No one seems to be quite sure where the name Robiola comes from, although it does sound a lot like a town in Northern Italy called Robbio and a bit like the Italian word for "ruddy".  Robiola varies tremendously depending on the town and producer - nearly as varied as Pecorino.  You can find them ranging from tiny-sized with a bloomy rind and a sweet, creamy center to rather large (nearly a pound) with a brown washed rind and stripes of blue-gray mold. 

When you see Robiola on a cheese menu be sure to ask for more details.  The type is as generic as the ubiquitous "cheddar".

About the cheese

The Langhe region of Italy is in the northern area of Piemonte near the Alps bordering France.  Robiola from this region is made using a blend of cow, goat and sheep milk with a bloomy, soft rind and a creamy white interior.  It is at its best when fresh - a month or so old is plenty mature.  It cuts well and has firmness to the pâté, yet spreads well on bread and crackers.

The white, soft bloomy rind will become moister as it ages, but the cheese remains soft inside with subtle flavors.  Many refer to this cheese as the Italian brie.

Wine and food pairing suggestions

Robiola is a great cheese to blend into polenta or rice for a creamy flavorful side dish.  Slather it on thin slices of apple or pear for a simple, beautiful appetizer.  Save it for dessert with a sweet, white dessert wine like ice wine or Sauternes.  

About the Cheesemonger

The cheesemonger has two locations: The Grapevine Wine & Cheese Shop located in downtown Willow Glen, CA and Good Tastes Wine, Cheese & Tasting Bar located in downtown Campbell, CA.  Selecting cheese at these shops could not be easier or more fun.   They have a wide selection of high quality cheese from throughout the world with new shipments frequently arriving. All cheese can be tasted prior to purchase and is cut to order. And if you are not sure what you want their knowledgeable staff will gladly help you pick out the perfect cheese.   Stop by and check out this months featured cheese or join their bi-monthly Cheese club and be surprised by the outstanding cheeses provided to you!

Copyright 2007, Willow Glen Wine Merchants, Inc.  Permission is required for any reproduction.  

Rafael Baez is the creator and sole maker of Monte Enebro, a unique goat cheese from Avila, about 50 miles west of Madrid.  Monte Enebro is a relative new comer on the Spanish cheese scene with only 15 years of history, yet it has been received quite well.  Recently it was added to the list of Spain's 100 Best Foods.

About the cheese

A rich and exotic looking log of raw goat milk cheese covered in a layer of ash with a fluffy, furry cheese mold.  Inside it is pale and creamy with a decidedly goat flavor.  The rind is very mild and nearly neutral, but adds texture and a bit of spice - don't miss it.  As the cheese matures it becomes oozy, runny and more pungent. 

If you look closely at the cheese you will notice a slightly "furry" rind rising above the layer of ash.  This type of rind is made by exposing the cheese during maturation to a special cheese mold.  The mold grows into what some cheese makers refer to as "cat fur" before they brush it down.  The rind eventually turns into a natural rind that is slightly fuzzy, or felt like. 

Keep the cheese wrapped in paper and don't allow it to become moist or it will turn. Slice the cheese into thin oval pieces, or if it is mature, scoop the cheese and spread it with a cheese knife.

Wine and food pairing suggestions

What would go better with a full bodied, goaty cheese from Spain than a robust earthy Rioja or Valdepenas?  Add something salty - Spanish ham, olives, or pickled vegetables.  Oh, and crusty bread.

It would also be a terrific cheese (both visually and flavor wise) to serve in little wedges with a spinach or augula salad.  Throw in some dried fruit, nuts and herbs and splash with a little oil and vinegar.

About the Cheesemonger

The cheesemonger has two locations: The Grapevine Wine & Cheese Shop located in downtown Willow Glen, CA and Good Tastes Wine, Cheese & Tasting Bar located in downtown Campbell, CA.  Selecting cheese at these shops could not be easier or more fun.   They have a wide selection of high quality cheese from throughout the world with new shipments frequently arriving. All cheese can be tasted prior to purchase and is cut to order. And if you are not sure what you want their knowledgeable staff will gladly help you pick out the perfect cheese.   Stop by and check out this months featured cheese or join their bi-monthly Cheese club and be surprised by the outstanding cheeses provided to you!

