Marinated Sheep & Goat Cheese
- Producer
- Meredith Dairy
- Country
- Australia
- Region
- Victoria
- Size
- Varies
- Weight
- Varies
- Website
- www.meredithdairy.com
- Milk
- Goat
Sheep - Treatment
- Pasteurised
- Classification
- Soft
- Rennet
- Microbial
- Rind
- None
Flavor Added - Style
- Fresh
Behold, Australia's most decorated goat cheese. Often referred to as "marinated feta," Marinated Sheep & Goat Cheese is a much-beloved staple that has made waves down under and built a steady following stateside.
The cheese hails from Meredith Dairy outside of Melbourne, which is among the largest farmstead goat's milk product producers in Australia. Owners Sandy and Julie Cameron have created an award-winning business that focuses on sustainable agricultural practices and continuous research into animal husbandry. A focus on sustainability means that the Farm does not grow any GMO crops, while portions of the property have been set aside as native habitat where grazing animals are not allowed. The Camerons have also replanted thousands of indigenous trees on the property as windbreaks and to prevent soil erosion.
With their flocks of goats and sheep, the Camerons have established an animal husbandry schedule that ensures milk is available year-round. At any given time, a quarter of each herd is pregnant and a quarter have given birth. The animals are fed a mixture of grain and hay, and are also put out to pasture during the spring and summer months.
The results of these practices include not only a thriving farm, but also a constant supply of fresh milk that is then turned into cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products like this marinated beauty. Produced from a mix of goat's and sheep's milk, the fresh cheese is cubed and plunged into a mixture of olive oil, garlic, peppercorns, and herbs.
Tasting Notes
The cheese's flavor is mild and fresh with a good balance of acidity and salt, enhanced by the addictive blend of olive oil and spices that it is marinated in.
Pairings
Pair it with a sparkling wine, a semillon, or an oaked chardonnay.
