Who doesn’t love cheese?
Only two people in this world have a right not to enjoy cheese; vegans and people with lactose intolerance. But, there’s vegan cheese and I’ve never met a lactose-intolerant person who didn’t constantly push their limits with cheese.
I even had to fight my husband, who is lactose intolerant, off of my Cheese of the Month Club subscription box.
I’ve always wanted to sign up for a Cheese of the Month subscription box, but I have yet to find anything affordable or available in my area. I love the idea of a Cheese of the Month Club subscription box because it’s a great way to explore the world of cheese and learn all about the different types of cheeses out there.
Plus, I get to enjoy delicious cheese in my home without traveling to some fancy cheese shop, struggling to pronounce the names, and sounding like an idiot in front of the cheese shop owner.
One day I was scrolling through Facebook and saw an ad for the Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club. I was so impatient while I waited for this box to get delivered. Never have I signed up for anything faster than I did this subscription.
All week long, while I waited for this box to get delivered come up I thought about all of the exciting Adventures my mouth would go on as I tasted the cheese in this box. I love the idea of having a variety of cheeses to try from different parts of the world while also learning about the different methods used to make cheeses.
Please join me as we discover what’s inside my first Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club subscription box. I’m so excited to go on this adventure with you! Keep reading this Cheese of the Month Club review for more!
TL;DR: You’re probably reading this section because you’re wondering if you need to sign up for a gourmet cheese subscription box. You need this. There is no question about it.
Savor traditionally made cheeses from around the world with The Original Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club. 
What Is The Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club?
The Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club is a monthly cheese subscription that has been in business since 1994.
Incredibly, they’ve been in business so long, mainly because subscription boxes have only taken off in popularity in the last ten years.
This subscription box focuses on delivering three different handcrafted artisan and Farmhouse cheeses to their subscription members. All the cheeses are made from high-quality pure and natural ingredients, so you can be sure you aren’t getting any filler or low-quality ingredients in your order.
Inside each month’s box, you’ll receive three traditionally made kinds of cheese totaling around one and a half pounds each. Each cheese has been expertly selected from around the entire world. In addition, you’ll also receive a monthly newsletter that contains detailed tasting notes, which I love. I enjoyed the tasting notes I received with my order because they allowed me to have a whole new elevated experience with cheeses I’ve never had before.
This newsletter also highlights the cheese maker’s histories and serving suggestions. So, with the cheeses that I received inside my Gourmet Cheese of the Month club, I was able to taste them by themselves and pair them properly. It was like two completely unique experiences, all for one price.
The cheese received in your subscription is freshly cut to order from either a block or wheel of cheese the same day it’s shipped. So you’re getting fresh-off-the-block cheese, which, again, is incredible. I had just learned about this after I received my order.
Subscription Options
The Gourmet Cheese of the Month club offers two subscription options. Here’s a closer look at the two options available for subscribers:
The Original Gourmet Cheese Club – $43.95
This is the most popular subscription option available. Inside this subscription, you’ll get access to Farmhouse and artisanal cheeses from around the world, with one and a half pounds of cheese delivered inside each shipment. Some of the cheeses you’ll receive inside your box are award-winning, which is incredible. This is a subscription that I received, so I’ll go into further detail about this later.
The Rare Cheese Club – $59.95
Subscribers for the Rare Cheese Club will receive three small-batch artisanal kinds of cheese. Some of the cheeses you receive inside the subscription contain rare ingredients, hence the name of the subscription. The three pieces of cheese that subscribers receive inside of the subscription in total are out to around 1 and 1/2 lb of cheese.
All the cheese featured in this subscription is extremely limited in production and is hand-cut. There are traditionally age-old recipes used to create these cheeses, so some of the cheeses you will receive in this subscription have only been made in very select locations around the world. You’re getting elite cheese, which is so cool.
Even better, many kinds of cheese are made from rare and expensive milk. So, there’s a whole lot of Rarity offered in this subscription. Plus, it’s not that much more expensive than the lower tier (e.g. it’s worth the upgrade if you can swing it).
Savor traditionally made cheeses from around the world with The Original Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club.
My Ordering Experience
The ordering experience was as easy as it could possibly be. All I had to do was choose between the two subscription options and add in my payment information and The subscription is sent out at the same time every month, so I don’t have to worry about signing up for another month.
Unboxing My Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club
My Gourmet Cheese of the Month club came just a couple of days after I signed up for my subscription. There was no way that I could miss what this box was because the entire outside was printed and super cute. It was clear to all of my neighbors that I ordered a cheese box, and I’ll have no shame knowing my entire neighborhood knows I’m a cheese fanatic.
