What does it say when you spend more money for 8oz of cheese than you do for the bottle of wine ? Either the wine is really cheap or the cheese is really good. This evening it is the latter.

Onancock, Virginia is the quintessential clash of expectations. It is a historic village dating back a few hundred years. It is a fishing town. It is a farming community. It is the conservative south. There are people here who believe in earnest that the Civil War “went the wrong way”. It is also, a place where people treat you fair unless you give them a reason otherwise. You are trusted until you break that trust. Lots of business still gets done of faith and a hand shake. And speaking of faith, *everyone* goes to church.

Onancock is old school. At the same time, Onancock is 21st century. There is wireless bleeding out of the famous old inn. There is both an Irish Pub and a gourmet food shop on the same street. And the price of gas is followed as closely as the presidential race.

So, what does all of that have to do with cheese and wine ? The gourmet shop of course. It is Onancock’s answer to William Sonoma but better. The gentleman answering your question about the best knife for cutting a venison flank is the same gentleman who can tell you about the 400+ different wines and the 40+ different cheeses. I can’t say I have found the wines I am looking for but that is because I got spoiled in Boston. However, the cheese is another matter. The gentleman behind the counter KNOWS CHEESE. He not only tells you the character of each cheese in the case, he has chosen each and every one of them for a very good reason - they are the perfect examples of their respective varieties.

I may have to take my Tomato Pie to new heights <yowza>.

So, while I am may not drinking a cheap wine this evening, I can not say it is in the same league as the cheese that accompanies it. The cheese - Dutch Pronto - has thrown down the challenge. Now it is the wine’s turn!

Oh, by the way. Hidden at the back of the shop is a small wine bar and restaurant - open only two nights a week. It begs to be experienced.

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Posted in Cheese, Onancock, Wine |

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