17 Aug Goat’s Cheese Benefits: Why It’s So Good For You
Goat’s Cheese Benefits: Why It’s So Good For You
At Fairview, goat’s cheese isn’t just a product; it’s part of our story, going back more than 40 years. It all started with a small herd of Saanen goats and grew into what is now one of South Africa’s best-known artisan cheeseries. At a time when goat’s milk cheese was practically unheard of in the country, Fairview took a chance on it, pioneering artisan production and introducing the local market to a whole new category of cheese. That first leap became the foundation for the wide range of speciality cheeses we make today.
Over the years, we’ve come to appreciate goat’s cheese for a lot more than its tangy flavour, creamy texture, and versatility in the kitchen. It’s also easier to digest for many people, and offers a nutritional profile worth knowing about.
What Makes Goat’s Cheese Different
Goat’s Milk vs Cow’s Milk: What’s the Difference?
The biggest difference comes down to protein. Goat’s milk is naturally high in A2 beta-casein, while cow’s milk contains more of the A1 type, a protein many people find harder to break down. That difference, combined with smaller, more evenly distributed fat globules, gives goat’s cheese its lighter, smoother texture, a distinct alternative to the richer, denser character of cow’s milk cheese.
Easier to Digest
This is where goat’s cheese tends to stand out. Because its fat globules are smaller, the stomach breaks it down more gently than it does cow’s milk, and for many people that means less heaviness after eating. It’s also naturally lower in lactose, which is why it tends to sit better with people who are mildly sensitive to it, though it’s still not suitable for anyone with a diagnosed lactose intolerance or milk allergy.
Naturally Nutritious
Goat’s cheese is a good source of protein, calcium, and vitamins A and B2, along with minerals like magnesium and potassium. These nutrients help support healthy bones, muscles, energy production, and overall wellbeing.
Our Goat’s Cheese Range
Provenance is the thread that runs through everything we do. Each cheese in this range is made with goat’s milk from our Saanen herd. From time-honoured cheesemaking traditions to distinctive shapes and ways of ripening, here’s what sets them apart:
Chevin
Traditional Chevin holds a special place in our history as the first cheese ever produced at Fairview. Made from goat’s milk, the curds are placed into cloth bags and hung to drain. This time-honoured process gives it its signature soft, creamy texture and fresh, delicately tangy flavour.
Available in three flavours: Traditional, Garlic & Herbs, and Black Pepper & Paprika.
Crottin
A traditional French-style goat’s milk cheese with a soft, delicate texture and fresh, tangy flavour. Hand-ladled into small moulds and left to drain, it develops a fine natural rind and firmer texture as it matures. Its flavour evolves from mild and creamy to more complex, earthy and distinctly goaty.
Grill it for a goat’s cheese salad, melt it over crostini, or bake it into a tart.
Goat’s Milk Camembert
This Camembert develops its character as it matures, with a bloomy white rind giving way to a soft, creamy centre as it ripens from the outside in. It has a fresh tang with subtle earthy and mushroom notes. When fully ripe, it becomes rich and luscious, with a creamy mouthfeel and lingering savoury finish.
Chèvre Roue
A distinctive doughnut-shaped goat’s milk cheese dusted with vegetable ash. Its signature hole through the centre allows it to ripen from the inside out, creating greater depth of flavour. It has a smooth, creamy consistency with a fresh, tangy flavour, subtle earthy notes and a distinctive goat’s milk character.
De Triomphe
A soft goat’s milk cream cheese log with a delicate, naturally wrinkled rind created by a Geotrichum mould culture. Its smooth, creamy centre has a fresh, clean acidity with subtle yeasty, earthy and mushroom notes. As it matures, the cheese becomes softer and its flavour develops greater depth and complexity.
A Wine Farm With a Difference
There aren’t many places where you can taste wine and cheese that are both crafted on the same farm. That’s what makes a visit to Fairview in Paarl so special.
Take your time with one of our wine and cheese tastings, browse the Farm Deli for your favourites to enjoy at home, or settle in for breakfast or lunch at the Goatshed Restaurant, where our wines and cheeses naturally find their way onto the menu.
