{"id":3310,"date":"2015-07-22T23:29:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-23T03:29:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2020-08-13T17:39:39","modified_gmt":"2020-08-13T21:39:39","slug":"how-local-cheesemakers-made-vermont","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardern.co.za\/2015\/07\/how-local-cheesemakers-made-vermont\/","title":{"rendered":"HOW VERMONT HAS BECOME THE ‘NAPA VALLEY’ OF CHEESE MAKING"},"content":{"rendered":"
The event naturally focused on cheese, but many stalls featured other artisional items from Vermont and New England ranging from bourbon and other distilled spirits, to craft beer, wine, jams and jellies and even salumi.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
For more about the cheese festival, click below: \n<\/p>\n
The landscape at Shelburne Farms doesn’t look like this by accident – we have Frederick Law Olmsted to thank. Really!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Before I go any further – I have to share with you the location of this event, for that alone is worth a post.<\/p>\n
Italy? Nope. Vermont. The gardens behind the grand home at Shelburne Farms situated on Lake Champlain take me back to\u2026Lago de Garda.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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By itself, without the lakeside and the vista, this could be located in England and not northern Vermont.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\nThe architecture perhaps even outlines the landscape vistas with buildings sand barns designed by the prominent architect Robert H. Robertson who designed the Farm Barn a Breeding Bard and a spectacular Coach Barn as well as the Shelburne house itself. This grand family residence and working farm once the home of Dr. William Seward and Lila Vanderbilt Webb (yeah, those Vandebilt’s) was renown even then for its innovative practices. The site is such as treasure, and worth visiting or dining at if you are ever in northern Vermont.<\/p>\n
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Robert Robertsons craftsmanship in design. Incredibly detailed shingle and wood craftsmanship – for a barn.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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The colors inspired me – those who know me know that I have a passion for shades of green on a house – even the Tyvek sheeting looks great on nicely designed houses until they cover it with beige clapboards. Bring back the green!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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I can imagine the main house ( which is about a half mile from this coach house) calling down for three coaches – “Quick. Three coaches to take us to Starbucks in Burlington – pronto!”<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Relaxing with a view.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Again, Italianate vision of Vermont (and New York State on the other side).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Papaver somniferous just finishing their season and developing their distinctive seed pods.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Down on the shore of Lake Champlain, a carriage path the leads on to the coach house and cheese making facilities.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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\nBACK TO THE CHEESEMAKERS FECTIVAL<\/div>\n
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This cheese festival started when Allison Hooper and Bob Reese of Vermont Creamery threw a party at Shelburne Farms, inviting their fellow cheese makers to celebrate their collective success in putting Vermont of the map as the “Napa Valley of Cheese.” Today, Vermont has more cheese makers per capita than any other state, and more than 40 of them came together at this years’ festival at Shelburne Farms.<\/p>\n
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Bread, croissants and pastry balanced out the diet.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Aged cheeses and unpasturised cheese is making an heroic comeback here in Vermont.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\nWith more than 200 cheeses that we could taste as well as purchase, as well as tons of artisan foods, local wines and Vermont-made beer and spirits, we spent many hours – I did find some favorites however. Barr Hill vodka (produced by Caledonia Spirits right on Barr Hill, in Hardwick, Vermont ) which Joe and I ‘tested’ in rather obscene volumes the night before,was just one that I enjoyed. This Vodka – well, listen – I’m one of those guys who just buys fancy Vodka believing that cheep Vodka burns ones throat? – I’m not sure if any vodka tastes any different from rubbing alcohol, but I want to “believe” that some of it does. Barr Hill Vodka was so smooth, that I first mentioned it to Joe before I knew that he spent a pretty penny on that first martini (and the second, and the third). Considering that now 8 hours later at 10 in the morning and I am sipping it once again ( hey, I was “testing” it – that’s all. And– I was on a 2 day vacation, OK?), I found that I had to buy a bottle. Thankfully, I didn’t have to – Joe already did.<\/p>\n
By noon, the event was pretty crowded and with the heat, we were starting to feel like melted cheese ourselves.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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A walk up to the sweeping lawn near the estate house provided cool breezes and a spectacular view of the lake and event tents.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n