I am super excited to begin my 52 week, 52 cheese deep dive into the world of my all-time favorite food. I hope by doing this I will be able to explore and appreciate lesser known types of cheese and maybe even inspire others to get off the Kraft Singles train (I’ll save that for another article).
I pretty much exactly fit the stereotype of a Wisconsin-born, beer and cheese head and I’m perfectly ok with that. I know I will learn a lot through this journey and I hope you all gain at least a little piece of my passion for cheese. Anyways, on to week 1’s cheese and a personal favorite of mine, BellaVitano!
Origins
BellaVitano cheese is a cow’s milk cheese made by the Sartori Company located in Antigo, Wisconsin. This company was founded in 1939 and is fourth-generation family owned and operated.
The BellaVitano Gold variety is the original flavor and was inspired by traditional, Italian farmstead cheese. This cheese has won several international, national, and state awards.
BellaVitano comes in a number of other varieties like Merlot and Balsamic. In fact, all the varieties are super delicious.
Taste
After opening the package, this cheese’s aroma reminds me a lot of Parmesan. It has a whitish yellow color too, but is glossier than Parmesan.
After taking the first bite, it has a similar taste to Parmesan as well but with a bit more moisture at the beginning. It ends with a dry finish.
It has a very balanced but bold flavor that is quite savory and buttery. Its texture is almost granular at times which also adds to the character. This crunchiness actually comes from calcium crystals which are formed during the aging process.
I love this cheese. It is hard to put down. You need some in your life!
Recipes
BellaVitano Gold would be great in any recipe that calls for an Italian cheese like Parmesan or Asiago. Substitute it for the Parmesan in this delicious Spaghetti Carbonara recipe to take a classic to a new level.
Pairs Well With
According to Sartori Cheese, BellaVitano Gold pairs well with these foods and beverages:
- Wine: Chianti, Light Italian Red, Port
- Beer: India Pale Ale, Sweet Cider, Dark Malty Ale
- Food: Crusty Artisan Bread, Dried Nuts, Dried Pineapple, Pears
Nutrition
Serving Size – 1 oz
Amount per Serving
Calories – 120
Total Fat – 10 g (15% DV)
Saturated Fat – 5 g (25% DV)
Sodium – 165 mg (7% DV)
Protein – 7 g
BellaVitano Gold Trivia
Bellavitano Gold has won 2 state awards, 2 national awards, and 8 international awards since 2008. Yea, it’s that good.
Go out and buy yourself some of this cheese and you’ll be happy you did. Stay tuned for next week’s cheese, baby Swiss!
BellVitano Gold is amazing. I recently purchased some from www. gourmet-food.com and I’m so happy with my purchase. I could literally eat this cheese all day.
Describe the Cabernet sauvignon version
I just discovered your site and LOVE it! A friend and I get together every few weeks and have what we like to call a “cheese day.” We even decided to keep a cheese journal. It’s nice to have found a kindred spirit in you. Since you like Bellavitano, I thought I would mention the Espresso Bellavitano we tried. It has what I think might be a fine powder of crushed espresso beans on one edge. I dislike anything coffee or even mocha flavored, but this cheese had an intriguing flavor. Absolutely wonderful!