South Cape Blue Cheese

Time for a change of pace - where previous cheeses are more the artisan type that can be a bit difficult to find, this next offering is much more readily available and found in most supermarkets. Produced by National Foods, this is South Cape Blue Cheese.


You can't miss it's distinctive blue wrapper - it's packaged as a 150 gram rectangle.


There's a slightly sticky rind on two of the long edges as well as the top and bottom, the cheese itself has a slightly mottled toning, moving from pale to dark cream.


I was actually quite surprised and pleased by the depth and variety of moulding, from crevices to deep dark holes. For something that is so commercial, it is good to see that they are trying to offer something with some character.


Tastewise, it is surprising good - it has bite coupled with creaminess and just enough saltiness to accentuate the flavour.

Red Hill Portsea Picnic

This is the goat milk version of Sorrento Picnic


Cheese Maker: Red Hill Cheese
Cheese: Portsea Picnic
Location: 81 William Road (Off Arthurs Seat Road), Red Hill
Cellar Door: Open weekends & public holidays Noon-5pm (except Christmas, Boxing Day & Good Friday)

While it may be shaped exactly like the Sorrento Picnic, once unwrapped the differences become more obvious


That white to beige rind carries a saffron hue that's slightly sticky in parts.


Once cut we observe a much paler coloured cheese. The taste is fresh with a slight tang, reminiscent of a mild cheddar. When we sampled the portsea and sorrento together on the cheese platter, we thought that this Portsea was the better of the two.

Red Hill Fingal Gold

I must preface this post by saying that at the moment, there isn't much stock available when in comes to washed rinds.



Cheese Maker: Red Hill Cheese
Cheese: Fingal Gold
Location: 81 William Road (Off Arthurs Seat Road), Red Hill
Cellar Door: Open weekends & public holidays Noon-5pm (except Christmas, Boxing Day & Good Friday)

There must be something about using gold wrappers when it comes to washed rind - discovery scrubbed brie and goldenbelle both utilise similar wrappings. Regardless of choice, there's always something wonderful about unwrapping a cheese like this, it's your nose that gets the first indication of what is in store.


The skin is a little fairer in colour compared to others but this is also a while off from reaching full maturation (use by date is september!)


This hasn't been out of the fridge for very long so it's a lot firmer than I would expect.


With aging you'll see that softening around the edges continue to move towards the center.



At the moment, it's quite mild in flavour but still has a lovely creaminess in the mouth.