Merlot Bellavitano: A Unique Blend Of Cheese And Wine

Merlot BellaVitano® is a popular cheese made by the Sartori Company, a fourth-generation family-owned business based in Wisconsin. The cheese is part of the company's BellaVitano line of Asiago or Parmesan-style cheeses. It is made from pasteurized cow's milk and soaked in Merlot wine to give it a unique flavour and texture. The Sartori cheesemakers hand-soak each wheel in wine for several days, allowing the cheese to absorb the fruity notes of plum and berry from the Merlot. The result is a rich, creamy cheese with a nutty buttery finish and a slight crunchy feel from the naturally formed Calcium Crystals. Merlot BellaVitano® has won several awards and is a favourite among cheese lovers, known for its versatility in snacking, cooking, and pairing with various wines, beers, and foods.

Merlot BellaVitano® is soaked in wine

Merlot BellaVitano® is a wine-soaked cheese created by the master cheesemakers at Sartori, a fourth-generation family-owned company in Plymouth, Wisconsin. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and soaked in Merlot wine to accentuate its flavour and texture. The process of creating Merlot BellaVitano® begins with daily deliveries of fresh, top-quality milk from local family farms. The milk is then combined with culture blends, a microbial enzyme called rennet, and a mixture of cheese cultures, salt, and enzymes. After the curds and whey are separated and stirred, the curds are pressed into hoops, brined, and transported to a curing room. Once the cheese has reached the optimal age, it is hand-finished by soaking it in Merlot wine for several days under refrigeration. This process enhances the cheese's natural flavour and results in a rich union of flavours, including fruity notes of plum and berry.

The Sartori® team's passion for cheesemaking and attention to detail have led to the creation of this highly decorated and award-winning cheese. Merlot BellaVitano® has a unique texture that is described as creamy, rich, crunchy, and granular. It has a flavour profile that falls somewhere between an aged, premium Cheddar and Parmesan. The cheese pairs well with a variety of foods and beverages, including dried fruits and nuts, crusty bread, chocolate, and wines such as Shiraz, Pinot Noir, or dry Merlot. The recommended serving suggestion is to remove the cheese from the refrigerator 30 minutes before consumption, keeping it in its packaging during this time.

Merlot BellaVitano® has a distinct appearance, with a rind that is meant to be eaten and is part of the tasting experience. The cheese has a nutty, buttery finish and is known for its crunchy crystals, which are formed during the aging process and are considered a sign of a well-aged cheese. While the cheese is soaked in wine, the ageing and packaging processes ensure that essentially all alcohol is evaporated, making it safe for consumption by children and pregnant women. The Sartori Company's dedication to craftsmanship and exceptional flavour has resulted in a deeply flavorful cheese that is perfect for snacking or enhancing recipes.

It's made by the fourth generation of the Sartori family

Sartori's Merlot Bellavitano is a cheese made by the fourth generation of the Sartori family. The company was originally called S&R Cheese Corp. and has been in the cheese-making industry since the 1930s. The Sartori family has been making their award-winning BellaVitano cheese since 2008.

The process of making Merlot Bellavitano begins with fresh, top-quality milk sourced from local family farms. Culture blends are then added, followed by a microbial enzyme called rennet, which binds the protein together. The curd and whey are then separated, stirred, heated, and moved to a finishing table, and the whey is removed. The curd is then pressed into hoops, placed into a salt brine, and transported to a curing room. The curing process is carefully controlled in terms of temperature and humidity, and its time and duration are crucial to ensuring a consistently pleasurable and versatile cheese experience.

Once the cheese has reached the optimal age, it undergoes a finishing process. In the case of Merlot Bellavitano, this involves hand-soaking each wheel in wine to accentuate the cheese's flavour and texture. The cheesemakers allow the wheels to rest for several days under refrigeration, and then they are dried before undergoing a final quality check and packaging. The result is a rich union of flavours, with the creamy cheese marrying the berry and plum notes of Merlot.

Merlot Bellavitano is a unique cheese with a creamy, rich, crunchy, and granular texture. It has a flavour profile that falls somewhere between an aged, premium Cheddar and Parmesan. It pairs well with dried fruits, nuts, crusty bread, chocolate, and beverages like Shiraz, Pinot Noir, or dry Merlot.

