"How about a sheep cheese that is really great, right now," Penny asked the cheesemonger at South End Formaggio. A taste of Vermont Shepherd Verano was passed to her. "This was made with all summer milk," he said. He was right. It was in perfect condition and had a subtle background note of herby summer grass.
It came home with a sidekick of Twig Farm Square and we had a lovely tray of Vermont splendor for supper.
Vermont Shepherd make two celebrated cheeses, Verano (summer) and Invierno (winter).
They say, "Our summer cheese, 'Verano,' we make from pure sheeps’ milk when our pastures are abundant with wild herbs and grasses. Verano then ages 3-5 months and ripens by August. The flavor of the summer cheese is sweet, rich and earthy with hints of clover, mint, and thyme."
We say, This will be a perfect cheese to introduce someone to sheep's milk cheeses. While we love potent, stinky, sheepy cheeses, they can be a bit much for some folks. This is one to put on a tray for your favorite cheese maven or a group of friends who seldom venture beyond cheddar.
And, here are other items from our Cheese Tray!
What's on your Cheese shopping list? Here are some great books about cheese.
Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny Cherubino
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