We are thrilled to share the story of our partnership with Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co., a women-owned cheese company run by three sisters: Jill, Diana, and Lynn. In honor of this special month, and our passion for highlighting women-owned and operated businesses, we have exchanged products to find the most delicious cheese and wine pairings across our two companies.
3 Sisters, One Dream
Growing up on a dairy farm, the Giacomini sisters never would have guessed that they would one day be running their own cheese company. But in the late 1990s, when their parents – who had purchased the 720-acre dairy farm on Tomales Bay in 1959 – were contemplating retirement, they found themselves back on the farm and ready to take on a new challenge fulfilling their father’s true dream: making cheese from the Giacomini milk.
Despite having no prior experience in the specialty food industry, the sisters worked tirelessly to learn about cheesemaking, distribution, and marketing. They spent 18 months preparing before they even made their first batch of Original Blue cheese. And while that was the only cheese they sold for the first nine years, it became a huge hit that helped put Point Reyes Cheese Co. on the map.
Jill, Lynn, and Diana are the driving force behind Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. Each sister brings a unique set of skills to the business – Jill Giacomini-Basch is the chief marketing officer; Lynn Giacomini-Stray works as the chief operating officer; and Diana Giacomini-Hagan is the chief financial officer. As a result of their dedication, they have created a successful company that has won numerous awards and recognition for their delicious cheeses – they just scored seven medals at the prestigious World Cheese Awards.
Their ethos is centered around community, and the sisters have made a point of supporting other women entering the business. Today, they are proud to be a 100% women-owned and operated business, and as of 2020, over 65% of the company’s employees were women. In addition, they are also focused on the goal of preserving the land through creating delicious, sustainability-friendly cheeses.
Women-Owned Wine and Cheese Unite
We believe that wine and cheese are a perfect match, and we were excited to find the most delicious pairings with our McBride Sisters Collection Reserve Wines and Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. Our Head Winemaker, Amy Butler, was thrilled to participate in a wine and cheese tasting experience, and shared her favorite pairings.
Bay Blue: With a salted caramel finish, Amy's new favorite cheese, Bay Blue, is a rustic-style blue cheese that pairs perfectly with our McBride Sisters Collection Reserve White wine blend, "Abalone or Paua."
“I love a white wine - particularly this white wine, with its floral and stone fruit aromas and flavors - with a sharp cheese like this one. I feel that the fruitiness of the wine really complements the salty, earthy, pungent notes of the cheese.”
Original Blue: An award winner and favorite among foodies and chefs alike, Original Blue is The Golden State’s only classic-style blue cheese. For a classic pairing, Amy recommends pairing our McBride Sisters Collection Reserve "Cocky Motherf*cker"Pinot Noir.
“The wine's bright red fruit - like Luxardo cherry and fresh raspberry - really struck an amazing balance with the tart, earthy, and almost spicy character of the cheese.”
Quinta: Amy describes this silky-smooth Quinta as possibly the best cheese ever (she’s allowed to have more than one favorite!) and recommends pairing it with our McBride Sisters Collection Reserve Chardonnay "The Great Escape."
“I love the bay leaf, the spruce bark, and the sort of ritual of removing the top rind to get at the buttery goodness within. Kind of like pulling the cork on a long-anticipated bottle of wine. I loved, loved, loved this cheese with our McBride Sisters Collection Reserve Chardonnay "The Great Escape." I even wanted more: Quinta with quince or apricot jam, Quinta with roasted almonds, Quinta served warm and en croute like a brie...But always with the Chardonnay.”
Toma: Meaning in Italian, “wheel of cheese made by the farmer herself,” the Toma is a versatile cheese that can be paired with many wines. Amy loved this cheese and recommends pairing the original Toma with our McBride Sisters Collection Reserve "Cocky Motherf*cker"Pinot Noir.
Toma: Meaning in Italian, “wheel of cheese made by the farmer herself,” the Toma is a versatile cheese that can be paired with many wines. Amy loved this cheese and recommends pairing the original Toma with our McBride Sisters Collection Reserve "Cocky Motherf*cker"Pinot Noir.
“It was funny how the flavors added to the Toma to create TomaProvence and TomaRashi really changed the way the cheese played with wine. I wanted red with the original Toma, and our McBride Sisters Collection Reserve Pinot Noir "Cocky Motherf*cker" fit the bill perfectly, balanced on the edge of super-fruity and a little bit earthy. I feel like this is a cheese that really shows its terroir, just like the best Pinot Noirs do.”
TomaProvence: Full of savory Mediterranean herbs, Amy recommends our McBride Sisters Collection Reserve "Cocky Motherf*cker"Pinot Noir for a suitable pairing. For the ideal pairing, she says to sip with McBride Sisters Collection Reserve "Abalone or Paua."
“The flavors of Southern France (rosemary, thyme, savory) deserve the flavors of Southern France (Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier). I think the McBride Sisters Collection "Abalone or Paua" is a perfect pairing here.”
TomaRashi: This delicious cheese brings the heat with an addictive Japanese spice blend. Its slow burn made Amy turn to our McBride Sisters Collection Reserve Chardonnay "The Great Escape."
“I wanted Riesling, or a sparkler. From the Reserves, I would drink McBride Sisters Collection Reserve ‘The Great Escape’ Chardonnay with it, probably because it has enough bright acidity to stand up to the spice.”
TomaTruffle: Infused with black truffles from Umbria, Amy recommends pairing the TomaTruffle with our McBride Sisters Collection Reserve "Cocky Motherf*cker"Pinot Noir for a truly indulgent match.
“The truffle flavor is not subtle, and brings out the earthiness in the wine.”
Gouda: While Amy says this cheese is delicious, she recommends pairing this hand-crafted aged Gouda with a sessionable beer.
“One person in our group loved it with the Pinot Noir - the rest of us wanted a beer immediately. A nice sessionable beer with a creamy head and plenty of malt to balance the considerable hop flavor. Sometimes I just can't stay in my lane.”
The Spreads: Amy was delighted by the combination of the Blue Date Spread and our McBride Sisters Collection Reserve "Cocky Motherf*cker"Pinot Noir. The Pimento Cheese Spread was mind-blowing on its own, but could pair well with our white blend McBride Sisters Collection Reserve "Abalone or Paua."
“I also really really liked it [The Blue Date Spread] with both of the white Reserves, and with those I wanted a walnut levain toast to spread it on.
The Pimento Cheese Spread - do we even need wine? I could eat a bathtub of this in one sitting. It really does invite a refreshing white though, and for that purpose I would recommend the McBride Sisters Collection ‘Abalone or Paua’."
Our partnership with Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. was a natural fit. As women-owned businesses, we both share a commitment to uplifting women in business and creating exceptional products that reflect our unique terroirs. Our McBride Sisters Reserve Wines and Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. cheeses are both made with the utmost care, and we hope you enjoy trying out some of these delicious pairings in honor of International Women's Month.
