Ubriacone

While shopping at the Gateway Market in Des Moines on a field trip with my culinary class, we stopped for some cheesy conversation. The man working at the cheese counter explained to us the details about all the different cheeses. One caught my eye; this cheese was pale white with random splashes of burgundy running through it. I picked it up curiously to examine it. "Ubriacone. Italian Cows Milk with Red Wine". As enticed as I was, naturally, I bought it. After opening the package to try some of this cheese, I discovered a leaf on the outside skin of the cheese. Peeling it away, it revealed holes in which the red wine was allowed to seep in. 'Okay,' I thought. 'This calls for some research'. My discovery:
Ubriacone is a delicious raw cow's milk cheese bathed in a mixture of local Clinton & Raboso wine must & then pierced like a gorgonzola to let the aroma and flavor of the wine permeate the cheese to a new degree. Ubriacone is an affectionate term in Italian for the "great big drunk". The cheese is covered with grape leaves to cover the holes of the piercing so that mold won't grow in the holes. Keep the leaf in place when cutting the cheese.

I reccomend for anyone who can to try this cheese. I wrapped the cheese tight and placed it in back in my fridge (hidden from view; my mom in a cheese fiend) to keep safe so I can bring it back to class and let my schoolmates have a try.