São Jorge

Producer

Various

Country

Portugal

Region

Azores

Size

Varies

Weight

16-25 lbs

Website

Milk

Cow

Treatment

Raw

Classification

Firm

Rennet

Animal

Rind

Natural

The island of São Jorge, from which this cheese gets its name, is located 900 miles from the west coast of Portugal and is part of the Azores archipelago. Discovered in the 15th century by the Flemish, the islands have long been of strategic importance in terms of oceanic navigation. As a result, Azoreans developed a brisk trade with passing merchant ships, the crews of which sought food for their long voyages. Situated in the middle of the Atlantic Gulf Stream, the Azores has a mild, damp climate and, due to its volcanic geology, a richly fertile soil that supports abundant vegetation. All these factors contribute to favorable conditions for dairying—the island is home to 20,000 dairy cows—and cheesemaking.

Azorean cheesemaking on the island dates back to when settlers migrated from the Netherlands and various other regions in mainland Europe, bringing with them both livestock and cheesemaking knowledge. The Azores have traditionally been home to a variety of cheeses. These range from fresher styles, designed to be eaten within a few days of production, to more robust, aged cheeses able to withstand the rigors of transportation—and consequently often sold to ships’ crews to sustain them for many months at sea.

Made from raw cow’s milk, São Jorge cheese falls into this second category. It is the largest of the Portuguese cheeses weighing between 16 and 26 pounds, and is aged for between three and seven months before release.

To make the cooked-curd, pressed cheese, cows are milked twice a day and the evening milk gets delivered to the cheese plant about 8:30pm with cheesemaking commencing right away, continuing through the night from about 9 pm to 4 am. Then, after morning milking another round of cheese is made. Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status is awarded to cheeses matured for a minimum of 90 days, although usually wheels of São Jorge are released at three, four and seven months.

As a side note, São Jorge is so beloved that many Portuguese and Azorean immigrant cheesemakers in the U.S. make their own version as a tribute to their homeland. The most well-known of these are fifth-generation cheesemakers from São Jorge, Joe and Mary Matos, of California’s Matos Cheese Factory near Santa Rosa, an hour north of San Francisco.

Tasting Notes

São Jorge cheeses have a firm, slightly waxy texture with a straw-colored paste dotted with small eyes (holes).

Flavors are mild, yet full and buttery, with an underlying tang that becomes more pronounced with age. Aromas are rich and aromatic.

São Jorge works well as a table cheese or added to everyday dishes where a tangy, robust flavor is desired.

Pairings

A full bodied red wine such as Port or a Madeira wine pair wonderfully with São Jorge.