This Friday, Nov. 16, we will be having another exciting educational wine and cheese tasting from 3-6pm in the center of our store.

Feta may be one of the most instantly recognizable cheeses in the world, lending its salty, crumbly goodness to numerous types of dishes and cuisine. This familiarity may be in part because it’s one of the oldest cheese types, having been made in Greece and other countries for centuries. It was even mentioned in Homer’s epic “Odyssey.” Originally made with sheep’s milk, it’s also been made with a combination of goat’s and sheep’s milk, and is now made with cow’s milk in some places. Its texture and flavor vary widely depending on the region where it’s made, but it’s usually found packed in brine and has a distinct, tangy flavor. We’ll be featuring a local feta from Maplebrook Farms, which they describe as, “crafted in small batches. The 100% Vermont cow milk brings a bold creamy flavor to this cheese. The sweet flavor and smooth texture accompanied by the salty brine will have cheese critics craving more.”

Paired with this excellent feta will be a selection of Beaujolais. South of Burgundy, in the eastern part of France, Beaujolais is a region famous for its red wines made from the Gamay grape variety. This grape, which has been grown in the region since the 14^th century, is known for producing wines that are light and fruity, with floral aromas and earthy notes. Gamay is by far the dominant grape of the Beaujolais region and the wines produced there, which are primarily reds. These wines come in a few different varieties, standard Beaujolais, Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais Nouveau, and the region’s highest-quality wines, known as Beaujolais “crus.” We will be sampling four wines from the region, George Duboeuf Beaujolais, George Duboeuf Beaujolais Village, George Duboeuf Beaujolais Rose, and Domaine Dupeuble Beaujolais.  George Duboeuf calls this wine, “Deliciously fruity, clean-tasting and hearty, Beaujolais is the wine of friendship.” Visit the Co-op on Friday between 3-6pm to discover it for yourself.