What’s your idea of a great cheese? I prefer a cheese that’s multifaceted, one that appeals to kids as well as adults, something that can be used in recipes or for snacking or dessert. If you think that only imports can be great cheeses, think again! Vermont Shepherd, a 250 acre farm in Vermont, is the oldest maker of sheep’s milk cheese in the US; they began making the stuff before many Americans knew that cheese could be made from sheep’s milk. Their eponymous cheese is, I believe, one of the great examples of artisanal cheese-making in this country. Why? For starters, the sheep who give the milk for this cheese are pastured from April through November, enabling them to eat a varied diet of wild foliage. This is more natural for the sheep, and it gives their milk an especially good flavor (once the snow begins in earnest, milking and cheese making stop until the following spring). The milk for this cheese is not pasteurized. I’m a big fan of such “raw” milk cheeses, as I believe they contain a great range of complex tastes. In addition, the milk and cheese are treated with care and respect. Production of the cheese is limited, and the unrushed aging process happens on wooden boards in a cave with ideal temperature and humidity.
The result? Vermont Shepherd is deeply straw-colored, with a golden brown rind. The texture is creamy-smooth---almost buttery. You’ll find a distinctive flavor, but one that’s not too strong or assertive, so it won’t drive away the young ‘uns or those who complain about robust tastes. There’s a “just one more slice” richness here; you’ll know this isn’t one of those low-fat supermarket frauds that masquerade as real cheese. This fermented curd is equally at home with bread/crackers and wine, paired with salami for watching the big game, or as part of a cheese tray at the end of a meal. It also makes a magnificent grilled cheese sandwich, a perfect companion to whole grain bread, Dijon mustard, and caramelized onion slices or thinly-sliced fresh apple. In short, this is one cheese that really can do almost everything well. Bear in mind that this is a seasonal product; it’s available only from August through April. You’ll find Vermont Shepherd in specially-selected stores throughout the US, but you can also buy it at the farm or order it online. The farm even sells their award-winning sheep and wool. For complete information, trot over to www.vermontshepherd.com.