Sweet September

In this issue, we're taking a look at pairings for sweetness. Many blue or washed-rind cheeses have big flavors and significant acidity, pronounced salt content, and/or slight overtones of ammonia. Often, these cheeses are perfect pairs for sweeter wines such as Sauternes, Muscat, Riesling, or Port. Furthermore, many are nicely complemented by fresh honeycomb or fruit preserves. When the flavors are in sync, you'll feel the balance all across your tongue. Why not try something new this weekend? Maybe Couronne Lochoise with some Portuguese Tomato Jam, or Honeycomb with your favorite blue cheese. Maybe pair Bleu des Basques Brebis with a nice bottle of Sauternes or Muscat. And, for our customers celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we wish you a sweet and healthy one and hope we can help kick it off!

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Trivia from the Cheese Caves

Question: - Why is some cheese orange in color? Find out in the next Artisanal e-newsletter!
- The Artisanal Staff

Last Time We Asked: How do you pair cheese with sweet wines? Are sweet wines and cheese meant only for a dessert? Does cheese have an affinity for other sweet things?

Answer: The sweet wines can pair beautifully with cheeses. More "marriages-made-in-heaven," in fact, are afforded with some of the sweeter wines. Some of the classic combinations are Roquefort and Sauternes (a sweet wine from Bordeaux), and Stilton and Port. This isn't just true for blue cheeses, however. Fruity, luscious wines offer the balance to the savory or salty flavors found in many other cheeses as well -- think washed-rind (Redhawk or Pont Couvert) with Riesling.

The so-"dessert" wines actually pair better with cheeses than they do with the desserts themselves. As with any cheese pairing, the match must be harmonious; if the wine already offers a sweet taste, there is less to balance the sweetness in a sugary dessert. Even if the cheese and wine are world-class on their own, they should not compete for your attention on the palate.

Sweet wine, or desert wine, is not only for dessert, of course; they are often served as aperitifs, as are cheese plates. While sweet wine and cheese pairings can be enjoyed anytime, they do work especially well at the end of a fine meal, like an exclamation point!

Besides Ports and Sauternes there are many other sweet wines to try, like Madeiras, Ice Wines, many Muscats, sweet Sherries, Recciotos, Quarts de Chaume, and many many late-harvest varietals. These all have lovely synergies with a broad range of fine, artisanal cheeses; it's hard to go wrong finding a great pairing.

On the condiment end of things, honey has been a soulmate for cheeses for centuries, as have preserved fruits in the form of preserves, jams, chutneys and jellies. Quince is one our favorites. Maple syrup is nice with cheese too, better for you with cheese than over waffles.

Do you have a question for our trivia section?
Send it to editor@artisanalcheese.com and we may use it in a future newsletter!

Delicious Cheeses and Sweet Accompaniments for Flavorful, Satisfying Combinations

Special Prices Good Through 9/25 -- Order Now!

For some general guidelines visit the Tips on Pairing Wine and Cheese page. And, if you know what kind of wine you want to serve, browse the Wine and Cheese Pairings section for specific cheese suggestions and recommended pairings! Finally, many cheeses we sell have additional wine recommendations in the descriptions themselves. If you don't see a wine type you're looking for, use our search bar in the upper-right-hand corner of each page. For instance, run a search for "Port" and see which cheeses pop up - but watch out for Portuguese!

Langres: Langres has a dense texture; its creamy and rich flavor offers distinct notes of sour milk and has a long finish. Pair it with Sauternes, or try some of the pairing suggestions listed in the description on our site.
Langres Normally $10.50 each Now: $6.00

Gubbeen: Gubbeen is a rosy, washed-rind cheese from West Cork, Ireland. Made from morning milk, the cheese is curdled, cut, and molded into forms about the size of a dinner plate. Each round is washed delicately with a culture-infused brine. Every wheel of Gubbeen develops differently, with some gaining an orange sheen and others exhibiting a light, fluffy bloom. Gubbeen pairs well with a semi-dry Riesling or English porter. For a unique, sweeter pairing experience, try it with Vouvray Demisec.
Gubbeen Normally $20.75 per lb Now: $17.50

Stanser Rotelli: Produced at the dairy farm of Joseph Bartmettler, this reblochon-style washed-rind cow's milk cheese has an assertive flavor and aromatic aroma. When ripe, it is a deliciously runny, spoonable cheese. Wonderful with Riesling.
Stanser Rotelli Normally $36.50 each Now: $30.00

Sweet Accompaniments

Honeycomb: Ensconced in its own natural, edible wax, this delicious 4"x4" square of honeycomb comes to us direct from the honeybees of southern Georgia. Create a truly elegant and memorable display with this raw honeycomb presented alongside a selection of artisanal cheeses.
Honeycomb Normally $20.75 each Now: $18.00

Sundried Plum and Walnut Wheel: This cake, made of sundried plums and Spanish walnut, comes direct from Catalonia. Every cake is handmade and lightly spiced with local ingredients like cumin. The perfect accompaniment to strong, creamy blues and dense goat cheeses.
Sundried Plum and Walnut Wheel $27.00 each Sale: $21.00

Portuguese Tomato Jam: This sweet red Tomato Jam from Portugal is a wonderful accompaniment to fresh goat cheese. Its smooth texture and pleasant, inviting flavors make it a satisfying condiment for novices and cheese lovers alike. This fine product is artisanally produced in small batches using a generations-old family recipe.
Portuguese Tomato Jam Just $6.00 each

Malpighi Balsamic Spread: This delicious spread consists of the Saporoso Malpighi Balsamico, sugar, and natural fruit pectin. Created by the 5th generation of the Malpighi family in Italy, it is the perfect complement to many earthy and complex aged cheeses such as Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino, and Manchego, as well as marinated meats and bruschetta.
Malpighi Balsamic Spread $17.25 each

For more great offers visit our Specials Page every day!
Then stop by our Accessories & Gifts Clearance Section for more!

Take a Class at the Cheese Center

For more great classes visit our Web site now.

Great Gifts of the Basques

6:30pm-8:30pm; Wednesday, October 4

With Waldemar Albrecht

The Basques are one of the world's most resilient civilizations. They have never really been conquered and have always fiercely guarded their culture, with its unique language and tremendous craftsmanship. It is no wonder that their cheeses are simply magnificent. Paired with some of their unusual wines, this will be a night to remember.

Enroll Now!

Cheeses of the Pacific Northwest

6:30pm-8:30pm; Monday, October 16

With Waldemar Albrecht

Discover the wealth of our west coast's culinary boom! Join Waldemar on a mouth-watering roadtrip through the Pacific states of California, Oregon, and Washington, sampling the best hand-made, exquisite cheeses paired with the finest wines from the region.

Enroll in any of our many classes today!

September 18, 2006

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