Airco
- Producer
- Carr Valley Cheese Co
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Wisconsin
- Size
- 8 ins diameter, 4 ins high
- Weight
- 10 lbs
- Website
- www.carrvalleycheese.com
- Milk
- Goat
Sheep
Cow - Treatment
- Pasteurised
- Classification
- Semi Soft
- Rennet
- Vegetable
- Rind
- Smoked
- Style
- Alpine-style
Cheddar-like - Flavor
- Smoked
Located in the rolling hills of central Wisconsin, Carr Valley Cheese remains one of Wisconsin's most traditional cheese plants, famous for its Wisconsin cheddar varieties, as well as a host of more modern cheeses. Now owned and operated by Sid Cook, Carr Valley was founded in 1902, but the Cook family has been making cheese since 1883.
Sid is a fourth generation cheesemaker. The first cheese plant that his father operated was in Irish Valley, where Sid worked with his father for several years before taking over the business in the mid 70's. During this time Sid also learned how to make his own cultures from his father and grandfather. He and his brother made Wisconsin-style cheddar at that location for ten years, and Sid eventually purchased Carr Valley in 1986 and another cheesemaking facility in 1991, with a layout that would allow for more flexibility and the development of more styles of cheese.
Carr Valley now sources cow's milk from 40 farms, all located within 20 miles of the plant, and each milking no more than 70 cows. Sheep's milk comes largely from one dairy and goat's milk from a group of eight farms in the Green Bay area. Carr Valley makes over 65 different cheeses.
Made from a blend of sheep, goat and cow’s milk, production of Airco takes place in small batches with the aim of creating a cheese with a smooth, pliant texture. The rind of Airco is golden brown with an interior paste that is ivory in color.
Tasting Notes
Finished cheeses are then naturally smoked over apple wood. This creates an array of balanced flavors that begin with sweet notes of sheep and cow’s milk and evolve into gentle flavors of goat’s milk mingled with smoke. This provides a cheeses with great depth and length of flavor.
Pairings
Good wine pairings include Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Merlot.
