No. 109 Cheese & Wine

06/12/2026

https://conta.cc/3SogQwl

Maribeth's Perfect Bite
For this month's featured bite, our cheesemonger Maribeth put together one of those combinations that just works.
It starts with a Rustic Bakery organic sourdough flatbread, topped with Marmalade Grove Meyer Lemon Honey Marmalade, paired with the sweet, butterscotch notes and crunchy crystals of Royal Grand Cru Beemster, and finished with a slice of Olympia Provisions Saucisson d'Arles, a classic French-style salami.
Sweet, savory, creamy, crunchy, and just the right amount of tang.
Available this Saturday in Ridgefield as part of our Sips & Samples event. Stop in, have a taste, and see why Maribeth picked this as her perfect bite.

Email from 109 Cheese and WIne Cheese, Wine and the Drive but not in that order Gross National Happiness I recently listened to a TED Talk by Chip Conley that got me thinking. The talk touched on the

06/06/2026

https://conta.cc/4dN3cLC

Bandit’s Corner
Assistant Cheesemonger 109 Cheese & Wine

Hi friends,
Bandit Monkey Brown here.

I've been thinking...
Maybe we've all been taking life a little too seriously.
The weather is finally warming up. The boat is in the water. The lake is calling. The cheese cases are full. The wine racks are stocked.
So I have a proposal.
Let's do a little dance.
Make a little love.
And get down tonight.
At least that's what I've been doing.
One minute I'm standing perfectly still, looking majestic and thoughtful.
The next minute I'm dancing on the boat, chasing the breeze, wagging my tail, and wondering if someone dropped a piece of cheese.
It's all about balance.
I've learned that the best days aren't usually the complicated ones.
They're the days with good people.
Good food.
A little sunshine.
A boat ride if you're lucky.
And something delicious waiting when you get home.
So this weekend, take a page from my playbook.
Dance when the music comes on.
Take the long way home.
Open a bottle you've been saving. (Yes Ed, this is for you)
Share a cheese board with friends.
Tell somebody you love them.
And if the moment feels right...
Get the zoomies.
Life moves pretty fast for all of us. Even for a six-month-old puppy.
Might as well enjoy the ride.
See you at 109.
With a happy soul, questionable dance moves, and unlimited enthusiasm,
Bandit Monkey Brown
Assistant Cheesemonger
Newly appointed Chief Dance Floor Supervisor at 109 Cheese & Wine

Email from 109 Cheese and WIne Cheese, Wine and the Drive but not in that order We love cheese and wine. We live it every day. Owning and operating a small retail business isn't always easy, but it is

05/31/2026

Days like this are why we live where we do.
The doors are open in Kent, the patio is ready, lunch is being made, and the gallery is waiting for anyone looking to slow down for a bit. Come by for a sandwich, some cheese for the weekend, or just an excuse to take the scenic route.
If Ridgefield is your stop, Sammi and Jemma are there to help with everything from tonight's dinner to this weekend's gathering.
No matter which shop you visit, we're grateful you're part of what makes these places special.
See you soon. 🧀❤️🚗☀️

05/29/2026

https://conta.cc/4u1i7qg

This week we’re heading to France
Three cheeses. Three milk types. Three very good reasons to slow down and enjoy the table a little longer.
From the mountains and countryside of France, this week’s lineup gives you a little tour through the beautiful world of cow, goat, and sheep milk cheeses.
Haut Barry from legendary affineur Rodolphe Le Meunier represents the cow’s milk side of things beautifully — rich, buttery, smooth, and deeply comforting with that classic French mountain cheese feel.
Bonde d’Antan from Bougon brings the goat milk magic. Rustic, creamy, lightly tangy, and wrapped in that gorgeous wrinkled rind that goat cheese lovers immediately fall for.
And then there’s our 15 Month Comté from Marcel Petite — one of the great cow’s milk cheeses of France. Nutty, savory, slightly caramelized, and layered with the kind of complexity that keeps you going back for “just one more piece.”
And because this is France after all… we’ll also be pouring some beautiful French wines this weekend in the Ridgefield wine store with Gary from 12–5 on Saturday. And don't forget to visit our French neighbors at
à table, Sarah and Bernard for everything we don't have at 109!

Email from 109 Cheese and WIne Cheese, Wine and the Drive but not in that order This week we’re heading to France Three cheeses. Three milk types. Three very good reasons to slow down and enjoy the ta

05/22/2026

https://conta.cc/4dG3tig

Memorial Day weekend brings the unofficial start of summer
but at its heart, it’s a time to remember.
To pause for those who gave everything, and for the families who carry that sacrifice every day.
As we gather around the table this weekend, let’s take a quiet moment of gratitude for the freedoms that make these moments possible. Let’s also remember those who continue to serve and those around the world who fight every day in the hope of peace, freedom, and democracy.
And let’s not take any of it for granted — choosing instead to live with kindness, respect, compassion, and a little more care for one another.

