Piave Cheese: The Ultimate Guide To Serving

Piave cheese is a beloved staple in Italian gastronomy, with a rich history rooted in the Veneto region of Italy. Piave Vecchio, a variety of Piave cheese, is known for its exceptional flavour and versatility in cooking. It pairs well with a full-bodied red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Chianti, and can be enjoyed independently, grated over dishes, or paired with various accompaniments. When serving Piave Vecchio, it is important to consider the ageing process, as it directly impacts the cheese's texture and flavour profile. For instance, the older the cheese, the harder and denser its texture, and the sweeter and more intense its flavour.

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Pairing Piave Vecchio with red wine

Piave Vecchio is a dense, chewy, and creamy cheese with a multi-layered flavour profile that makes it a perfect pairing with red wine. The cheese's salty, fruity, butterscotch, and nutty flavours can be accentuated or complemented by the right choice of red wine.

When it comes to selecting a red wine to pair with Piave Vecchio, consider the following options:

Northern Italian reds:

• Barolo: A full-bodied wine with robust flavours of cherry, plum, and spice. It pairs well with the salty and nutty notes of Piave Vecchio.
• Barbaresco: Another excellent choice, Barbaresco offers similar characteristics to Barolo but with a more delicate and elegant profile. It will complement the fruity and nutty aspects of the cheese.

Barbera grape wines:

• Barbera d'Asti: This wine has bright acidity and red fruit flavours, which can contrast the salty and creamy texture of Piave Vecchio.
• Barbera d'Alba: With similar characteristics to Barbera d'Asti, Barbera d'Alba will also provide a good match with its lively acidity and red fruit notes.

California Cabernet Sauvignon:

A bold and structured wine with flavours of black currant, black cherry, and hints of oak. California Cabernet Sauvignon can stand up to the complex flavours of Piave Vecchio and provide a harmonious pairing.

Beaujolais cru:

Beaujolais cru wines are known for their light to medium body and vibrant red fruit flavours. They can offer a refreshing contrast to the dense and creamy cheese while still complementing its fruity notes.

When pairing Piave Vecchio with red wine, consider the cheese's unique characteristics and the wine's flavour profiles to create a delightful sensory experience. Remember, the key is to find a balance between complementing and contrasting the different elements, enhancing the overall enjoyment of both the cheese and the wine.

Grating over dishes

Grating Piave cheese over dishes is a fantastic way to elevate a meal. This hard, cooked cow's milk cheese from Italy has a dense, crystalline texture and a full-bodied, slightly sweet flavour that intensifies with ageing. When fully aged, Piave cheese is hard enough to grate, and its complex flavour can amplify the flavours of both simple and complex recipes.

Piave cheese can be grated over pasta to turn a basic meal into something special. It can also be used in sauces, adding a luxurious texture. The cheese pairs well with diverse foods, from simple bread to gourmet dishes. For instance, it can be enjoyed in a salad, adding a typical flavour that transforms simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

When grating Piave cheese, it is important to ensure that the cheese is not at room temperature, as it may turn into a pile of "cheese paste". Instead, it is recommended to partially freeze the cheese for about 30 minutes before grating it. This will make it easier to grate and prevent a mess. To catch the grated cheese, it is suggested to use parchment paper under the box grater, providing a safe, flat surface.

Piave cheese is available in five different varieties, depending on the ageing period. The ageing period ranges from 20 to 60 days for Piave Fresco (blue label) to more than 18 months for Piave Vecchio Riserva (black label). The colour of the cheese pate is white in Fresco and gradually turns straw-coloured as it matures.

Serving as an appetiser

Piave Vecchio is a popular Italian cheese with a distinct and robust taste and a crumbly, granular texture. It has a sweet and nutty flavour profile, with hints of butter, caramel, and toasted nuts, and a slight tang. When served as an appetiser, Piave Vecchio can be the star of the dish, with its unique taste and texture. Here are some ways to serve Piave Vecchio as an appetiser:

• Cheese Plate: Create a cheese plate by pairing Piave Vecchio with other complementary cheeses, such as a mix of hard and soft cheeses, or cheeses with different flavour profiles. Include accompaniments such as fresh and dried fruits, nuts, honey, and crackers.
• With Honey and Nuts: Highlight the sweet and nutty notes of Piave Vecchio by pairing it with a drizzle of honey and a handful of toasted nuts, such as almonds or pecans. Serve it with a few slices of fresh pear or apple for added texture and freshness.
• On a Crostini: Top crostini or small slices of toasted baguette with shaved or grated Piave Vecchio. Add a touch of honey or a thin slice of pear or apple on top for added flavour. This simple appetiser allows the cheese to shine.
• With Cured Meats: Create a charcuterie board by pairing Piave Vecchio with assorted cured meats, such as prosciutto, salami, and sopressata. Include some cornichon pickles, olives, and crusty bread on the side for a well-rounded appetiser.
• In a Salad: Crumble Piave Vecchio over a bed of mixed greens, such as arugula or spinach, and pair it with sweet and tangy ingredients like sliced apples, dried cranberries, and a balsamic vinaigrette. Add some chopped nuts for an extra crunch.

When serving Piave Vecchio as an appetiser, remember that a little goes a long way. This cheese is meant to be savoured and enjoyed, so a small portion can be quite satisfying. It pairs well with a full-bodied red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or a fruity Chianti, which complement its unique flavour profile.

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Enjoying with sweet accompaniments

Piave cheese, crafted in Italy's Piave River Valley, boasts a dense, holeless texture and a straw-yellow hue. Its flavour profile ranges from slightly sweet when young to intensely full-bodied upon ageing. The cheese's sweetness intensifies with age, making it versatile for both savoury and sweet accompaniments.

When it comes to sweet accompaniments, fresh or dried fruits are a perfect match for Piave cheese. Try pairing it with grapes, apples, pears, or figs. The natural sugars and juices in these fruits beautifully complement the cheese's nutty and savoury notes.

For an indulgent touch, drizzle honey over a slice of Piave cheese. The honey amplifies the cheese's inherent sweetness, creating a harmonious flavour profile. Alternatively, pair the cheese with chutneys or jams, such as fig jam or onion marmalade, for a delightful interplay of sweet and savoury flavours.

To round off the experience, a glass of wine can elevate the sweetness of Piave cheese. Opt for a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon or a fruity Chianti to create a symphony of flavours. For those who prefer white wine, a Chardonnay will also make a wonderful companion to the cheese's sweet notes.

Buying Piave cheese online

When buying Piave cheese online, you'll find that it's sold by the pound and typically available in five different varieties:

• Piave Fresco (aged for 20 to 60 days)
• Piave Mezzano (aged for 61 to 180 days)
• Piave Vecchio (aged for more than 6 months)
• Piave Vecchio Selezione Oro (aged for more than 1 year)
• Piave Vecchio Riserva (aged for more than 18 months)

The colour of the cheese pate is white in Fresco, and it gradually turns straw-yellow as the cheese matures. Similarly, its sweet taste intensifies with age. The rind of the cheese is soft and clear when fresh but becomes harder and brownish as the cheese ages.

Piave cheese is a cow's milk cheese made in the Piave River Valley region of Belluno, Italy. It is produced by a dairy cooperative called the Cooperativa Lattebusche. The cheese has a dense texture without holes and a slightly sweet flavour. Once fully aged, Piave cheese becomes hard and well-suited for grating, developing an intense, full-bodied flavour.

When purchasing Piave cheese online, it's important to read the labels, warnings, and directions provided by the manufacturer. Additionally, reviews from other customers can give valuable insights into the quality and characteristics of the cheese, helping you make an informed decision.

Frequently asked questions