What is Manchego? (EP 20)

Manchego is Spain's most exported cheese ... and its most copied. Nearly 60 percent of all Spanish DOP cheese sold abroad carries that name, which makes the imitation market significant and the label worth reading carefully. This episode covers the cheese from the ground up: what the DOP designation actually requires, the Manchega breed and why their low milk yield is baked into every price tag, the three completely different flavor profiles that emerge across the aging stages, and how to identify the real thing at the counter. There's also a full breakdown of pairings from Rioja to fino sherry, a dive into why the zigzag rind, a case for drinking La Mancha's own wines alongside the cheese, and the story of Dehesa de los Llanos, a quesería near Albacete whose Gran Reserva Manchego was named the best cheese in the world in 2012. If you want more about Spain: ∙ Subscribe to Marti's Substack at https://substack.com/@martibuckley ∙ Follow her on Instagram @martibuckley ∙ Visit her blog at travelcookeat.com