Meadow Creek Dairy - Virginia

Meadow Creek Grayson Cheese is back at our Forsyth Location - come in for a taste

Meadow Creek Dairy is a family farm in the mountains of southwest Virginia. At an elevation of 2800ft, the combination of pure water, clean air and deep soils produce an ideal environment for growing diverse, mineral-rich pastures. We have worked closely with our Jersey herd to give them the best care, develop the genetics best adapted to our farm, and in the process produce the highest quality milk.

We practice sustainable farming methods, managing the land and cattle for health rather than high production. Our primary tool to achieve this goal is intensive grazing management. This involves giving our cattle fresh grass every day; they are not allowed back on the pasture already grazed, allowing the grass to regrow and preventing overgrazing. We use no herbicides or pesticides on our land. Our only crop is grass. We are therefore able to provide excellent nutrition for the dairy herd while improving the health and fertility of our land.

Meadow Creek Dairy Grayson Cheese
Named after the county we live in, Grayson was originally inspired by our visit to Wales and Ireland in 2000. As soon as we made the Grayson, we realized how deeply suitable a washed rind style was to our rich seasonal milk – and how key the affinage was to its unique flavor. It took years of trial and error, several more trips to Europe, and the building of a new cellar before the Grayson came fully into its own, but the result has been more than worth it: a cheese that both complements our milk and reflects the terroir of our cellars.
Tasting Notes: Made as a square wheel, Surface ripened at least sixty days in our cellar, Grayson finishes with a reddish-orange rind and a golden paste. The texture is supple and fudgy, becoming silky as it warms; the rich, beefy paste is slightly sweet, with grassy or nutty notes and a solid earthy undertone.
Related Cheeses: Livarot, Taleggio, Reblochon
Serving Suggestions: Grayson is a very flavorful cheese which stands well on its own but is also excellent with bread or dried fruit. It pairs well with a full bodied white and is assertive enough for a medium red, but we feel Grayson is at its most excellent served with beer.