Best of the cheese

- Silverstone's previous recommendations

- to accompany this month's red wine.

English Golden Cheddar (Top Hat)

Known also as "Ilchester" this cow's milk cheese is produced in a cylindrical "top hat" shape with a red wax wrap. A creamy flavoured cheese aged 6-9 months, and dark orange in colour.

Note: Be sure to buy your cheese from the "fresh cheese" counter, and have it cut fresh in the store. Also avoid buying more than you need for a couple of days, since the freshness deteriorates after long term storage in the fridge.

Cheese research and selection by Phillip Silverstone and Scott Selkowitz of International Food Distributors Inc.

Cheese questions?: ifd@netcarrier.com

Colosi Rosso 1998

August 2000

It must be exasperating to be known as the soccer ball to Italy's boot. The island of Sicily is in perpetual "pause mode" on world maps as the boot is about to send it hurtling into a goal mouth......and Colosi Rosso would be the perfect name for a soccer star! But it happens to be the name of a goal winning wine...for Sicily, not the boot which has long overshadowed this region.

The island, filled with wheat fields and olive trees, has become the destination of winemaking movers and shakers. Sicily has always been adept at light, bright fun guzzling wine from obscure grape varieties, but now it is emerging as the world's new hot spot for wine production.

Piero Colosi makes his wine in northern Sicily and for this dry red uses primarily the native grape - Nero d'Avola, also known as Calabrese. A smoky earthy wine, tannic and black with a glint of

bright grenadine flavour in the midst of all the dark berry flavours. Colosi Rosso is the MVP of the wine world!

Cheers.

Region Sicily

Grapes 90% Nero d'Avola and 10% other indigenous grapes

Technical Stainless steel fermentation then aged for six months in Slavonian oak.

Serve Chill for 10 minutes in fridge.

Price in USA $9.99 (approx)

Best of the Red Bunch

- Silverstone's previous recommendations