A few weeks back, we headed to Prince Edward County with some friends for a week-end of relaxation, good eats, and wine country.  If you haven’t been, the County is an easy drive 2 and a half hours down the road, and really is a perfect getaway destination.  It is an absolutely beautiful region, and our trip luckily happened to fall in the height of lilac season, so the air was fresh, perfumed, and intoxicating.  After a quick stop in Picton for some of my favourite County culinary delights (Buddha Dog and butter buns from the Pastry House – 125 Main Street, Picton) we took a leisurely 20-minute drive to what turned out to be the highlight of our trip – Fifth Town Artisan Cheese.  Our knowledgable host Andrew Laliberté took our group on a guided tour of the grounds and the platinum LEED-certified facility, including the cheese cave, during which we learned all about how their artisan cheese is made.  We were all astounded by the focus on environmental and social sustainability, and how their stringent requirements for quality ingredients from healthy, well-treated animals all contribute to the incredible final product.

After our tour, we sat down with Andrew to taste some local wines with a selection of Fifth Town cheeses.  We were blown away by how delicious the cheeses were and our host’s sound knowledge in both cheese and wine meant that the wine pairings he selected were the perfect complement.  My favourites?  Lost Lake and Cape Vessey (made from goat and sheep milk, as are all of their products).  Lucky for you, Fifth Town cheeses are available in retail outlets throughout Ontario so if you don’t have the chance to visit the County (although you really should  make the time) you can still enjoy these fabulous products.  Here in Ottawa, you can find Fifth Town cheeses at The Piggy Market (400 Winston Ave in Westboro), La Bottega (Byward Market), Nicastro locations around the city, and Jacobson’s (in New Edinburgh).  Take a peek at our tasting with Andrew.