November is certainly a month for great and fun entertaining, when ever possible I love to spend time at the Ferry Building so I came up with the best cheese & wine match for our special gatherings at Cowgirl Creamery and the Wine Merchant… Enjoy!
Leonora, Spain 
Made in the mountains of Leon, Spain, Leonora is made from pure Alpine goat milk. Uniquely molded into a long brick shape, the cheese is covered with a natural mold and develops a creamy consistency over the three month aging process.
Best pairing: 2006 Spann Viognier/Chardonnay, Sonoma County, California
Silver Mountain, Bravo Farms – Visalia, CA
Reviving traditional methods, Silver Mountain is bandaged-wrapped Manchego/Contal cross that is aged for nine months. It is smooth and full flavored with the sharpness of a cheddar.
Best pairing: 2003 Pisa Moorings, Central Otago, New Zealand
Patacabra, Spain
This unique goat milk cheese is made in the brick shape of a “Pata de Mulo” it is a washed ring cheese which is wonderful both young as well as aged. It is quite pungent, yet smooth. The rind turns from a reddish, slightly sticky one into a faded, pale orangy brown.
Best pairing: 2006 Tremani Russian River, California
Cave Aged Marisa, Carr Valley Cheese Company – Wisconsin
This sheep milk cheese is aged for six months in an open-air cave where it is endowed with a complex sweet earthiness. A high butterfat content balances the cheese’s inherent saltiness with a rich creaminess that deepens as Cave-Age Marisa ages.
Best pairing: 2007 Graham Beck Gamekeeper’s Reserve, Robertson, South Africa
Special notes:
- Cheese boards are a great addition to any menu, from family gatherings to office meetings or formal receptions.
- Artfully arranged your cheeses on a wooden board with roasted Spanish almonds, quince paste, and sliced baguettes.
- Serving size is based on 2 ounces per person for hungry crowd, it all depends if there is additional food at the event you are hosting.
