St George (Matos Cheese Factory, Santa Rosa, California)

Joe and Mary Matos hail from the island of São Jorge in the Azores. The famous cheese of the same name produced on the island gave them inspiration to make their own version when they made their home in Santa Rosa in the 1970s. St George, weighing between 5–10 kg (11–22 lb) has that familiar sharp crumbly texture and taste. The Atlantic salty breezes give the definition to the flavours much like their Portuguese counterpart. This cheese always wins prizes, mainly because it has further depth to the flavours that are both rich and spicy. Match St George with local wines such as a spicy full-bodied Zinfandel red.