Long summer days are perfect for having a picnic and a picnic is perfect for enjoying Wisconsin Cheese! To continue our celebration of June Dairy Month, we’re giving away three wine & cheese picnic sets, equipped with cutting board, knives and wine key.

How to Enter:

Answer the question – What is your favorite Wisconsin Cheese pairing? Perhaps Cheddar and a pale ale? A crisp pinot gris and Feta? Or maybe even Muenster, apples and whole-grain crackers? (Need some help? Cheese Cupid can be your matchmaker online or on your iPhone.)

Leave a comment on this blog post about your favorite Wisconsin Cheese pairing.

• Three entries will be chosen at random.
• Contest ends Friday, June 18 at 5 p.m. EST.
• Winners will be notified by email.
• One entry per household. US only.

The New Year has officially begun. Resolutions are top of mind. Promise of good fortune is ringing throughout ears.

Start off the year on the right note, with this week’s Wisconsin Cheese Cupid pairing, Anchor Porter, by Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco, California.

Anchor Porter is a dark brew made with specially roasted dark malts and top-fermenting yeast. This porter is medium-bodied, highly hopped, and has a thick, creamy head. It has notes of chocolate and coffee. Pair this beer with strong, bold-flavored cheeses. Try Burnett Dairy Cooperative Alpha’s Northwoods Aged Cheddar, Chalet Cheese Cooperative Limburger, or Holland’s Family Farm Marieke Italian Herb Gouda.

Cheddar is a rich cheese that becomes sharp and assertive with age. Burnett Dairy Cooperative Alpha’s Northwoods Aged Cheddar is a full-bodied yellow Cheddar that is naturally aged. It is a delicious snacking and serving Cheddar.

Limburger is often known as “stinky” cheese for its pungent aroma and strong taste. It was originally produced in Belgium, but is now associated with German origins. Chalet Cheese Cooperative in Monroe, Wisconsin is the last producer in the United States of Limburger. Chalet’s Limburger is buttery, and varies with age. When young, it is crumbly and Feta-like. At two months the cheese is smooth, creamy, and sweet. Aged, Limburger is intense and musky.

Holland’s Family Farm Marieke Italian Herb Gouda is a flavored, specialty Gouda from Holland’s Family Cheese in Thorp, Wisconsin. Made with whole milk, rich, smooth and creamy, Gouda is known as a “sweet curd cheese.” Gouda develops more complex caramel flavors and a firmer texture when aged.

It’s mid-November. Beloved Oktoberfest celebrations have come and gone. There’s a crisp breeze felt throughout, at least half of, the country. This can only mean one thing. America’s full-bellied, warm-hearted, turkey-loving holiday is almost here. Thanksgiving.

The season of giving has begun. In spirit of the season, why not share a bright chardonnay and Wisconsin Cheese pairing with family and friends?

The first Wisconsin Cheese Cupid “Pairing of the Week” is a 2006 Pouilly-Fuissé from Daniel et Martine Barraud in Burgundy, France. This chardonnay is 100 percent organic, from grapes harvested by hand and bottled without filtration. This vintage is bright yellow, with a full body and firm acidity. It has notes of pear, tangerine and lemon. Pair it with soft cheeses known for their mild flavor and high moisture content, or semi-soft cheeses known for their melt-in-your-mouth texture. Try this wine with BelGioioso Fresh Mozzarella, Roth Käse MezzaLuna Fontina or Edelweiss Creamery Butterkäse.

BelGioioso Fresh Mozzarella is a soft cheese, with a delicate flavor and texture. It is made from cow’s milk by kneading and stretching the curds. This cheese is not cured or aged, and is kept fresh by being submerged in water. It goes well with bread, in salads and in baked dishes.

Roth Käse MezzaLuna Fontina is a semi-soft, Italian Alpine-style cheese, ideal for melting and blending. It has a meaty flavor with a hint of mushroom. It is delicious with poultry, pastas, seafood and mushroom dishes.

Butterkäse is a semi-soft cheese of German origin, literally meaning “butter cheese.” Edelweiss Creamery Butterkäse is pale yellow, mild, creamy and delicate. Try it with cured meats, fruit and bread.