The only bad thing that I noticed about my box was that the side wall was damaged. As you can see per the picture I’ve included, I was able to see the inside of my order before I opened up my box myself yet. My only concern about this is messing with the integrity of the cooling packs. However, I ordered this box when it was still cold outside, so I wasn’t worried about the cheeses getting too warm.
As soon as I opened up my box, I had two pieces of paper that detailed the cheese’s tastings and cheesemaker histories and even answered some commonly asked questions. However, I didn’t pay any attention to these pieces of paper because I was too excited to see my cheese selections.
The Grand Reveal
All of the cheeses were wrapped in a silver bubble mailer with insulation. Inside the mailer was cool packs and my cheese. My cheese was wrapped in a giant plastic bag, and each of the cheeses was individually wrapped in a type of wax paper. Everything was still cool, and there was no damage to any of my cheese, so I’m not upset that they’re being damaged in my cardboard box. I know that this is something that likely happened during shipping.
The cheese I received was:
- Mobay
- Rustico Red Pepper
- Selvatico
Taste Testing
Rustico Red Pepper
Rustico Red Pepper was the first cheese that I tried. This was in the shape of a wedge and had gorgeous red pepper flakes sprinkled throughout the cheese. Upon reading the paper I received in my box, I learned that Rustica red pepper is a relatively new cheese.
This Rustica red pepper is a flavor variation of a basic Italian cheese that is simple. Apparently, a tradition of adding ingredients and spices to Fresh cheese became really popular in the late 1890s.
With this cheese, red pepper is added to Cacio de Roma, a young pecorino cheese. This is a creamy (and I mean creamy) Cheese made from 100% sheep’s milk outside of Rome.
I learned that the semi-soft cheese is a classic table cheese, aged inside a wood cellar for a month. After the cheese has taken shape, it’s bathed in sea salt for 24 hours before the aging process begins. This cheese is softer than muenster but creamier than any cheese I’ve had. I would compare the creaminess of the cheese to that of brie.
I will admit, I wasn’t anticipating there to be a bite of spiciness with this cheese. The spice wasn’t overwhelming at all, and you’ll likely know what I’m talking about if you’ve ever had red pepper flakes. however, any potential of my tongue burning from the red pepper flakes was quickly taken over by the creaminess and softness of the base cheese. But that was the first flavor that hit my mouth when I took a bite.
The Gourmet Cheese of the Month club recommends melting this cheese and pairing it with polenta or a panini. There’s also a recommendation for adding this cheese onto a cheeseboard and cubing it or setting it up with toothpicks. I love this cheese so much that I didn’t pair it with anything.
Mobay
It was exciting to eat cheese from the United States in this subscription. I wasn’t anticipating seeing any cheeses from the United States inside of this subscription box, so it was a pleasant surprise to see this Mobay cheese make it into this subscription.
Carr Valley Cheese, based in Wisconsin, has been making cheese for over a century, and apparently, they’re one of the finest specialty cheese manufacturers in the United States. Something else that I thought was even cooler is that the fourth-generation owner of this cheese manufacturer is one of the very few certified Master Cheesemakers in the United States. To become a Master Cheesemaker, there is a rigorous 15-year training program that the owner had to go through for his certification.
It felt like an honor to get cheese from manufacturers that have won over 100 awards from the US and international competitions. It’s almost like getting a singing gram from an American Idol winner at your front door. I’m starstruck!
This Mobay cheese is a unique take on Morbier, which is a classical French cheese. Mobay used sheep milk and pasteurized goat milk. I’ll admit, I took a bite of this cheese before I read all of the fun information about Mobay. I wish I had read through it first, as the first bite would’ve been even more magical knowing all of the labor that went into making this cheese.
Four months of curing time go into each side of cheese (goat’s milk and sheep’s milk) before the two sides are pressed firmly together to make the cheese. When I ate the cheese, I thought the thin line that ran through the cheese was going to be some molding (the good kind). Boy, was I wrong! Do you see that grey line that runs in between the two pieces? It’s grapevine ash!
This is the cheese that won my heart over. Don’t get me wrong; I love all of the cheese in this subscription. But THIS was the CHEESE for me. It wasn’t too soft, nor was it too firm. There was a grassy, acid, grassy flavor with this cheese. I know goat’s milk tends to be tangy, but it was beautifully balanced with sheep’s milk. I don’t think many words can do this cheese justice.
I wish I could give you a Costco-style sample as you read this portion of the review. This Mobay cheese is beautiful. I’m heavily considering serving it at my vow renewal. That’s how much I love it!
This cheese was lovely by itself! The Gourmet Cheese of the Month club recommends putting this cheese on a cheese board because of all of the flavor profiles. I didn’t pair it with a Riesling wine like suggested by the Gourmet Cheese of the Month club.
