Choosing from over 850 of our cheeses can be a daunting task, even for the most accomplished cheese connoisseur. While we all have our traditional favorites, there is something special about discovering a great new cheese. And, the best way to experience a new cheese is to try it. For those of you looking to expand your cheese repertoire, we have crafted a four cheese sampler from four continents of some little-known gems to serve at your next get-together. This assortment includes:

• Volendam(Europe): If you are a gouda lover, then Volendam is a must have! Inspired by the scenic Dutch fishing village of the same name, Volendam has a butterfat content of 55%. (8 oz.)
• Hard Grana Provolone<i>(South America): Originally from Lombardia, Italy, this cheese was brought by Italian immigrants to Argentina. The cheese is recognized by its particular pear shape. During the aging stage, the cheese is hung (wrap and secure with a rope). This hard Provolone cheese develops a sharp, piquant flavor with age. (8 oz)
• Great Ocean Road Cheddar(Australia): This sharp white cheddar hails from Australia, where it joins Stokes Point and Mainland Cheddar as a new favorite from down under. (8 oz.)
• Atalanta Blue <i>(North America): Atalanta is the Greek goddess of hunt, travel, and adventure. The name Atalanta is thus appropriate for this new blue cheese from Wisconsin. It's a bold cheese that took several years to perfect. Enjoy it crumbled over salads, stirred into sauces, or on crackers. (8 oz.)Please note that any item temporarily out of stock will be substituted with a similar item of equal or greater value.

Along with their conquering armies, the Romans brought their cheese making expertise to England in the first century AD. But it was not until the sixteenth century when the cheese we know today as cheddar was so named. With such a long history, it's no surprise that cheddar is one of the world's favorite foods. So popular in fact, that almost every cheese-producing nation makes its own version. This assortment contains excellent examples from three continents:

• Denhay Mature English Cheddar: Denhay Cheddar is carefully matured and monitored until it is 11 months old when it is sold as premium West Country Farmhouse Cheddar. (8 oz.)<li><b>Grafton Classic Reserve Cheddar: Grafton Classic Cheddar is an outstanding mature cheddar cheese selected for its pronounced flavor and smooth finish. This two year aged cheese is excellent when accompanied with dried fruits and nuts, crusty breads, and big wines. (8 oz.)
• Great Ocean Road Cheddar: This sharp white cheddar hails from Australia, where it is made from pure milk taken from cows that graze on lush pastures swept by winds from the Southern Ocean. (8 oz.)
• Red Leaf Cheddar: This entrant from North America has a firm texture and a sweet, honeyed flavor. Best enjoyed with ale and fruit, this cheddar is aged for over 12 months. (8 oz.)<P>Please note that any item temporarily out of stock will be substituted with a similar item of equal value.

This sampler features four cheeses that are typical of four distinct regions of Italy:<ul><li><b>Provolone Piccante - The piccante (sharp) version of this classic Italian cheese is more complex and great on sandwiches or chunked. (8 oz.)<li><b>Grana Padano Stravecchio - The original hard Italian cheese, Grana Padano is a firm, dry, fruity cheese from the Po Valley of Northern Italy. Stravecchio is aged for an optimal 20 months. Grate it over pasta, vegetables or soup, or serve it as a table cheese drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. (8 oz.)

Mountain Gorgonzola - Italy's famous blue cheese comes from Lombardy. Made from cow's milk taken from local herds that graze on beautiful rolling pastures, no Italian Cheese Assortment would be complete without a cut of authentic Gorgonzola. (8 oz.)

Pecorino Toscano - This soft, sheep's milk cheese is made in the hills of Tuscany. It is young, sweet and springy. We find that this combination well represents the wide variety of flavors and textures found in Italian cheeses. (8 oz.)

• Please note that any item temporarily out of stock will be substituted with a similar item of equal value.<P><font color="red">This item is not packaged as a gift. If you would like the gift packaged version of this item please click here.

England is a land well suited to dairy farming. Its territory is relatively flat, thus good for grazing, and it has plenty of rainfall. This country produces over 500 distinct types of cheese, including the four we are featuring in this English Cheese Assortment.<ul><li><b>Denhay Mature Cheddar - Arguably the world's most famous cheese name, Cheddar is an authentic English cheese that has been copied all over the world. If you have never tasted authentic English Farmhouse Cheddar, you are in for a wonderful surprise. (8 oz.)

Royal Blue Stilton - How could such an assortment not include England's beloved blue cheese? Creamy, tangy and eminently satisfying, our Royal Blue Stilton is perfect as a snacking cheese or as an ingredient. (8 oz.)<li><b>Sage Derby - Don't be afraid of the green! Pulverized sage leaves are mixed with water then added to the curd of Derby cheese to create this striking example of English cheesemaking ingenuity. Mild and herbaceous, Sage Derby is the ultimate party cheese. (8 oz.)<li><b>Cotswold - Also known as "Pub Cheese," Cotswold is the name given to this hearty cheese that combines Double Gloucester with flavorful bits of chive and onion. A harmonious blend of mellow, crumbly cheese and powerful vegetables, Cotswold is a terrific complement to the softer, more mild flavors on your cheese board. (8 0z.)

Assortment includes four 1/2 pound cuts of cheese.<ul><b><li>Please note that any item temporarily out of stock will be substituted with a similar item of equal value.

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In the proud tradition of St. Patrick's Day, we are thrilled to present four of our favorite Irish cheeses in this carefully selected assortment. For decades, Irish cheeses were a secret; enjoyed only by our friends "across the pond". Now, we are lucky enough to carry these four cheeses.

