April 26, 2022
Cheese Wisdom: Earthy, semi-soft cheese from France
A cow milk cheese aged on rye mats
The Cheese: Saint Nectaire from Auvergne, central France
Where to Purchase: The Loyalist Market, Matthews
Price: $20.99/lb.
The Style: This cheese, made from the milk of Salers cows, is semi-soft with a washed, grey-colored rind that can be eaten or discarded.
Flavor Profile: Funky, fresh grass notes, nuts, forest, dried shiitake, pungent.
How to Enjoy: Makes a great grilled cheese with mustard; on a charcuterie board with rustic bread; lightly melt it and add to macaroni and cheese; serve with pickles and sliced ham
Wine Pairings: French chablis, New Zealand sauvignon blanc, Beaujolais, cabernet franc
Extra Reading: This cheese can only be made from the milk of the Salers breed of cow. The milk has to be produced between April 15 through November 15 of each year, as the type of natural grass available during those months gives the cheese its unique flavor. The cheese is made into 100-lb. rounds and stored three months to one year on rye mats. Saint Nectaire is a cousin to Cantal cheese.
