Tastings Gourmet Market & Artisanal Cheese

Stacey Zier of Tastings

As the tables taste, Vern Humble from the Wine Cellars of Annapolis pours out wines specially paired with the cheeses, telling us a little about each. What about the conventional wisdom that cheese are best paired with the wine of their region? “Oh yes, very true. They have the same nuances…the same terroir.” The goat cheese is paired with a Sancerre. The Epoisses with a Beaujolais.

The cheeses are a huge success. And there will be more evenings like this to come, promises Stacey, the owner of Tastings and a fromager. A night for cheeses from Italy, from Spain. And pairings with beers, too.

Fabulous Cheese, Every Day.

Now open six months, Tastings Gourmet Market and Artisanal Cheese Center is a shrine to the world’s great cheeses. Stacey has more than 130 artisan cheeses from the great producing countries. They rest in their case and in coolers like a carefully arranged display of jewels, each with its own sign that defines its origin, type of milk, flavor, texture, age and price.

Tamara Thompson of Tastings

All of the cheeses are artisan or artisan farmstead, meaning they are crafted on the farm with milk from the cheesemaker’s own herd — much like an “estate wine.” Eighty percent of her cheeses, she estimates, are from outside the U.S., and twenty percent are domestic. But in the years to come, she thinks the reverse will be true. “Last year at the American Cheese Society judging, we had 800 domestic artisanal cheeses to taste. That growth is phenomenal.”

Another difference? “Very few places give cheeses their proper respect,” says Stacey. “They cut them and wrap them in plastic and sit them on the shelf. Cheese is a living thing. It will suffocate. It has to be cut to order. It has to be wrapped in paper that lets it breathe. It has to be monitored.”

“Cheesemakers put so much love and passion into their art. That’s what I want to pass along. I want people to have real experience here. Some people come in and their eyes glaze over. So we start to taste. Do you like a sharp cheese? Something with some bite? Mild? Soft? Smooth? Creamy? Most people want to try something they’ve never tried before. You can taste anything!”

A Happy Pairing

Tasting Gourmet Market and Artisan Cheese Center is happily ensconced next to the well-established Wine Cellars of Annapolis — the stores open onto each other — which makes for a pleasant pairing. It’s easy to move from one to the other to consult on your purchases. Pairing is a big part of the experience. Every class, even “Cheese 101,” includes pairing tips (“think fruitier whites and reds, steer away from pronounced alcohol and tannins”).

This night, the class winds up with a Fourme d’Ambert, a “quintessential” creamy blue, paired with a Cote du Rhone with “highly expressive red berry flavors.” The evening breaks into a bit of a cocktail party; the members begin to contemplate what they will take home; how long these delicate cheeses will last, and the tips and questions begin to fly.

“Serve the cheese, don’t set it out for people to hack away at,” “Here’s how to cut the cheese...(“I already know how to do that!”) “How do I store this?” “Foil lets it breathe better than plastic.” “Goat cheese works well with lamb.” The party can shop for a bit; the stores will stay open for it. It is an adventuresome evening, and the cost of the class is $35 per person. It is the sort of evening that makes people look forward to the next.

Of course, there’s more to Tastings Gourmet Market. Butcher cuts of meat. Cured meats and pâtés, amazing chocolates. Oils and vinegars and condiments. Fresh baked baguettes.

But it’s the cheeses, really. It’s about the cheeses. Here, the cheese stands alone.

Tastings Gourmet Market
Adjacent to Wine Cellars of Annapolis
Clock Tower Plaza, 1410 Forest Drive
Annapolis, MD 21403 (410) 263-1324