TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Austrian Hard Cheese Types
This Austrian hard cheese is made from raw cow's milk obtained exclusively from cows feeding on green fodder and hay. The milk must be free of any additives, which is what gives this Tyrolean cheese its distinctively intense natural flavor. Tiroler Bergkäse has a hard rind, while the paste is somewhat softer, ivory to light yellow in color and it has evenly distributed pea-sized eyes.
The flavor of this Alpine delicacy ranges from mildly aromatic to slightly piquant. It's recommended to pair it with light dry white wines.
Pair with
The Vorarlberger mountain cheese is yet another specialty originating from the Alpine Bregenz Forest which is located in Vorarlberg, Austria’s westernmost province. It is produced using centuries-old methods, made with either whole or skimmed raw cow's milk.
The cheese is aged for up to two years. Here on the lush Alpine pastures, the farmers are encouraged to keep the amount of concentrated feed at an absolute minimum, so the animals are almost entirely fed on fresh grass, herbs and hay, which provides both the milk and the Vorarlberger cheese with an intense aroma and quite a tangy flavor. Vorarlberger Bergkäse is an essential ingredient of Käsespätzle, the Austrian take on mac and cheese.
Pair with
This hard Alpine cheese is made from raw cow's milk, and has been produced in the Tyrolean Alps at least since the late Middle Ages, when cheesemaking was the only effective way to preserve the precious Alpine milk. The milk for Tiroler Alpkäse is obtained exclusively during summer from cows kept on the Tyrolean pastures where they feed on fresh grass and aromatic Alpine herbs.
Usually available from October to March, the fully ripened Alpkäse has a brownish rind, and a firm ivory to yellow paste. It is known for an intense aroma and quite a strong, spicy flavor.
Even though the basis for the production process of Vorarlberger Alpkäse was established during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), its name has been in use only since the 1700s. This Alpine cheese originates from Bregenzerwald, a forested Bregenzer Ach river basin nestled in Voralberg, Austria's westernmost region.
Produced only during summer months, Vorarlberger Alpkäse is a hard cheese made from raw milk collected from cows that graze on a variety of herbs and grass on Alpine pastures. During the ripening stage, the cheese wheels are periodically hand-rubbed with salt and aged on pine boards for three to five months.
Produced in accordance with the same time tested tradition dating back to the 14th century, Gailtaler Almkäse is a multiple award-winning hard cheese made with raw cow’s milk to which up to 10% of goat's milk can be added. The delectable Gailtal mountain cheese is produced in the Gailtal Alps during summer months and made exclusively using milk from Alpine pastures.
It is matured for at least 7 weeks and has an ivory-white to straw-yellow paste sparsely dotted with small holes. Characterized by a rich, spicy flavor, and a pleasant aroma reminiscent of mountain herbs, Gailtaler Almkäse is typically enjoyed as an appetizer, most often accompanied with charcuterie.
Lüneberg is an Austrian Alp-style cheese originating from Vorarlberg. The cheese is made from cow's milk with added saffron, giving it a yellowish color and a distinct flavor. The milk is warmed, and the curd is then cut into smaller pieces that are heated while stirring.
After the press, the cheeses are turned and taken to a cellar to mature. The rind is salted, rubbed, and washed during the maturation process. Once ripe, Lüneberg is usually described as a cross between Emmental and Limburger. When cut, it is characterized by numerous irregular eyes dispersed throughout its body.
Cave Rebel is an Austrian cheese hailing from Sulzberg, where it’s produced by Sulzberger Käserebellen Sennerei. The cheese is made from raw milk of cows that feed on a diet of dried hay, grains of corn, and herbs. Underneath its black natural rind, the texture is hard, crumbly, firm, compact, and open.
The aromas are intense and nutty, reminiscent of malt and dark caramel, while the flavors are grassy, creamy, and floral.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Austrian Hard Cheeses
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/bec44c5407e94cd89d697f502447d48c.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023, 2022
Vorarlberger Bergkäse is a product made by Dorfsennerei Schlins-Röns und Umgebung. It is a type of mountain cheese from the Vorarlberg region in Austria and is known for its robust and aromatic flavor, which develops during the aging process that exceeds 10 months.
The cheese is produced using traditional methods with raw cow's milk from local farms, contributing to its distinct character and high quality.
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/706d8efcb0874848b67db7eb90850514.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/706d8efcb0874848b67db7eb90850514.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/706d8efcb0874848b67db7eb90850514.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/706d8efcb0874848b67db7eb90850514.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021
Alma Vorarlberger Bergkäse mind. 12 Monate gereift is a cheese produced by Rupp Käseexport. This cheese is a traditional product from the Vorarlberg region in Austria. It is an alpine cheese that has been aged for a minimum of 12 months. The aging process enhances its complex flavor profile, resulting in a robust and aromatic cheese with a firm texture.
The g. U. designation indicates that it is a product with a protected designation of origin, ensuring its authenticity and regional specificity.
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/bec44c5407e94cd89d697f502447d48c.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023
![2 stars](/images/productawards/0f0ce23af0f14517afdc9d4a3a745a3d.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2022
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