by Sophia Stern
The air is cold, the days are shorter, the trees are full of beautifully colored leaves, and Rush Creek Reserve has arrived at the France 44 cheese counter. Beloved and sure to sell out, Rush Creek is the holiday cheese that should be on all of our lists. We’ve paired our most anticipated cheese of the year with a beautiful Franciacorta from Lombardy, a perfect bubbly for the holiday season.
There is no better cheese than Rush Creek to launch the first of our Holiday Pairings for 2021. A special project by the makers of Pleasant Ridge Reserve, Uplands Cheese’s Rush Creek is only available from late October until the end of the year. The annual creation of Rush Creek marks the beginning of fall, as the cheese is made just as the cows switch from grazing on summer pasture to cured hay, resulting in richer, fattier milk. Inspired by the traditions of Vacherin Mont D'Or, Rush Creek is a creamy, decadent cheese wrapped in spruce bark. The bark imparts a gentle woody flavor into the cheese, cutting through the other notes of butter, hay, and cream. Rush Creek Reserve is a thing of beauty and unlike most other cheeses you’ll find in our case.
Uplands Cheese recommend you enjoy Rush Creek with sparkling wine, and who are we to argue. This year, we’ve chosen Ca del Bosco Franciacorta 'Cuvee Prestige' for its gentle, clean sparkle and notes of strawberry and grass. Ca’ del Bosco sits at the foothills of the Alps in northern Italy and is considered the gold standard. Made with the traditional Champagne method, this wine has fine and creamy bubbles as opposed to the big and frothy bubbles one might find in a Prosecco. While mostly Chardonnay, the Cuvee Prestige is balanced with Pinot Bianco and Pinot Nero and also boasts deeper, richer flavor and texture than other Franciacortas due to its 25 month long contact with the lees. Considered the “Champagne of Italy”, this stunning, highly respected Franciacorta is a dynamic crowd pleasing bubbly. It emphasises the sweet grass notes of Rush Creek and break through the richness without overpowering the nuances of this special cheese.
We always say it, but this time we are serious: allow Rush Creek to come to room temperature before enjoying. Let it sit on your counter for six hours and slice the top off before eating with a spoon. At just under a pound, Rush Creek should be enjoyed in one sitting and with company. Pick up the first of the Holiday Pairings and invite over a few friends, or make Rush Creek the center of your party table while you serve the best of the best Franciacorta. We’ll be running this pairing until the end of the year, so from fall nights at home to the Thanksgiving table, we have you covered.
To read more about Rush Creek Reserve, check out our blog post here.