Venaco — Washed-Rind Semi-Firm Corsican Sheep Cheese
Corsica, France — Cortenais region, central Corsica; Ovis aries mountain flocks above 800m
Washed-rind semi-firm cheese from the Cortenais region (central Corsica), made from raw Ovis aries whole-milk and aged 2–5 months. Rind washed with brine and marc de Corse during affinage, producing an orange-amber sticky exterior. Paste is pale ivory, elastic, and firm. Flavour: concentrated Ovis aries sweetness, lactic acid, and the marc-de-Corse washing note. The Corsican washed-rind that occupies the role filled by Époisses in Burgundy or Taleggio in Lombardy. Limited production by mountain affineurs of the Cortenais.