Available starting mid-April
At Jessup Cellars, wine is never just about what’s in the glass. It’s about how flavors come together, and who you share them with. We’re pleased to introduce our newest Wine & Cheese Pairing Menu, created in collaboration with Fiscalini Farmstead, a fourth-generation family cheesemaker rooted in Modesto, California.
The Fiscalini family established their dairy in 1914, founded by a Swiss immigrant who settled in California’s Central Valley. The creamery didn’t begin making cheese until 2000, when the Fiscalini family learned that their ancestors had made cheese in Switzerland and decided to follow that tradition again. The results were immediate: in 2001, their signature San Joaquin Gold won a gold medal in the first competition they ever entered, and in 2007, their bandage-wrapped cheddar was named Best Cheddar in the World in London.
Their cheeses are handcrafted from raw cow’s milk using traditional methods, with each variety reflecting generations of craft. They are a natural partner for our small-production Napa Valley wines.
The Menu
We’ve curated five pairings that highlight balance, texture, and the way each element brings out the best in the other.
Sauvignon Blanc & San Joaquin Gold
San Joaquin Gold is an Italian-style semi-hard cheese, an original recipe made only at Fiscalini Farmstead, aged a minimum of 12 months with a tawny buttery color and a nutty, mellow character that deepens over time.
- Sauvignon Blanc’s bright citrus and herbal notes cut cleanly through the cheese’s rich, nutty creaminess, refreshing the palate between bites.
- The wine’s tropical and stone-fruit tones mirror the cheese’s mild sweetness and toasted hazelnut finish, creating a harmonious, lingering pairing.
Pinot Noir & Smokey Cheddar
Fiscalini’s Smokey Cheddar carries deep woodsmoke character built on their classic cheddar foundation.
- The cheddar’s woodsmoke echoes Pinot Noir’s earthy forest floor and wild-berry notes, adding layers of complexity to both wine and cheese.
- Pinot Noir’s vibrant acidity cuts through the smoky richness, keeping the pairing bright and balanced without either element overwhelming the palate.
Zinfandel & Lionza
Lionza is a Swiss Alpine-style cheese named after the tiny village in the Swiss Alps the Fiscalini family called home for more than 300 years. Aged a minimum of six months, it carries complex flavors ranging from nutty and fruity to tangy and herbal, with a semi-soft, springy texture.
- Lionza’s washed-rind earthiness and mushroomy undertones create a compelling counterpoint to Zinfandel’s bold blackberry fruit and cracked pepper spice.
- The cheese’s supple, yielding interior tempers Zinfandel’s higher alcohol and spicy finish, rounding the pairing into something cohesive and satisfying.
Merlot & Truffle
Fiscalini’s Truffle cheese layers earthy truffle character into a creamy, bright cheddar base.
- Truffle’s rich umami and foresty aromatics echo Merlot’s plum, dark cherry, and cocoa tones, building an indulgent and elegantly layered experience.
- The truffle’s inherent oiliness and creamy base help smooth Merlot’s gentle tannins, letting the wine’s ripe fruit come through more gracefully.
Cabernet Sauvignon & Old World Cheddar
Old World Aged Cheddar is Fiscalini’s most popular and highly awarded cheese, made in the traditional English style, aged a minimum of 14 months in cheesecloth-wrapped 60-pound wheels. It is firm yet crumbly, with a robust, buttery taste and a nutty, slightly smoky, earthy finish.
- The cheddar’s sharp, crystalline complexity and caramel depth stand alongside Cabernet’s dark fruit, cedar, and firm tannin structure, a pairing of genuine equals.
- The aged cheddar’s protein binds with Cabernet’s tannins to soften the mouthfeel, while its natural saltiness draws out the wine’s cassis-driven fruit.
This pairing menu is a celebration of two crafts rooted in family, place, and intention. Fiscalini’s handcrafted cheeses and Jessup’s small-production Napa Valley wines share a commitment to quality that shows in every bite and every sip.
We invite you to stop by the tasting room, take your time with each combination, and discover how beautifully wine and cheese can elevate one another.
Reserve your tasting and join us for this new pairing experience at Jessup Cellars.