. We are certainly not like
the perennially green hills of Tennessee where grazing animals year round is
easy…feed is expensive here. But that’s what makes our local cheese makers
special, they work extra hard to produce a product that is unique to the
Central Coast and world class in taste.
This brings us to wine, because what is a good hunk of
cheese without wine? A ‘home-run’ pairing will enhance both cheese and wine and
make for a blissful marriage of flavors in your mouth. One of the best (and
simplest) way to pair a cheese & wine is to look to the region where they
are produced. For example, a classic pairing (and one of my favorites) would be
Crottin de Chavignol from the
Loire Valley in France paired with the local Sancerre wine. Even better are local pairings (come on people, eat local!) Here are a
couple of my favorite local pairings: Alcea Rosea Farms 4 week aged Templeton
Gap paired with CASS 2009 Roussanne, Paso Robles Cheese Co. Fresh Truffled
Chevre (I’m pretty partial to this cheese, wink wink) paired with CASS 2010
Grenache, and Rinconada Dairy’s Chaparral with CASS 2009 Rockin’ One
Blanc. If you are interested in trying
local cheeses paired with our wines, join me Thursday May 31st at
5:30 p.m. for a fun-filled and delicious evening. RSVP: Lindsay@casswines.com
Some of our favorite local
producers, check ‘em out:
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