Appenzeller® Black Label

Appenzeller® Black Label is one of Switzerland’s historic Alpine cheese specialties, rooted in a cheesemaking tradition that dates back approximately 700 years. Rather than being produced by a single creamery, Appenzeller® is made according to traditional artisan methods by around 40 local cheese dairies within a strictly defined area of northeastern Switzerland. The production region encompasses the cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden and Appenzell Ausserrhoden, along with designated areas of St. Gallen and Thurgau.

Appenzeller® Black Label is made from raw cow’s milk sourced from cows fed meadow grass and hay. As the cheese matures, each wheel is regularly treated with Appenzeller’s famous herbal brine, whose exact recipe remains a closely guarded secret. For Black Label, master cheesemakers select the best wheels suitable for extended maturation and age them in humid cellars at approximately 57°F.

Aged for at least six months, Black Label develops a firm body and the sharp, robust character that distinguishes it from younger Appenzeller® varieties. Before release, the wheels undergo an additional quality inspection, while a casein mark provides traceability and verifies their origin. The finished cheese combines centuries-old Swiss craftsmanship, exceptional raw milk, careful cellar aging, and the mysterious herbal treatment that gives Appenzeller® its unmistakable personality.

Appenzeller® Black Label is sharp, robust, and intensely aromatic, with a firm texture and a beautifully balanced savory character. Its herbal brine contributes distinctive spicy and herbaceous nuances, while extended aging brings concentrated dairy richness and a pleasantly tart, lingering finish. Serve it with crusty bread, apples, pears, roasted potatoes, cured meats, or cornichons, or melt it into fondue, gratins, and hearty sandwiches. Its assertive personality pairs particularly well with dry Riesling, Pinot Noir, crisp Swiss white wine, hard cider, Märzen, or a malty amber lager, which complement the cheese without overpowering its distinctive Alpine character.