By Peg Todloski, Specialty Department Merchandiser
Through our Special Delivery program, we bring in small-batch, artisan cheeses a couple of times a month. We bring in a limited amount of these amazing cheeses and sell them at a crazy-good price. When they’re gone, they’re gone, but not to worry, there’ll be something else on the way. Be sure to stop by our cheese counters to find out what Special Delivery we’ve received lately.
One of this month’s Special Delivery cheeses is from Ancient Heritage Dairy in Portland, Oregon. The creamery takes its inspiration from centuries of artisanal cheese-making in France, Italy, and Spain. The father and son team of Paul and Hank Obringer craft award-winning cheese that exemplifies time-honored European methods while showcasing the finest of Oregon’s organic and sustainable food heritage.
At the core, Ancient Heritage is a sheep’s milk creamery. The high butterfat content in sheep’s milk is responsible for creating the complex flavors and texture in their aged cheese. When soft and young, sheep’s milk cheese exhibits the flavors of sweet butter and fresh grass with a luscious creamy texture. Upon aging the sweet butter flavor heats up and transforms into the essence of rich brown butter, caramel, butterscotch, and toasted hazelnuts
Ancient Heritage is Portland’s first urban creamery in decades and is paying tribute to the previous tenants of their building, Weatherly Creamery.
This month’s Special Delivery cheese is Ancient Heritage Hannah, a natural-rind semi-firm cheese made from sheep’s milk and raw cow’s milk; it is aged six months. This cheese is earthy and savory, with notes of honey, butter, and just a hint of nuttiness. It is luscious with a lactic, tangy finish. And, it won a 1st Place award at the American Cheese Society judging this year!