Cheese wire… Cantal

Veteran cheesemonger Patrick Ambrosio lifts the lid on Cantal…

Hailing from the mountainous Auvergne region, Cantal cheese has a distinguished history. The revered fromage was awarded Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée status in 1956 and remains one of France’s most popular cheeses today. Young Cantal offers a mildly lactic, buttery taste and firm yet creamy texture, pairing well with Chardonnay. An ideal table cheese, it’s also perfect in salads and sandwiches alongside the region’s rich hams. Older versions, meanwhile, develop more complex flavours and a firmer texture, better suited to soft red Bordeaux blends.

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First printed in our sister publication France Today

Patrick Ambrosio is managing partner of the Village Cheese Merchant in Rockville Centre, NY. www.villagecheesemerchant.com