Cheesemaking is truly an art form and one that has been cherished here in Virginia for centuries. While you'll find plenty of local farms that make quality products, some of the best cheese in Virginia can be found inside a beautiful monastery located in Crozet. Since 1990, Monastery Country Cheese has been a welcomed addition to any table. Crafted with fine ingredients and time-honed tradition, this dairy product is one you'll want to sample.
In 1990, Our Lady of the Angels Monastery began cheese-making as a way to financially support its mission and work.
The monastery is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it happens to be the youngest house of the Cistercian Order in the U.S.
The monastery specializes in Monastery Country Cheese, which is a mild Dutch-style Gouda that is served in two-pound wheels.
Every few weeks, the nuns take turns working shifts of 13 hours to create the most delicious, handmade cheese.
When it comes to this special cheese, quality is key. Each batch begins with fresh whole-milk produced from grass-fed cows.
Next, using techniques developed in the Netherlands, the delicious taste and health benefits of the whole milk are captured into each individual cheese wheel.
The cheese culture is shipped from Wisconsin, and the milk is pasteurized.
The cheese is a highly sought-after gift, especially during the holiday season. And it's no mystery why!
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During the months of November and December, thousands of red cheese wheels are shipped all over the country.
So the next time you're looking for a special gift, and one that supports Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, you might consider ordering this one-of-a-kind cheese.
Watch this brief video about the cheese-making process at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery. For more information, including ways to have cheese shipped directly to you, you can visit the official website here. Have you ever sampled the delicious cheese from Our Lady of the Angels Monastery? Do you agree that it's some of the best cheese in Virginia? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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