Secret de Compostelle by Agour is a raw sheep’s milk cheese from the Basque country in France. Aged for eight months, it has a natural rind and is firm inside. This cheese has a silky texture and is full of sweet and savory flavors that blend with notes of cream, nuts, mushrooms, and olives. Secret de Compostelle is definitely not as sharp or dry as other cheeses that come from the region. The aroma can be strong if you’re not used to it, but all of the flavors lie inside this smooth cheese.
The cheesemakers named Secret de Compostelle after an old passage between the Spanish and French Basque regions where pilgrims moved freely trading recipes and information. Many say that this cheese is made with Spanish milk, but Agour actually uses milk from farms near the creamery though they may sometimes source from Spanish farms to meet quantity goals.
Try Secret de Compostelle on any cheese or charcuterie board, and it will certainly stand out over anything else on the board. Pair this cheese with a full-bodied Cabernet or any nutty wine. If enjoying as a dessert cheese it pairs well with most sherry.
Agour began back in the 1980s when Jean Etxeleku convinced thirty local shepherds to give him the milk he needed to make his cheeses on the promise that they would be paid when the cheese was sold six to nine months later. Since then Agour House has grown exponentially into a worldwide provider of quality Basque-made cheeses. Each Agour has expanded its selection and has made Secret de Compostelle a “must-have” on tables all over the world.