Grafton Village “Shepsog” Cave-Aged Cow & Sheep Milk Cheese (Vermont) per oz.

Grafton Village “Shepsog” — Cave-Aged Cow & Sheep Milk Cheese, Vermont

Grafton Village Cheese Company has been one of Vermont’s most celebrated artisan cheesemakers since 1892, and Shepsog is their most intriguing and complex creation. The name is a portmanteau of “sheep” and “dog” — a nod to the pastoral Vermont tradition — and the cheese itself is equally playful and multifaceted. Made from thermized cow and sheep milk and cave-aged for 5 to 7 months, Shepsog is a firm cheese of remarkable personality: it draws simultaneously on the traditions of Basque sheep cheeses, Alpine styles, aged Cheddars, and aged Goudas, yet all of these influences cohere into something entirely its own — approachable, appealing, and endlessly interesting. Priced per ounce.

The texture is firm and smooth with the density that comes from careful cave aging. The flavor is layered and complex — nutty and slightly sweet from the sheep milk, with the savory depth of Alpine cheese, a hint of Cheddar tang, and the caramel richness of aged Gouda. Multiple personalities, all of them delicious. Pair with a Chenin Blanc, a Hazy IPA, or a glass of something sparkling.

Martin Johnson, 67 Wine — “This Vermont newcomer has multiple personality disorder in the very best way. It has characteristics of Basque sheep cheeses, Alpine cheeses, Cheddars, aged Goudas and several other styles, yet all of this coheres into an approachable, appealing firm cheese.”

• Producer: Grafton Village Cheese Company, Grafton, Vermont, USA
• Founded: 1892
• Milk: Thermized cow & sheep milk
• Aging: Cave-aged 5–7 months
• Texture: Firm
• Style: Basque / Alpine / Cheddar / Aged Gouda influences
• Pricing: Per ounce
• Best Paired With: Chenin Blanc, Hazy IPA, sparkling wine, charcuterie, honey, dried fruit, crusty bread

Five to seven months in the cave, 130 years of Vermont cheesemaking tradition — Grafton’s Shepsog is the cheese with multiple personalities and zero flaws.