Fairfield Cheese Company, One Of Nation's 'Most Iconic,' Magazine Says

FAIRFIELD, CT — One of the nation's 10 "most iconic" cheese shops is located on the Post Road in Fairfield, according to a new report from Wine Enthusiast magazine.

Fairfield Cheese Company, at 2090 Post Road, has "'amazing service' and an extensive selection of small-production U.S. and international cheeses," the magazine says.

The shop was founded in 2009 by co-owners Laura Downey ACS CCP and Chris Palumbo ACS CCP (American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professionals), with a mission "to bring the best artisan cheese and specialty foods to the Fairfield community," and to teach patrons about those delights.

According to Wine Enthusiast, the store has succeeded. Downey and Palumbo opened a second shop, Greenwich Cheese Company in Greenwich, in 2014.

"The owners are committed to diversity and inclusion in their mongering, and they’re also doing the hard work of connecting cheese enthusiasts to cheese with their tours," the magazine quotes cheese scholar Carlos Yescas, who added that the store has hosted cheese tours to the United Kingdom, among other destinations.

In an email to Patch, Downey said that the owners and staff taste every cheese they sell, and they continually monitor those cheeses while they're in the shop.

"Our selection is thoughtful and reflects our mission of supporting small-batch artisan cheese and getting it on the American table," she told Patch. "We want Americans to choose better cheese and understand that artisan cheese is a reflection of place and good farming practices. Education in an approachable way is something we have embraced and done from the beginning."

Those high standards are what make Fairfield Cheese Company special.

"Our cheesemongers are fastidious and ensure every customer gets a piece of cheese in optimal shape and deliciousness," Downey said.

To view Wine Enthusiast's report on "The 10 Most Iconic Cheese Shops In America," click here.