I joined a course in Tuscany and Emilia Romagna run by Sapori & Saperi, to explore and challenge my relationship with the materials of cheese. Erica Jarman runs unique non-touristy courses aimed at cheese makers who want to learn the skills and theory of cheese making. I’m not their usual type of participant, but Eric really understood why I was there, to get hands on experience with this extraordinary living matter.
A six day course packed full of visits to small artisan cheese producers in the Tuscan mountains and on the rambling hills of Emilia Romagna.
There were eight of us on the course, and between cheese focused visits and classes we were invited to eat at the homes of the cheese producers, sampling not only their cheese but their cured meats, homemade pasta, and many other home grown/made products.
I have written about my experience as part of my material journey in Italy – CLICK HERE – Cheese.
Day 1
Caffaggio, Tuscany.
Introduction to Theory with Maria Sarnataro, master taster of cheese and wine sommelier.
Day 2
Acid coagulation with Michela Bisanzio, Le Caprine
Starters, rennet, acidification, draining and moulding
Visit goat stall
Taster lunch at Le Caprine
Gelato lesson at Cremeria Opera (50 gelato producers in Italy) near Lucca
Day 3
Simple farmhouse goat’s cheese with Vitalina Fiori
See goats
Make rennet-coagulated goat’s milk cheese
Making ricotta and visiting maturing room
Cheese and ricotta tasting
Theory – sensorial analysis with cheese and lunch with Maria
Milking, dinner and making cheese and ricotta with Marzia Ridolfi
Day 4
Cow’s milk cheese and transhumance with Daniela Pagliai
Visit the cows
Make soft and hard cheese
Visit maturing room and tasting
Pecorina with Lisa and Linda Pagliai (sisters). Making hard sheep’s cheese
Visit the fields with the animals. Their sheep are mainly indigenous Massese and French Lacaune breed
Visiting maturing room
Day 5
Visit white Modenese cows, Vie to Caseificio, Emilia Romagna
Day 6
Visit Caseificio Ca’Vecchino to watch production of Santa Rita Bio parmigiano