Email from 109 Cheese and WIne Cheese, Wine and the Drive but not in that order Memorial Day weekend brings the unofficial start of summer but at its heart, it’s a time to remember. To pause for those

05/16/2026

This week, we’re taking a little trip to the Basque region — a place where Spain meets France, the mountains meet the sea, and food is very much a way of life… which sounds a lot like ours.
The Basque people have a fiercely proud culinary culture built around simple ingredients, deep tradition, and gathering around the table. Fresh seafood, cured meats, sheep and goat cheeses, and bright coastal wines all play a starring role.
Honestly… sounds a little like our kind of place. Maybe even a perfect retirement spot for 109 someday… you never know. But don’t worry — we’re hanging around for quite a while.
Our featured cheeses this week fit right into that lifestyle and happen to be two of our favorites.
Tomme Chebris is a beautiful blend of goat and sheep’s milk — rich and buttery with a gentle tang that keeps it bright and lively. Approachable, balanced, and one of those cheeses that quietly disappears faster than expected.
Tomme Espelette brings a little true Basque personality. Made from creamy sheep’s milk and coated with the region’s famous Piment d’Espelette — a protected pepper grown in the French Basque region for generations — it adds savory warmth and subtle spice rather than real heat. Creamy, flavorful, and incredibly snackable. We especially love this melted over a burger or a great steak when you feel like mixing things up a little.
And because no trip to the Basque coast is complete without wine…
We’re also pouring Gaintza Txakolina 2024 and Ameztoi Rubentis Rosé 2025 — two wines that absolutely belong here. Bright, lively, and full of coastal energy, made for seafood, cheese, sunshine, and maybe a slightly dramatic tall pour.
A little Basque escape is always welcome… and since this one happens in Ridgefield and Kent, no passport required.
(Wine tasting in Ridgefield only… for now.)
https://conta.cc/49A934g

Email from 109 Cheese and WIne Cheese, Wine and the Drive but not in that order Basque in the Glow Order your Graduation and Memorial Day weekend platters now This week, we’re taking a little trip to

05/07/2026

Hi friends,
Bandit Monkey Brown here.
This Sunday is Mother’s Day.
My first one.
Now… I know Monica isn’t my biological Mom… but she is absolutely my forever Mom.
One of my favorite moments of the day happens right at the start. Dad takes me out to, well… you know… and then it’s back inside for breakfast.
But then comes the best part…

https://conta.cc/4uhavRH

Email from 109 Cheese and WIne Cheese, Wine and the Drive but not in that order Happy Mother's Day to all Mom's As many of you know, I lost my mom on December 29, 2025. For me, she was Rhoda — we all

04/30/2026

If you want to stay in the loop on cheese, wine and everything 109, we do send out a weekly email. Click the link and sign up and join our family. Thanks!!!

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/QsvkrwD

04/25/2026

Today with Gary | Ridgefield 12–5
We’ve got two familiar favorites back in new vintages — and they’re drinking beautifully.
Poggio al Sole 2025 (Tuscany, Italy)
Bright, fresh, and full of life. Think citrus, white peach, and a little floral lift, with a clean, balanced finish that makes it incredibly easy to enjoy. It’s the kind of white that works with just about anything — light, refreshing, and perfect for this time of year.
Roseblood Rosé 2025 (Provence, France)
Everything we love about Provence in a glass. Pale, crisp, and refreshing with delicate red berry notes, citrus, and a clean mineral finish. It’s elegant but effortless — the kind of rosé you open in the afternoon and suddenly it’s gone. Perfect for the porch, the patio, or wherever the day takes you.
Both are new vintages of wines we loved last year — and the 2025s absolutely deliver.
Come by, have a taste, and see for yourself.

04/25/2026

Take some advice from Bandit
Take Time to Appreciate Time
We don’t say that enough.
This time of year reminds us.
Longer days, softer light, the colors coming back… everything feels like it’s asking us to slow down, even just a little.
To notice what’s right in front of us.
A glass of wine.
A piece of cheese.
A simple meal.
The people sitting around the table.
None of it complicated.
All of it meaningful.

https://conta.cc/4ubAp8R

Email from 109 Cheese and WIne Cheese, Wine and the Drive but not in that order Take Time to Appreciate Time We don’t say that enough. This time of year reminds us. Longer days, softer light, the colo