Selvatico
Last, but certainly not least, I tried the Selvatico cheese from Veneto, Italy. Translated, the name of this cheese means “untamed,” which I thought was pretty cool, considering this cheese is made from cow’s milk.
Apparently, this cheese came from a herd of cows that make flower fields and green grass in the mountain pastures of the Bavarian Alps during their dinners. Thanks to the Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club, I also learned that the Bavarian Alps are located at 3600 feet above sea level, which is twice the height of the Empire State Building!
This cheese is aged for 17 months in North Eastern Italy by a family of affineurs (cheese refiners). The microclimate for this region of Italy is great for aging cheese and helps to give the Selvatico a unique cheese complexity of textures, aromas, and flavors that you won’t find anywhere else.
I do like that this cheese was firm because we had received two other semi-firm kinds of cheese in this box. Thanks to the density and intense flavors of this cheese, I think it’s very comparable to Gruyere or Gouda.
The Gourmet Cheese of the Month club describes this cheese with a Nutty and crunchy texture, but I didn’t pick up on that. I really enjoyed the sweetness and saltiness of this cheese, and I really enjoyed pairing it with apples.
The Gourmet Cheese of the Month club recommends melting this cheese on a pie or dessert bread or matching it with salty foods like olives. I loved it with apples and chocolate (please don’t judge me, it’s a great combo).
My Final Thoughts
I’m really impressed with the overall quality of the cheeses I received in the Gourmet Cheese of the Month club. I love that there’s a great variety of milk types, cheese ages, countries, and textures. I was disappointed, and everything arrived in great shape, despite there being some damage to the package. It’s clear there’s a lot of care and time put into the packaging of the subscription. I could feel the love and passion for cheese as I took everything out of my box!
I don’t think the pricing is bad, either. Each piece of cheese averages around $20 (with the pricing of the shipping and handling included too). I was able to get several servings out of each slice of cheese. Even all put together, the entire cheese selection was enough to put together a nice charcuterie board.
After trying this box out, I fell in love with a new cheese. I thoroughly enjoyed the other two, but that Mobay won my heart over!
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Wonderful brand communications; there’s a lot of fun information you learn about cheese and The Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club’s processes
- Fast shipping, and my order was packaged with care.
- Great variety of cheeses, textures, aromas, and flavors
- Each slice of cheese is freshly cut to order.
- The Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
- I love the educational experience offered for each of the cheeses offered in each shipment.
Cons
- You have to pay $15 for shipping and handling every month (although this fee is cheaper than many of the alternatives)
- I wish there were an option to re-order certain cheeses on their website (like the Mobay)
- It would be nice to ‘super size’ your order, especially if you have a party or event you’re planning for
- Limited control over the selection
Other Subscriptions I’d Recommend
While I loved Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club, there are some other options to compare and consider:
- Jasper Hill Farm
- iGourmet
- Cheese Grotto
- Cheesemonger
FAQs
Question: Is it safe to ship cheese?
Answer: Yes, it’s absolutely safe to ship cheese. The cheese that’s sent out in your Gourmet Cheese of the Month club is shipped with cool packs to keep the cheese chilled and shipped. It’s okay for the cool packs to be completely thawed out or even warm by the time the cheese gets to your doorstep. Despite it normally being refrigerated, cheese is durable and doesn’t easily go bad during temperature fluctuations.
Question: What happens if my cheese isn’t cold?
Answer: If your cheese isn’t cold by the time it gets It gets to your doorstep, don’t worry. Most cheeses thrive on temperatures around 50°. Even if your cheese is warm during the summer months, it’s safe for you to put it in your fridge and let it cool down. This will allow the cheese to firm back up and stay delicious for you. When you’re ready to eat your cheese, I would highly recommend you pull it out to let it warm up to room temperature so you can unlock all of the true flavors of aromas the cheese has to offer.
Question: How do I store artisan cheese?
Answer: I recommend you take the cheeses you’ve received in your box and store them in an airtight container. Also, I recommend you separate each cheese into its own container so the aromas and flavors don’t pick up on each other.
Is The Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club Worth It?
I think the Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club is a great option for anybody looking to try out new cheeses and learn about all the different types of cheeses available worldwide. I also learned some really cool information about geography and cultural practices.
This is one of the more affordable cheese subscription boxes and monthly cheese club options on the market and an excellent option for anyone looking to treat themselves once a month without wasting much money. I hope this subscription company will consider including free or discounted shipping for one day, but that’s the only complaint I have about this company.
I love that I get high-quality artisanal cheeses located all around the world that come from small family businesses delivered directly to my doorstep. The information card the Cheese of the Month Club provided was super detailed and helped enhance my tasting experience.
Overall, I’m thrilled and plan on giving this subscription to friends this Christmas. One of the best cheese experiences I’ve had.
Savor traditionally made cheeses from around the world with The Original Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club.
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