SERRA DA ESTRELA PDO MATURE CHEESE AND THE HARVEST

Serra da Estrela PDO Mature Cheese

Serra da Estrela PDO Mature Cheese is a semi-hard to extra-hard paste cheese, slightly crumbly, unctuous, yellowish to orange in color, obtained by prolonged maturation, between 6 to 12 months, with a slightly spicy flavor, highlighting the intensity of raw milk from Serra da Estrela sheep.

Due to its characteristic of semi-hard paste, Serra da Estrela Velho has always been an easier cheese to transport, being part of the meal of the men of the mountains, either shepherds or  men who work in the field, namely, at this time of year, of those who do the harvest.

Usually wrapped in a linen handkerchief, held in the pocket, accompanied by a small sharp knife, and cut and taken to be tasted, thus provoking, by its identity and presence, the five senses.

Tasted in small quantities, in the Serra da Estrela region is accompanied by rye bread and Dão wine. The Dão Wine Demarcated Region partly coincides with the Serra da Estrela Cheese Demarcated Region, and nothing more natural than an alliance between products from the same Terroir.

Dão Wine Harvest, in Quinta dos Monteirinhos, Mangualde

In the opinion of Mariana Lopes, Journalist at the Revista Vinho Grandes Escolhas, “as for Serra da Estrela with a hard paste, the old cheese, with longer maturing time? Well, that’s where the case changes. On the one hand, in an old cheese, the milk fat is much less noticeable; on the other hand, the prolonged maturation “pulled” the salt and gave it more intensity.

A young and smooth red (we can continue in Dão, and in wines from Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro or Jaen) with body and fruit fulfilling the role of softening and cleaning the strong flavor that cheese leaves in the mouth. As with everything in life, it is a matter of balance and harmony.”

Habemus Cheese!