Artisan Cheesemaker Rogue Creamery Brings Back Seasonal “Flora Nelle Blue”

The organic, European-style blue cheese is made with spring cow’s milk and inspired by the legacies of our grandmothers

Early this spring, when clover, rye, native fescue, timothy, and orchard grasses began to grow in Rogue Creamery’s Southern Oregon pastures, Rogue deemed conditions perfect to make their organic Flora Nelle Blue. After two months’ aging, Rogue now announces its return as a seasonal spring release – the first time in five years that the artisan cheesemaker has crafted this unique recipe.

The flavors of this dense, savory blue cheese are best expressed with milk gathered this time of year, shares Rogue Creamery president David Gremmels.

Gremmels and former partner Cary Bryant developed this cheese 10 years ago in honor of their grandmothers, Florence and Nelle. The recipe was inspired in part by traditional blue cheeses from France. “Taken by the consistency of Bleu de Gex and the flavor of Bleu d’Auvergne, I combined the recipes and created an American original that is a tribute to our families,” said Gremmels.

Flora Nelle Blue was made in February and cave-aged for 60 days. Similar to Rogue Creamery’s year-round classic Caveman Blue, organic Flora Nelle has a natural rind; in addition, it is the only Rogue Creamery cheese made with traditional rennet. These techniques provide the cheese with a unique texture and robust, umami-forward flavor profile. The wheels also showcase beautiful and distinctive blue marbling, making this cheese a stunning addition to a spring cheeseboard, in a mixed green salad, or atop a filet.

“Rogue Creamery is a small, artisan facility with a dozen original blue cheese recipes. It is impossible to make each blue every week,” says Gremmels. Flora Nelle was removed from Rogue’s regular cheesemaking schedule in 2018 to allow the company to expand its capacity on other recipes. However, Flora Nelle has a dedicated contingent of fans who have been clamoring for its return.

“Each year we select a couple recipes to bring back, in order to satisfy the palates of our cheese loving friends,” continued Gremmels. “This spring was Flora Nelle’s turn. We’re delighted to share this unique cheese with our customers and the community.”

The 2022 Flora Nelle blue cheese is very limited, and only being offered for direct sale through RogueCreamery.com and in-person at their Cheese Shop and Farm Stand in Southern Oregon. Rogue Creamery anticipates it will sell out before the end of May. Because Flora Nelle has also sold successfully in the Australian market in years past, a small quantity of wheels has also been exported to Australia this year.

Individual wedges and wheels are now available for purchase at RogueCreamery.com. For wholesale inquiries, please contact info@roguecreamery.com.

Rogue Creamery is a USDA certified organic cheese maker located in Central Point, Oregon. Over the past 89 years, Rogue Creamery has drawn from the beauty and flavors of Southern Oregon’s Rogue River Valley to create organic, handcrafted cheeses that have won international acclaim. But creating the world’s best cheese is only part of Rogue’s mission. They know that business – and in their case, cheese – can be used as a force for good. That’s why they became Oregon’s first public benefit corporation, “B Corp” for short, joining a global movement of companies that are committed to making the world a better place. Rogue Creamery is committed to making a difference socially, economically, and environmentally. Learn more at roguecreamery.com.