Why is Rogue Creamery Special Reserve Blue so special?

This rare, North American benchmark organic blue cheese is handmade at Rogue Creamery in Central Point, Oregon for only a few weeks each year during autumn. At this time of year, the creamery’s single herd of Brown Swiss & Holstein cows are at the end of their natural lactation cycle & their rich concentrated milk is infused with the esters of native grasses, hops, clover, blackberries & wild herbs that grow on the lush grazing pastures beside the Rogue River.

It is wrapped in local organic handpicked syrah vine leaves and macerated in local organic pear brandy then matured for a minimum of eight months.

A little history about Rogue Creamery

Rogue Creamery was founded in 1933 by the Vella family & survived the Great Depression. Tom the original maker of their blue cheeses learnt his trade from the French masters of the Roquefort Association in France in the early 1950s.
Today, Rogue Creamery is recognized as one of the most innovative artisan dairies in North American making a range of blue cheeses from local organic milk. Owner David Gremmels is committed to producing handcrafted cheeses using only sustainable techniques. The dairy is both certified sustainable by Steritech, organic by Oregon Tilth and Certified B Corp.
The Rogue River Special Reserve Blue was named ‘Best Cheese in the World’ in 2019/20 at the annual World Cheese Awards in Bergamo Italy. Frankly, we’re not surprised.

What does it taste like?

The moist and creamy marbled texture has a strong but not overpowering blue mould flavour that finishes with subtle hints of signature terroir including pine, wild ripened berries, hazelnuts, morels and pears.
Availability is strictly limited globally so we are very lucky to bring this special cheese to you online and in-store this week (especially with the current precarious logistics situation).
 
Goes well with: Pennyweight Gold, dark beers from Rogue Brewery, Christmas Cake

Order here