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Writer's pictureCulinary Cam

Pecorino Times Three: Two Cheeses and a Wine with a Lamb Burger #WinePW

Updated: Aug 12, 2023

This month Robin of Crushed Grape Chronicles invited the Wine Pairing Weekend writers to share unexpected white wine pairings.


What a fun topic that encourages out of the box thinking and embraces creative pairings. I love it! Here's the line-up of articles from the Wine Pairing Weekend writers...


Pecorino I:

The Wine - 2021 Polpo Blue Pecorino


This entire pairing materialized because I received a bottle of Pecorino wine. If you follow my blog at all, you know how much I adore cheese. And pecorino is one of my favorites. I love that salty, barnyardy, sheep's milk cheese grated over pasta. But I had no idea that Pecorino was a wine varietal. Did you? I love learning new things.


Grown throughout the Marche, Abruzzo, Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio regions. ampelographers think that the grape is most likely native to Marche. One story I read claims the sugar-heavy grape was dubbed Pecorino because of its appeal to the woolly animals. I didn't have time to track down the veracity of that claim, but it's a cute story.


The grapes for this bottle - 2021 Polpo Blu Pecorino - are from an Abruzzo grower that was founded in 1964 as a seven-grower co-op. It now has 600 partners, 450 wine growers, and 150 olive growers. The winery has been certified organic for more than a quarter of a century. Additionally, the grapes are also certified biodynamic and certified vegan.



A 100% Pecorino wine, this poured straw yellow with an intense nose. I got hints of straw with crisp green apple and piquant lime. On the palate it was intense and surprisingly full-bodied for a white wine. In that sense, it makes sense to pair it with red meat. But as it's not a usual pairing, I figured it fell squarely within the "unexpected" realm for this event.


Pecorino II:

Fresco, the Cheese Inside the Burger


Pecorino, from the Italian word for sheep pecora, is any cheese made from ewe’s milk. Divided by length of aging, there's a young or fresco that is usually about a month old; there's aged or stagionata that is at least four months old; and semi-aged or semi-stagionata that is somewhere in between. Pecorino Romano is a hard, salty cheese sheep's milk cheese that is at least nine month's old and is usually grated like parmigiano when served.


I decided to use a Pecorino Fresco inside the burger. Aged for only a month, it is a sweet, grassy cheese.


Pecorino III:

Romano, the Cheese Melted on Top of the Burger


Though this doesn't melt as evenly or smoothly as, say, American cheese or even mozzarella, Pecorino Romano is a deliciously sharp and salty cheese. It's perfect for topping a lamb burger.


Stuffed Lamb Burgers


serves 4

  • 1 pound ground lamb

  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and pressed

  • 5 grinds black pepper

  • 4 slices Pecorino Fresco

  • 3 Tablespoons fresh chopped mint

  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander

  • Also needed: buns, lettuce, tomatoes, and Pecorino Romano


Place all of the ingredients together in a mixing bowl and blend it together until well-combined. Let the mixture rest for, at least 10 to 15 minutes so the flavors can meld together. Divide the meat into quarters and form into patties.


Place a slice of Pecorino Fresco in the center of the patty, fold up the meat so that it completely encases the cheese. Flatten again into a patty. Set aside until ready to cook or grill.


To Serve

Cook patties to desired doneness. When just about done, top the burgers with Pecorino Romano and cover until slightly melted. Assemble the burgers, as desired. Serve immediately.


Well, that's my unexpected pairing with white wine - a lamb burger stuffed and filled with pecorino cheeses served with a Pecorino wine. The #WinePW group will be back in September with the corollary topic of 'breaking the mold with red wine pairings.' Thinking cap on! Stay tuned.

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4 Comments


Georgetteg Melus
Georgetteg Melus
Jun 29

Any idea how to still get Polpo Blu now that traveling vineyard isn’t selling it anymore? Its an absolute favorite, and I can not find it anywhere 😭

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Jane Niemeyer
Jane Niemeyer
Aug 13, 2023

I have had a few Pecorino wines, but it has been a minute. I need a glass again with a lamb burger topped with Pecorino cheese. I am with you in the I love cheese camp.

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robin
Aug 12, 2023

I love this pairing! I had read that bit about Pecorino being named after the sheep, as they liked to munch on it as they headed through the hills to the upper plains on the "Transumanza" (the trail that shepherds take the sheep from the coast to the mountains).

This dish sound wonderful! Young sheep, young cheese...Pecorino all around!

I did find while in Abruzzo that Pecorino was the white wine that we all seemed to lean into. It was delicious.

You also found an Organic, Biodynamic and Vegan wine from a Co-op! Again proving that there are higher quality Co-op wines out there!

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Wendy Klik
Wendy Klik
Aug 12, 2023

I want a cheese stuffed lamb burger. I'll even try the Pecorino wine with it!!

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