• Cashel Blue: This wonderful farmhouse blue cheese hails from Tipperary. Using only fresh cows milk from their fresian herd, Louis and Jane Grubb have produced this masterpiece. Ideal for melting or after dinner with some port. (8 oz.)<li><b>Dubliner tastes of a mature Cheddar, with the sweet aftertaste of Reggiano. Created by the Irish company Kerrygold and named after Ireland's capital city, this cheese shares traits with several well-known cheeses, but the combination creates a flavor that is completely unique. (8 oz.)
• Cahill Farm Cheddar with Porter Ale is a visually intriguing cheese. Mixed with dark porter ale during the cheesemaking process, this cheese has a marbled effect with dark brown veins. Imported from Ireland, it has a surprising meaty flavor and is obviously a perfect match for ale. (8 oz.)<li>Our Shamrock Cheddar is aged for over 12 months and has a creamy, taut texture and sweet, grassy flavor. The milk for this "bitey" cheddar is taken from cows grazing the green grass of southeast Ireland, an area traditionally known as "The Garden of Ireland". This environment produces rich, creamy milk that is perfect for cheese making.

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What could be better than to break out that prized bottle of wine you've been saving, served with some of the world's greatest cheeses? This Four-Cheese Sampler was created with everyone's palate in mind. The cheeses in the sampler are:

• Blue - From Italy's famed Lombardy region comes superb Mountain Gorgonzola. It is mild yet tangy, creamy yet firm, with a pale interior laced with streaks of blue. Delicious served the Italian way (drizzled with honey), it is a real treat for connoisseurs.<li><b>Nutty - Beemster Classic Exta Aged Gouda is ripened for a full 18 months to develop its nutty, caramel-like flavor. It is always a crowd pleaser.<li><b>Aged - Gruyere de Comte Black Label Reserve has been produced since the reign of Charlemagne, when there were no separate entities named France and Switzerland. Contributing to Comté's unique flavor, morning and evening milkings are mingled before the cheese making process. The wheels are aged for a full year, resulting in a sweet and nutty masterpiece.
• Tangy - No holiday cheese assortment would be complete without authentic cheddar, and this one from Denhay of England is as good as it gets.

Whether entertaining or having an intimate night in by the fire, our selection of favorites is sure to be a winner.

• Please note that any item temporarily out of stock will be substituted with a similar item of equal value.

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When the word cheese is mentioned, most of us immediately think of France. We can't help it; it's a knee-jerk reaction. As excellent as are the hundreds of cheeses that originate from all corners of the globe, France is always the first country the comes to mind when discussing cheesemaking.

Our French Cheese Assortment captures a good bit of French cheese culture with the four cheeses listed below.

• Chevre by Couturier: This classic French goat cheese is quite fresh and spreadable. Formed in the shape of a log, enjoy this cheese on salads, as a snack, or with fruit for dessert. (4 oz)
• Camembert: This famous soft-ripened cheese from Normandie has a creamy interior beneath a fluffy (and edible) white rind. (8.8 oz)<li><b>Tomme Brebis by Agour: From the Pyrennes region of France, this Basque cheese has a delicate bouquet, fruity aroma and slightly sweet flavor. Also known as Ossau-Iraty, it is made from 100% sheep's milk. (8 oz)
• Gruyère de Comté: Created by local villagers in alpine dairies called "Fruiteries", its milk comes only from Montbeliarde and Tachete de L'est cows. Each 70+ pound wheel of Comté is aged for at least six months, resulting in a sweet and nutty masterpiece. (8 oz)<ul><b><li>Please note that any item temporarily out of stock will be substituted with a similar item of equal value.

<B>This item is not packaged as a gift. If you would like the gift packaged version of this item please click here.

The Cheese and Sausage Select Gift Box from Figi's has been a been a family gift favorite for over 40 years. This gourmet cheese and sausage assortment is a terrific sampler package of summer sausage and delicious Wisconsin cheese. The gift box contains Mettwurst Sausage, All Beef Sausage, Cheddar Cheese, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Brick Cheese, and Baby Swiss Cheese. This perfect taste combination is a gourmet treat for a birthday, thank you, or the holidays. Available September through May.

The 4 cheese sampler plus: Malagon with Rosemary, Dorothea, Camembert & White Stilton with Mango-Ginger

You sense it immediately - the heady aromas, the intensely fulfilling textures, and the vibrant flavors of Spain's artisan cheese tradition. Different milks, a diverse terrain, and unique cheesemaking techniques all play a role in the subtle differences in each cheese's color, texture, and flavor. We have selected four of our favorites for this sampler:

• Manchego - Spain's most famous cheese, made entirely from pure La Mancha sheep's milk. Manchego is prized for its rich, complex flavor and its satisfyingly grainy texture. <li><b>Mahon - This firm cow's milk cheese comes from the Balearic Island of Menorca in the Mediterranean. This version has been aged for three months, developing a rich tanginess and fragrant aroma.
• Idiazabal - Smooth, rich and satisfyingly sharp, Idiazabal is a smoked sheep's milk cheese that gives off a warming rustic scent. It is the quintessential cheese of the Basque country in Northern Spain.<li><b>Murcia al Vino - This 100% goat's milk cheese from Murcia is bathed in red Spanish wine, making this product a wine-and-cheese party all by itself!This assortment includes four 1/2 pound cuts of cheese.
  • Please note that any item temporarily out of stock will be substituted with a similar item of equal value.<P><font color="red"><B>This item is not packaged as a gift. If you would like the gift packaged version of this item please click here.