Gorgonzola Cheese vs Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese
Gorgonzola Cheese
Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese
Gorgonzola Cheese is a soft to crumbly cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is soft and made from cow milk, originating in Switzerland.
What Is Gorgonzola Cheese?
Gorgonzola is an Italian blue cheese made from unskimmed cow's milk, named for a town near Milan. It comes in two styles: dolce, mild and buttery, and piccante, sharper with a firm, crumbly body.
What Is Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
Vacherin Mont d'Or is a soft, seasonal cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of Switzerland and France. It is bound in a strip of spruce bark, sold in a round spruce box, and often warmed in that box and eaten like fondue.
What's the Difference Between Gorgonzola Cheese and Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
- Origin: Gorgonzola Cheese (Italy), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (Switzerland)
- Milk treatment: Gorgonzola Cheese (pasteurized), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (thermized (Swiss), raw (French))
- Texture: Gorgonzola Cheese (Soft to crumbly), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (soft)
- Rind: Gorgonzola Cheese (None), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (washed rind)
- Aging: Gorgonzola Cheese (2 to 3 months), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (at least 2 weeks)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Gorgonzola Cheese | Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | Switzerland |
| Specific Origin | Lombardy, Piedmont | Jura Region, Switzerland And France |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized | Thermized (Swiss), raw (French) |
| Texture | Soft to crumbly | Soft |
| Rind | None | Washed rind |
| Aging | 2 to 3 months | At least 2 weeks |
| Taste | Sweet to savory | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Gorgonzola Cheese Taste Like Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Gorgonzola Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese at at least 2 weeks.
Can You Substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
In most recipes, Gorgonzola Cheese and Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect soft to crumbly bite and body where the recipe calls for soft.
Which Is Better, Gorgonzola Cheese or Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft to crumbly cheese, go with Gorgonzola Cheese. For a soft profile, Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gorgonzola Cheese the same as Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Gorgonzola Cheese originates in Italy, while Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese comes from Switzerland. Aging also differs: Gorgonzola Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese at least 2 weeks.
Is Gorgonzola Cheese similar to Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Gorgonzola Cheese taste like Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Gorgonzola Cheese made of?
Gorgonzola Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 2 to 3 months. It originates in Italy.
What is Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese made of?
Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (thermized (swiss), raw (french)). It's typically aged at least 2 weeks. It originates in Switzerland.
Which should I choose, Gorgonzola Cheese or Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Gorgonzola Cheese is soft to crumbly, while Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is soft.