Goat Cheddar Cheese

You might have never even heard of goat cheddar before, but after one taste of the beautiful, award-winning version made by California’s Central Coast Creamery, you’ll never look at plain ol’ cow’s milk cheddar the same way! This semi-firm cheese is rich and buttery, with a mild, yeasty, grassy quality alongside goat cheese’s signature slight tang. It’s pure white and made of 100 percent goat milk in a wheel instead of the more common cheddar block. It’s a great melter (try it in grilled cheese!) and is right at home on a sandwich or on a cheese board alongside fruits, nuts, cured meats, and honey.

Central Coast Creamery is a family operation, founded in 2012 by dairy industry veteran Reggie Jones and his wife Kellie. It’s based in Paso Robles, California, which due to its long grass-growing season has a dairy heritage going back more than 150 years. The creamery produces a wide variety of cheeses made with cow, sheep, and goat milk.

• Pairings: Crisp sauvignon blanc, oaky chardonnay, dry rose, dry sparkling wine, light red wines like beaujolais, dry cider, IPAs
• Awards: 2017 American Cheese Society 1st Place, 2016 World Cheese Championship Best in Class, 2015 American Cheese Society Best in Class