Say Holiday Cheese
BellaVitano is a unique, creamy, fruity cheese that finishes with a sweet, tangy bite and pairs well with other flavors. Sartori cheesemakers soak and hand-rub the rind of BellaVitano Gold with unique spices and liquids, like hand crushed black peppercorn, aged European balsamic vinegar, merlot wine and roasted espresso beans (to name a few). These treatments add an additional layer of complexity to the base flavor of the BellaVitano Gold cheese.
Cognac BellaVitano itself is extra aged; it matures for at least 18 months. After the aging process, it is submerged in a premium Cognac and is only removed when Sartori cheesemakers believe it is just right. The end-result is unique and complex celebration of smoky, nutty, oaky flavors with toasted notes of vanilla and caramel from the Cognac. Each finished wheel will be hand signed and numbered by master cheesemaker Mike Matucheski.
Sartori will also unveil the company’s very first two 20lb wheels, hand signed by master cheesemakers at Sartori to be sold at auction via eBay. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to local food banks. Jim Sartori, CEO, sums up the decision to donate best: "This is a challenging time of year for some members of our community. We will be donating 100% of the proceeds to the food banks to help out families in need. The Cognac wheels at auction are wheels #1 and #2, and we are only selling 20 wheels this entire holiday season. We expect the auction to be very successful." The auction for wheel #1 will begin Monday, November 21, and Wheel #2 will go up November 26--with each auction running 10 days.
Sartori will sell the remaining wheels more conventionally by partnering with a very limited number of specialty retailers. The Cognac BellaVitano will carry a $75 per pound suggested retail price. Additionally, a limited supply of 4oz wedges will also be available for sale on the company website, www.sartoricheese.com. This will give people who do not live within driving distance of a retailer carrying the item the opportunity to buy and share this unique cheese.
From the November 22, 2011, Prepared Foods’ Daily News
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