Monger Madness 2019: The Ultimate Cheese Board
For the past three weeks, our customers and fellow cheese-lovers taste-tested eight different types of cheese in seven separate taste-off events, to find the top cheese of 2019. We’ve got all the results, including some delicious pairing ideas so you can craft an award-winning cheese board for your next party.
2019 Monger Madness Champion: Westminster Rustic Red Cheddar
Creamy and crumbly, with sweet, nutty caramelized notes and a savory bite.
Serve with:
• Peppadew peppers
• Spicy salami
• Spicy jam
• Blackberries
• Dates or figs
• Almonds or cashews
• Corn chips
Wine pairings: Spicy red wine, such as an aged Zinfandel or Malbec. We recommend the Punto Final Malbec from Argentina.
Runner-up: Grand Noir Blue
Triple-cream blue cheese.
Serve with:
• Honeycomb
• Caramelized pecans or walnuts
• Pears
• Grapes
• Dates or figs
• Sweeter crackers, such as Effie’s Oat Cakes or Cocoa Cakes
• Cherries
• Raspberries
Wine pairings: Port or Pinot Noir. We recommend Kopke Ruby Port (dessert only) or Hahn SLH Pinot Noir, California.
Beer pairings: Porters and stouts.
Other finalists:
Oscar Wilde Cheddar
Rich and nutty with a distinctly creamy taste and a firm, smooth texture.
Serve with:
• Sweet jellies
• Genoa Salami or Sopressata
• Strawberries
• Chex Mix
• Caramel
• Potato chips
Wine pairings: Cabernet, such as Louis Martini Sonoma Cabernet from California.
Beer pairings: Dark oatmeal stout, such as locally brewed L&B ENKI Oatmeal Stout.
Sartori BellaVitano Black Pepper
Savory full-bodied Wisconsin cheese with a rich, nutty, creamy taste.
Serve with:
• Apple
• Prosciutto
• Sweet berry or fig jam
• Bacon
• Dried nuts
• Roast beef
• Sweet potato chips
• Dark chocolate
Wine pairings: Chianti, Chardonnay or light red wine, such as Falesco Vitiano Rosso from Umbria, Italy.
Beer pairings: India Pale Ale, American Pale Ale or Trappist style beer.
Look for all these wonderful cheeses in our deli department.