• 2.2 lb half wheel of Manchego cheese
• Young and semi-mild, aged for 3 months
• Artisan family made

If you are a Manchego connoisseur, we think you will find this stately cheese is quite remarkable. Rich, a little sharp, smooth yet full flavored. It is hand fashioned from the raw milk of the Manchega sheep. (more info)

• 2.2 lb half wheel of Manchego cheese
• Young and semi-mild, aged for 3 months
• Artisan family made

If you are a Manchego connoisseur, we think you will find this stately cheese is quite remarkable. Rich, a little sharp, smooth yet full flavored. It is hand fashioned from the raw milk of the Manchega sheep.

We asked one of the friends of the cheese makers to provide a little background of the Carpuela family, who have been making this signature cheese of Spain for more than 100 years. You will be very pleased with the cheese, and hope you find this information enjoyable, as well.

Carpuela Cheese is authentic artisan Manchego made with ewe’s milk from the Land of “Don Quixote”. Manchego is the most popular cheese in Spain! The Carpuela family has over a century of experience in producing authentic D.O. Manchego cheese with raw milk. The know-how and skills have passed on from generation to generation without losing its identity.

The raw material is pure and characteristic raw ewe’s milk from our herd of Manchego cheese, born and bred in the typically extreme climate of La Mancha. This is a semi-cured Manchego with refined aroma, mild and authentic flavor and a pleasant after taste. It has received a silver medal at the World Cheese Awards 2008.

Back in the 19th century there was a villager from a place in La Mancha who, for two reasons, gradually made a name for himself in his little village: firstly, he was a gifted storyteller with an endless talent for fantastically irresistible tales and, secondly, he made the best of cheeses with a wondrously appealing flavor.

His name was Bernardo. He was very sociable, knew all the children and elders and always shared with all of them a few of his words and tales, real and imaginary. Bernardo fed hopes and imagination as well as stomachs and palates.

One day, someone from the village compared him to Bernardo del Carpio, a legendary figure from the Spanish Middle Ages, who boasted many achievements and in subsequent centuries served as an inspiration in plays, theatre, novels and epic poems. Through word of mouth Bernardo soon became known as Bernardo Carpuela and through force of use and popularity his friends, fellow workers and clients all ended up calling him Bernardo Carpuela. And soon, those wonderful cheeses that Bernardo made with such care and craftsmanship became known by the same name: Carpuela Cheeses.

To this day the eldest members of the village remember eating a piece of cheese when they were but children in the shade of the old clay house, savoring every crumb in the reassuring presence of the words and stories of Carpuela, Grandfather Carpuela. To this day when children try Carpuela cheese there are those who recall that famous tradition of cheese making wisdom which has been passed down word for word from generation to generation until the present day. (close)