Cheese Geek Aaron Estes Joins NYCR Team as Cheese Editor

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor

As the New York Cork Report continues to evolve and grow, it's important that we never lose sight of the fact that wine (and beer) are not meant to be enjoyed in a vacuum.

You need food and friends to get the most out of wine and vice versa.

With that in mind, please welcome Aaron Estes our new Cheese Editor.

I've known Aaron for just over five years -- a fact that I'm able to remember only because I first met him at his wedding, which was only a couple months before my own. I do remember my own anniversary and thus sort of know when his is as well.

Our wives went to college together and have been friends for a long time  -- and sometimes those forced college-friend's-significant-other friends work out, I guess. This is one of those times, and many of the best "meals" Nena and I have had over the past five years have barely been meals at all in the traditional sense. Instead they often involved Aaron, his wife Christine and a table filled with cheese, cured meat, bread, olives...and of course wine and beer.

An IT project manager by day, cheesemaker and cheesemonger by night, Aaron became a serious cheese freak a couple of years ago while spending time in Wisconsin on an opera gig. Yes. He's a singer too...just like Nena and Christine.

When he isn't making cheese at home (quite well I might add), mongering at Lucy's Whey at Manhattan's Chelsea Market, or traveling to various farms for classes or inspiration, you can find him trying to put his passion for cheese and pairings into words at the Cave-Aged Blog.

For the New York Cork Report, he'll be writing about the New York cheese industry and artisanal cheeses made in New York. There are some amazing cheeses being made in New York and they deserves more attention in much the same way New York wines do. 

If nothing else, I look forward to "researching" some co-written posts about cheese and wine pairings.

Comments

[Evan Dawson]

Yes yes yes yes

I feel like NYCR has taken a long stride forward in adding a Cheese Editor. That is the ultimate mark of an awesome site.

[David Page]

This is a great addition to the NYCR lineup of experts. Congrats Aaron, we are looking forward to reading your posts!

[Michael Gorton, Jr.]

One of the best things to go with wine is cheese. This is long overdue on the NYCR.

Welcome Aaron! Love your blog and I can't wait to see what happens here.

Now I hope that one day there will be cheese included in a NY Cork Club shipment.

[Lenn Thompson]

Evan: I think that cheese makes everything awesome, so yes, our site is clearly awesome.

You've also gotten to experience one of these "tables of cheese, meat, olives and wine" Always epic.

[Julia Burke]

Aaron, can't wait to talk cheese and beer! :)

[Aaron Estes]

Thanks Everyone! Really excited to contribute and be part of the team!

[Dana Estep]

An excellant addition - our last two wine tasting trips to the Finger Lakes we expanded our scope to include visits to some of the artisanal cheesemakers in that area. I look forward to picking up additional recommendations.

and for Lenn and other readers in or with ties to the Pittsburgh area - Clover Creek Cheese Cellars is a new addition this summer to the Thursday farmers' market in Market Sq in town. They make some very nice cheddars and other cheeses.

[Bryan]

Welcome to the team Aaron!

Looks like it's time to dust off the old Home Cheese Making book here.

[Antoinette Di Ciaccio]

I have been reading Aaron's blog for the past few months! It is great! He and the subject are an excellent addition to your ever improving site. Congrats to all of us and you too, Mr. Lenn.

[jim silver]

What a stupendous idea, and giant leap forward too!

[Sasha]

Awesome addition! Look forward to hearing more about the NY cheese scene.

[Nora@LiveLifeEatRight]

I'm really excited about this! I am a big cheese person and love locally produced goods. I just saw a news piece about local dairy farmers collaborating and doing "cheese tours". I think it is wonderful to have the collaboration and an expert to pull it together. Just another reason why I love NY :)