For the next two weeks in our pairing series, we’ll focus our attention on cheeses produced at a small dairy in southern Germany, called Hofkäserei Kraus. It is here, in the southern Bavarian Alps, just north of the Austrian border, where Albert Kraus produces his innovative cheeses that taste delicious and differentiate themselves from traditional regional norms. In 2018, Albert completed construction of a new, state of the art production facility designed to increase production capacity of his cheeses, and also provide space for experimentation and future partnerships. Albert’s goal is to inspire the market with cheese that stands out from others in both flavor and form. This week we’re highlighting his first major success, Alex. Named after a local rail route, and inspired by traditional European mountain cheeses, but with new twists, Alex has made a splash within the cheese world. With milk from select surrounding farms, including his older brother’s, Albert turns raw milk from Braunvieh cows into his own version of a classic. Sweet and creamy, with a meaty bite and flavors of deep butterfat and composted hay, we found Alex to pair beautifully with a German Rosé from the Pfalz, a wine-growing region just a few hours to the north. Von Winning Winery’s Pinot Noir Rosé presents a crisp acidity, with complimentary mineral notes, and a mouthful of ripe raspberry, melon and vanilla. A slight sparkle and subtle tannins within the wine both balance the cheese’s richness and efficiently soothe the palate.