All about the cheese

Cheese making in England is an ancient profession and it would be easy to assume that all great English cheeses have already been created. But two gents from Totnes would disagree.  It seems they have borrowed a few things from the Spanish and the French to develop a few new cheeses that are distinctly unique and delicious. Their conscientious attention to detail and quality have earned them a place among the great English cheeses.

Robin Congdon and Nick Trant of the Ticklemore Cheese Company have been making innovative cheeses since the early 1970s.  Instead of producing traditional English cheeses, they prefer to push the edge of what has been done.  Ticklemore is one of the very few aged goat cheeses made in England and has become a rare treat in the US.

The cheese is made with full fat pasteurized goat's milk, which yields a cheese that is about 48% fat content.  The cheese is hand molded in small baskets and turned twice weekly during its three month maturing phase.  The end result is that the cheese is shaped like a sphere that has been flattened a bit at the top and bottom and it bears the markings of the basket on the rind.  The flavor of the cheese is very delicate and slightly fruity without strong goaty aromas or finish.  Its mild but very interesting flavor profile makes it a great cheese to use in cooking, while the unusual shape and beautiful white interior make it a wonderful addition to any cheese board.

Cheese Handling Procedures

Tickelmore is an aged goat cheese with a bloomy rind - wrap it in paper and keep it from becoming too cold or too dry and it will last a week or longer in your fridge.

Beverage and food pairing suggestions

Ticklemore matches nicely to fruity red wines such as Grenache, Sangiovese or Pinot Noir and makes a satisfying and tasty dessert when paired with a sweet wine such as Tawny Port or Sauternes.

About the Cheesemonger

The cheesemonger has two locations: The Grapevine Wine & Cheese Shop located in downtown Willow Glen, CA and Good Tastes Wine, Cheese & Tasting Bar located in downtown Campbell, CA.  Selecting cheese at these shops could not be easier or more fun.   They have a wide selection of high quality cheese from throughout the world with new shipments frequently arriving. All cheese can be tasted prior to purchase and is cut to order. And if you are not sure what you want their knowledgeable staff will gladly help you pick out the perfect cheese.   Stop by and check out this months featured cheese or join their bi-monthly Cheese club and be surprised by the outstanding cheeses provided to you!

About the dairy and the cheese

After successfully owning and managing a high volume dairy in Georgia, the Wehner family decided that the way they produced milk was unsatisfactory.  They traded in the concrete barns, unhappy cows and conventional dairy business for a sustainable, small production dairy farm.  Their cows live outside, get exercise, enjoy lush green pastures and produce sweet, hormone and stimulant free milk.

Then, as if they didn't have enough to do, they added a goat dairy and farmstead cheese making business.  Their philosophy about caring for the land and the animals is carried over to their goat herd as well.  They happily browse woods, fields and pastures.  The resulting milk produces unique and delicious cheeses.

The Georgia Pecan Chevre was created as an effort to help identify them as a South Georgia farm.  It has become their signature cheese.  This cheese has a pure white interior, surrounded by crushed organic Georgia pecans with a thin to medium thick bloomy rind.  The young Chevre has a very velvety center, but as the cheese ages the interior becomes dry and crumbly in texture.  The tanginess of the goat cheese is really complimented by the nutty taste of the pecans.

Cheese Handling Procedures

Let the cheese sit at room temperature for an hour or so before serving.  The cheese should be wrapped with plastic wrap or paper if you have any leftovers.  Sometimes a blue mold will develop on the rind which is normal and perfectly safe to eat.  The recommended shelf life is seven to 10 days, although the cheese will last up to 3 weeks.

Wine and food pairing suggestions

Try rustic walnut bread, ripe peaches or peach jam, dried fruit and a big buttery chardonnay.  This cheese also makes a beautiful centerpiece to a cheese board. 

About the Cheesemonger

The cheesemonger has two locations: The Grapevine Wine & Cheese Shop located in downtown Willow Glen, CA and Good Tastes Wine, Cheese & Tasting Bar located in downtown Campbell, CA.  Selecting cheese at these shops could not be easier or more fun.   They have a wide selection of high quality cheese from throughout the world with new shipments frequently arriving. All cheese can be tasted prior to purchase and is cut to order. And if you are not sure what you want their knowledgeable staff will gladly help you pick out the perfect cheese.   Stop by and check out this months featured cheese or join their bi-monthly Cheese club and be surprised by the outstanding cheeses provided to you!