San Joaquin Gold was originally intended to be a Fontina, but the cheesemongers of Fiscalini accidentally created a firm, cheddar-like cheese instead. It may well have been the best mistake they ever made, since this is a delicious American original filled with mild, sweet flavor and the scent of toasty, butter-glazed nuts. As it ages, the nuttiness becomes more pronounced, and the cheese develops a dark, golden hue evocative of the golden hills of the San Joaquin Valley, after which it was named. It also has a subtle but lovely sweetness and pleasing tanginess. Each wheel is aged for 12 months and imprinted with a cow-shaped stamp as its trademark identification. Buy this cheese online from Gourmet Food Store for simple delivery at the click of a button. Great for snacking on, this cheese can also be grated over soups, salads and pastas, sliced into burger toppings, or placed on a cheeseboard alongside pecans, grapes and stuffed dates. Pair with Champagne, Riesling or a sweet white wine, or an IPA, lager or Belgian-style beer. This product is a creation of Fiscalini, a farmstead near Modesto, California owned by a family of Swiss origin. Their master cheesemaker utilizes both traditional and ultramodern techniques to conjure the optimum flavors and textures from each cheese. In 2002, they won "Best Farmhouse Cheese in North America" for their Bandage Wrapped Cheddar, and they offer a rich array of other cheeses including purple-rinded wine-soaked cheddars, smoked spun Italian-style scamorzas, and malty, beer-spiked cheeses.