Clothbound Cheddar (Grafton Village)
- Producer
- Grafton Village Cheese
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Vermont
- Size
- 10 x 6 in.
- Weight
- 18 lbs
- Website
- http://www.graftonvillagecheese.com/
- Milk
- Cow
- Treatment
- Raw
- Classification
- Firm
- Rennet
- Microbial
- Rind
- Cloth Wrapped
- Style
- Cheddar-like
Grafton’s Clothbound Cheddar is created in the British tradition of aging cheese in cloth. Don’t let the humble gray exterior fool you—this cheese is complex in texture and flavor, with notes of mushroom and lemon, and an aroma of the caves in which the wheels are aged. This classic milled-curd cow’s milk cheddar is wrapped in cheesecloth while it slowly ages in caves for a minimum of six months.
Located in Vermont, the Grafton Village Cheese Company was originally founded in 1892 to convert surplus milk from local dairy farmers into cheese. Though the original factory was destroyed in a fire, the factory and the company were restored in the mid-1960s by The Windham Foundation, a philanthropic organization that supports the rural community surrounding Grafton with educational and technical programs.
Today, Grafton Village Cheese handcrafts artisanal aged cheddar and other specialty cheeses. Proceeds from their sales support the Windham Foundation’s charitable efforts.
Tasting Notes
Grafton's Clothbound Cheddar tastes bold and sharp, unctuous and grassy, with notes of mushroom and nuts. The texture of this rustic-looking cheese is slightly more crumbly and firm than Grafton’s other aged cheddars.
Pairings
The flavors of this clothbound cheddar are accentuated when paired with a fruity Pinot Noir, a dry cider, or a vintage port. It also holds up nicely to strong accompaniments like tomato chutney, cured meats, and pickles.
