Flavored cheeses have not always had the best reputation, but they are covering new ground in a powerful way. Adding gourmet ingredients to sound, quality milk can lead to a masterful product. Thoughtfully considering the milk's characteristics and origin is another crucial element to incorporating culinary zing into a cheese’s paste.
The Italian Rosso family has done all of the above with their creation of Juni. This raw cow’s milk cheese has local juniper berries added to the curd. Juniper berries are the key botanical to the flavor profile of gin and grow wild in the Piedmont region. It makes sense to add the mountain’s natural bounty to the milk of the cows that roam the terrain. After a couple of months of aging, the result is a well-balanced, tangy cheese that goes down like a silky gin martini. Enjoy this treat with a bottle of Villa Russiz Sauvignon Blanc Collio 2008 from Friuli, Italy. This wine enhances the creaminess of the already lovely Juni and complements the juniper with a touch of soft peach.
This article appears in Mar 31 – Apr 6, 2011.