Cheese O’clock
Last spring, cheese experts Janet Fletcher and Laura Werlin teamed up with cheesemakers and winemakers to bring attention to, as Werlin put it, “the great cheeses of America.” The virtual Cheese O’clock series proved so crazy popular, they’re doing an encore with four themed wine and cheese tastings in November and December.
The Thursday Zoom sessions are free. But unless you like watching other people nibble, sip and swoon while you go cheeseless and wine deprived, you’ll want to purchase that box of blue-ribbon fromage and wine pairings in advance, so they’ll be on your doorstep in time to taste along.
Cheese selections are $65 for four or five cheeses. And we’re not talking petite wedges — the shipment for a recent session we joined included a round of Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt. Tam, a whole Nicasio Foggy Morning fromage blanc and more. The paired wines are $90 to $105 for two bottles, shipped straight from the wineries.
Tastings are at 4 p.m. Thursdays, starting with “Clever Creations” on Nov. 5. Join Markham Vineyards winemaker Kimberlee Nicholls and Green Dirt Farm cheesemaker Sarah Hoffman for a tasting of her Woolly Rind cheese, as well as Westfield Farms’ Classic Blue Log, Laclare Family Farms’ Cave-aged Chandoka and Farm at Doe Run’s St. Malachi.
“How the West Was Won” follows on Nov. 12 and features Macrostie Winery winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen and Central Coast Creamery’s cheesemaker Reggie Jones. There’s a “Vermont Master Class” on Nov. 19 with Argyle Winery winemaker Nate Klostermann and Spring Brook Farm cheesemaker Jeremy Stephenson. The series pauses for Thanksgiving festivities, then returns for “Four States, Five Stars” on Dec. 3 with Charles Krug Winery owner Peter Mondavi Jr. and Deer Creek Cheese’s Chris Gentine.
Find the details at www. laurawerlin.com/events.html.