Willi Schmid – ”The cheese whisperer”
Bergfichte, king among spruce bark cheeses, from Rolf Beeler Selection produced by Willi Schmid in Lichtensteig, St. Gallen. Another one of the absolute finest creations from Willi’s treasure trove, an example of the creativity and sense of quality that Willi is so famous for.
Willi on his Bergfichte: “Soft, velvety cheese mass. Slightly tangy in smell, strong and beautiful resinous aromas. Still slightly liquid. Bound in fresh spruce bark, which gives the cheese its beautiful resinous aromas and a light reddish coloring. Made from unpasteurized milk from Swiss brown/Braunvieh.”
The unpasteurized milk is the gold in Willi Schmid’s world, good fat and protein create an excellent aroma. “Cheese making is primarily a sensory thing,” says Willi. You need a good sense of smell and a feel for how the aromas develop in a cheese. “It’s a natural product, and it won’t be the same every time.” Listening carefully to Willi, one thing becomes clear: It takes a universal understanding of nature to become a genius of this kind. Willi Schmid combines everything: the cycle of life, the seasons of the meadows, aromas, animals, humility, and love. He is a natural cheese maker in every sense.
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