Manchego Reserve _Aged Over 1 Year_ 1 Lb _1 Lb_

A one-year aged cheese like this is called "curado" in Spanish. This means that the cheese has got an intense personality, with a particular aftertaste that makes it different from other cheeses. Manchego is a DO, name-controlled cheese famous all over the world. In Spain it is clearly omnipresent: you can find it in bars, supermarkets, houses... Everybody loves Manchego everywhere. Try this one-year-old, and you will find out why. The secret is in the milk. Manchega sheep live in the unique climatic conditions of La Mancha, a vast plateau in the middle of Spain, with a high altitude above sea level. Their winters are cold and summers hot. The best cheese is produced when the milk is the richest, between August and December. La Mancha is divided into several provinces: Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, and Toledo. Observe that the marks on the rind honor a time when the cheese was wrapped in sheets of woven esparto grass. Shepherds are an essential part of the history of this region since always. This complex, full-flavored Manchego, is enhanced by national wines like crianzas from Rioja, Cabernet from Penedés and Somontano, and red wines from Madrid. Remember to keep it in the refrigerator for longer conservation. Wrap it in plastic film or use a cloth soaked in olive oil to cover it, as the traditional way.