When it comes to a fondue there really is one cheese to beat all others - Le Gruyere. This month in Provender Brown we're featuring this wonderful cheese in all its glory, and to celebrate, we're offering one lucky person the chance to win an official Le Gruyere Fondue Pot.
The region of Gruyère has been known for its cheese production since the 12th century, however, it was only in 2001 that Gruyère cheese was granted Controlled Designation of Origin (AOC) at the national level and 2011 before it received the Protected Designation of Origin (AOP) for all of Europe.
Steeped in traditional craft and expertise, passed down from generation to generation, Gruyère AOP has an inimitable flavour and quality. The procedure for production of Gruyère AOP is strictly specified and milk producers, cheese-makers and affineurs (maturers) respect each of its steps to the letter.
Emmi Le Gruyere AOC – a relatively young Gruyere, produced by Emmi (Switzerland’s largest milk processing company) and matured for a minimum of 150 days. This is a cheese with fruity flavours and a definite tang. Buy Now >
Le Cret Gruyere AOC – Handmade in the mountains of the Fribourg region using fresh milk from eight local farms. Matured for 12 months, this unpasteurised cow’s milk cheese has a very complex flavour, full of sweet caramel notes and a rich nuttiness. Buy Now >
Walo Le Gruyere AOC Extra Mature – matured by renowned affineur Walo for a minimum of 14 months in the caves that have been used by the Von Mühlenen family for decades. The caves are warmer than others used to mature cheese. This ‘warm’ aging is key to achieving a deeper, more rounded flavour. During the maturation, the cheese crystalises to deliver an intense flavour. Buy Now >
Kaltbach Cave Aged Le Gruyere AOC - The Kaltbach Cheese Cave is unlike any other place in the world. 15 meters below ground, its horizontal layering allows water to slowly make its way down the walls rather than dripping from the ceiling like other caves. Kaltbach means “cold river”, referring to the river that runs through the cave; this helps maintain a humidity level of about 96% and a temperature of about 12.5 degrees throughout the year. This Gruyère has a floral nuttiness, a smooth yet dense texture with a slight flake and a pronounced crystal crunch. Buy Now >
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