Manchego 1605

About this item

Manchego has been made for thousands of years in the La Mancha region of Spain, with archaeological records of the cheese predating the time of Christ. Ancient cheesemakers would have used woven grass baskets to strain the curds, leaving a beautiful crosshatched pattern on the rind. While today’s Manchego is made using modern methods, cheesemakers still press this pattern into the rind to pay homage to the cheese’s origins. Manchego is such a cornerstone of Spanish culture that it was mentioned by name in the novel Don Quixote. Manchego 1605 is named to reference the year that Don Quixote was published. 

While there are many Manchegos on the market, we consider Manchego 1605 to be the textbook example of what this cheese should be. It's one of the few Manchegos on the market that uses raw sheep’s milk sourced from a single herd. The crosshatched rind is never waxed or painted like many commercially available Manchegos, but rather is allowed to grow natural mold that assists in proper ripening and flavor development. The result is a truly addicting cheese that has stood the test of time. 

Manchego 1605 is salty and snackable like a potato chip. The raw sheep’s milk lends a satisfying fattiness and carries notes of sweet hay and toasted almonds.  Incredibly versatile, its a classic on cheese boards and can also be shaved over salads and tapas. This is definitely a cheese where one bite isn’t enough.

Sold by: Weight.

Milk Type: Raw Manchega Sheep's Milk

Origin: La Mancha, Spain

Pairings: Basque wines, Manzanilla, membrillo paste, Marcona almonds, arugula salad.