Le Gruyère AOP, from the French-speaking part of Switzerland, dates to 1115, when milk from the area’s picturesque farms began to be used to make a distinctive Alpine cheese influenced by the pasture’s mountain flowers, grasses, and herbs.
One of the area’s longest running dairies is Combremont, founded in 1851, located in Combremont-le-Petit, a village surrounded by mountain meadows in the Broye region of Vaud. In 1923, the fromagerie (cheesemaking facility) was constructed. In 2016, cheesemaker Michael Hanke assumed ownership. Today he sources milk from 16 suppliers, including two goat milk producers, all within a three-mile radius of his dairy, to ensure the freshest milk for his high-quality cheeses. He also completely rebuilt and renovated the dairy with more efficient production methods, allowing him to experiment and make many other specialties in addition to his flagship cheese, Gruyère AOP, in this month’s club shipment.
Michael grew up in a cheesemaking family in Allgäu, Germany, so the career was a natural fit for him. He worked at companies in five different countries – from small to commercial – before acquiring Fromagerie Combremont, where he was able to combine all his experience and follow his lifelong dream of cheesemaking. “My creativity and knowledge complete my passion,” he said. “Daring to try new things and experimenting; that's what makes the profession of cheesemaker interesting for me.”
Michael’s Gruyère AOP recently won the Silver Medal in the 2022 World Cheese Championship Contest in the Gruyère category with a score of 99.45 points, so we are excited to share this award-winning cheese with you.
Aged six months prior to release, this raw cow’s milk cheese is ivory in color, with a youthfully soft and supple paste. It shows floral and herbal aromatics, indicative of the Alpine pastures in which the cows graze. On the palate, it is buttery and creamy with herbaceous, nutty, and vanilla notes. This cheese is ideal for recipes calling for melted cheese, like Croque Monsieur (or Madame), chicken or veal Cordon Blue, fondue, French onion soup, quiche, and risotto. Pair this gruyère with Alpine-style or cool-climate wines like Riesling and Pinot Gris, Champagne, Pinot Noir, sparkling cider, and Bock beer.
Experience International Variety
You might receive a Gaperon, originating in France during the 14th Century, an
authentic Lancashire by Ruth Kirkham, and an Italian Taleggio matured in the
caves of Valsassina…all in one shipment!