It has a crunchy texture

Merlot BellaVitano is a variety of cheese with a crunchy texture. This crunchiness is the result of the formation of Calcium Crystals (Calcium Lactate) during the aging process, which is a sign of a well-aged cheese. The cheese is produced by the Sartori Company, a fourth-generation family-owned business with roots in cheesemaking that date back to the 1930s.

The crunchiness of Merlot BellaVitano is a distinctive feature that contributes to its overall sensory experience. The Calcium Crystals provide a contrast in texture to the otherwise creamy and rich cheese. This unique texture is a result of the complex ageing process that the cheese undergoes. During this process, the cheese is soaked in Merlot wine, which not only imparts its flavour but also influences the formation of these crystals.

The crunchy texture of Merlot BellaVitano is a result of the crystallisation of amino acids, specifically tyrosine, which is a type of protein found in milk. This crystallisation process is a natural occurrence in many aged cheeses. The crystals vary in size and can range from small specks to larger, more noticeable chunks. They add a pleasant sensory element to the cheese, providing a slight crunch when bitten into.

The crunchy texture of Merlot BellaVitano is not only a sign of its quality and ageing process but also contributes to its overall flavour and mouthfeel. The crystals add a subtle depth of flavour and enhance the overall sensory experience of the cheese. The combination of creamy richness and crunchy texture makes Merlot BellaVitano a unique and popular cheese among consumers.

The crunchy texture of Merlot BellaVitano is an important characteristic that sets it apart from other cheeses. It adds an element of surprise and delight to the tasting experience, making it a favourite among cheese connoisseurs and enthusiasts. The crunchiness also pairs well with the fruity notes of plum and berry that the cheese exhibits, creating a complex and intriguing flavour profile.

It's safe for children and pregnant women to consume

Merlot BellaVitano® is a robust and rich cheese, with fruity notes of plum and berry. It is soaked in Merlot wine to enhance its colour and taste. It is a popular cheese, winning awards in 2015 and 2016.

Merlot BellaVitano® is a safe cheese for children and pregnant women to consume. Although some of Sartori's cheeses use alcohol-containing liquids to treat the outside of the cheese rind, the aging and packaging process means that essentially all alcohol is evaporated. This means that Merlot BellaVitano® is safe for children and pregnant women to eat.

In addition, hard cheeses, such as cheddar and parmesan, are generally safe to eat during pregnancy, as are many pasteurised semi-hard and soft cheeses, such as edam, halloumi, and feta. These are a great source of calcium and can be enjoyed as part of a healthy, balanced diet. However, some cheeses are not safe to eat during pregnancy, as they may carry the harmful bacteria listeria. These include soft, mould-ripened cheeses and soft, blue-veined cheeses, such as chevre and vacherin fribourgeois. These cheeses are moister than others, which allows listeria bacteria to grow. If consumed, listeria can cause an illness called listeriosis, which may be harmful to an unborn baby.

Therefore, while Merlot BellaVitano® is safe for children and pregnant women to consume, it is important to be aware of the types of cheese that should be avoided during pregnancy.

It pairs well with chocolate

Merlot BellaVitano® is a variety of cheese that pairs well with chocolate. The cheese is soaked in merlot wine, which gives it a rich union of flavours. The cheese is creamy and rich, with fruity notes of plum and berry. The rind is edible and is meant to be eaten as part of the tasting experience.

Merlot BellaVitano® is a highly decorated American original cheese, produced by the Sartori® team, a fourth-generation family-owned company. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and has a unique, creamy, and rich yet crunchy and granular texture. It is created by master cheesemakers using time-honoured techniques and the highest-quality milk.

The process of making Merlot BellaVitano® involves soaking the cheese wheels in wine to accentuate the cheese's flavour and texture. The cheesemakers hand-soak each wheel, allowing them to rest for several days under refrigeration, and then let them dry before the final quality check and packaging. This results in a unique and flexible cheese that can be enjoyed as a snack or in various mouthwatering recipes.

When pairing Merlot BellaVitano® with chocolate, the cheese can be diced or chunked and then drizzled with melted semi-sweet chocolate. This combination creates a perfect balance of flavours that is sure to delight the taste buds.

In addition to chocolate, Merlot BellaVitano® also pairs well with dried fruits and nuts, crusty bread, and beverages such as Shiraz, Pinot Noir, or dry Merlot. It can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a charcuterie board, offering a delightful sensory experience with every bite.

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