CASTELMAGNO DOP — TO BLUE OR NOT TO BLUE, THAT IS THE QUESTION

Piedmontese Castelmagno DOP cheese is named after the commune of the same name in the province of Cuneo and is known in this region as The King of Cheeses.

Our Castelmagno DOP (currently only available at Dante & C.ª in Alvalade) is produced in the small town of Scarnafigi, a commune with around 2,000 inhabitants famous for its cheesemaking artistry. It is a semi-hard cheese, made from raw cow's milk, to which a portion of goat's and/or sheep's milk (between 5% and 20%) may be added. It stands out in the blue cheese clan, not only for its long history, the earliest documented record of which dates back to 1277, but also for its production process. Unlike the overwhelming majority of cheeses with blue (sometimes greenish) veins, Castelmagno is not inoculated with Penicillium mold. As with French Bleu de Termignon, its "blue blood" forms naturally, in this case during the aging process — no less than three months — thanks to the natural presence of fungi in the caves where it rests. For the same reason, cheesemakers have little influence over the appearance and predominance of this marbling: as the aging time progresses, this blue marbling can appear faintly, take over a large part of its paste, or remain practically non-existent.

Castelmagno DOP di Montagna — identified by the blue label — is produced year-round, has a shorter aging period, and a more delicate flavor than Castelmagno d'Alpeggio (whose label is green). The grayish rind hides a grainy, straw-yellow paste. With good aromatic intensity, as maturation progresses, notes of dried fruit, mushrooms, and truffle can be identified in the flavor.

It is featured in several typical Piedmontese dishes such as Fonduta Piemontese, Gnocchi al Castelmagno, or the famous Agnolotti del Plin. It is also used in risottos — for example, Risotto alla zucca.

Also try it with fruit jam or honey, or on its own, accompanied by the region's main wines, such as the red Langhe Nebbiolo DOC and Barbaresco DOCG or the white Roero Arneis DOCG.