Balsamic BellaVitano
- Producer
- Sartori
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Wisconsin
- Size
- 12-14
- Weight
- 20 lbs
- Website
- www.sartoricheese.com
- Milk
- Cow
- Classification
- Firm
- Rennet
- Microbial
- Rind
- Flavored
- Style
- Cheddar-like
Established in 1939 by Paolo Sartori, Sartori Cheese Company is a fourth generation family owned business based in Plymouth, Wisconsin.
Well known for hard and Italian-style cheeses, the company sources milk from local, family owned farms within a close radius to the production facility. The herd size at each farm averages 75 cows and many of the farms have worked with Sartori for multiple generations. The company also operates an incentive program that encourages each farm to produce the best quality milk possible.
For production of Sartori’s cheeses, the milk is heated, cultures and rennet are added and, once the milk has coagulated, the curd is cut, releasing the whey, which is drained off.
The remaining curd is hand-salted and transferred into hoops, then pressed for several hours. Newly formed wheels of cheese are placed in a warm “overnight” room to encourage the expulsion of more whey.
Wheels are then trimmed by hand and placed in a brine bath, which encourages the formation of a rind. After the brine bath, the cheese is moved to a curing room for further maturation.
Each variety of cheese is matured for a different length of time. Every batch is tasted at regular intervals during this period and, when they are deemed ready, released for sale.
For the production of some of Sartori’s cheeses, carefully selected wheels are chosen to undergo a third stage of finishing. This last stage involves the application by hand or soaking of a proprietary blend of one of a variety of coatings.
Balsamic BellaVitano is immersed in a 6-year-old Italian balsamic vinegar and aged further to allow the light and fruity notes of the cheese to marry with the sweet and tangy vinegar.
Tasting Notes
The final product is characterized by a tangy, brown-purple rind and a paste that’s sweet and earthy with only a hint of vinegar flavor. Any overwhelming acidity is counterbalanced with a subtle sweetness, and fruity tones of cherry and raisins permeate throughout.
Pairings
Pair Reserve Balsamic BellaVitano with a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, an Asti Spumanti or a Sherry. For beer pairings, try Weizen, Weizenbock, Smoked Porters or Pale Ales.
