Milk: Sheep
Country: Spain, La Mancha
Consistency: Firm
Accompaniment: Medium reds, off-dry whites
The unique shape of this traditional Spanish sheep’s milk cheese is a result of the fact that the nomadic families that traditionally would make these cheeses on their annual trek through the Spanish countryside, would be limited in what they could carry to make cheese with. In fact, the heaviest article would be salt. To separate the whey from the curds they would weave baskets from Esparto grass, with small wooden boards at the top and the bottom for putting pressure on the curds. This gives the cheese its unique shape.
Manchego received a DOP in 1985, which means that only cheese made in La Mancha with 100% with milk from the Manchega sheep, can be called Manchego.
The cheese is firm and has a spread of small holes in it. The taste is nutty, complex and slightly tangy.Our Manchego El Trigal is aged for more than 14 months and has definitely developed a grittier texture and has a fuller flavor and lingering after-taste.
A natural companion is quince paste or Membrillo.
