Main Ridge Dairy Caprinella | Mornington Peninsula, VIC | Goat’s Milk | Semi-Hard Table Cheese
Caprinella is a clean, quiet goat’s cheese—semi-hard, delicately aged, and shaped by the lush pastures of the Mornington Peninsula. Made from the pasteurised milk of Main Ridge’s single herd, this is a gentle table cheese with soft structure and a subtle, nutty finish. The texture is moist but firm, easy to slice, built for everyday use but never dull.
It’s the kind of cheese you can eat without ceremony—on toast, in a sandwich, or alongside fruit—but still recognise the quality of the milk and the hand behind it. Nothing overpowering. Just calm, sweet clarity.
Caprinella is a clean, quiet goat’s cheese—semi-hard, delicately aged, and shaped by the lush pastures of the Mornington Peninsula. Made from the pasteurised milk of Main Ridge’s single herd, this is a gentle table cheese with soft structure and a subtle, nutty finish. The texture is moist but firm, easy to slice, built for everyday use but never dull.
It’s the kind of cheese you can eat without ceremony—on toast, in a sandwich, or alongside fruit—but still recognise the quality of the milk and the hand behind it. Nothing overpowering. Just calm, sweet clarity.
Caprinella is a clean, quiet goat’s cheese—semi-hard, delicately aged, and shaped by the lush pastures of the Mornington Peninsula. Made from the pasteurised milk of Main Ridge’s single herd, this is a gentle table cheese with soft structure and a subtle, nutty finish. The texture is moist but firm, easy to slice, built for everyday use but never dull.
It’s the kind of cheese you can eat without ceremony—on toast, in a sandwich, or alongside fruit—but still recognise the quality of the milk and the hand behind it. Nothing overpowering. Just calm, sweet clarity.
Origin: Main Ridge, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia
Milk: Pasteurised goat’s milk (single herd)
Rind: Natural, thin, edible
Weight: ~150g wedge or slice
Style: Semi-hard table cheese
Texture: Moist, firm, sliceable
Maturation: Aged to develop mild sweetness and nuttiness
Shape: Small wheel, sold in cut portions
What It Is
Caprinella is Main Ridge Dairy’s everyday goat’s cheese—semi-hard and approachable, made entirely from the milk of a closed herd just metres from the make room. Unlike bloomy or washed-rind styles, this cheese is aged without heavy intervention, allowing the milk’s natural sweetness and lactic balance to evolve slowly.
The result is a clean, moist paste that cuts easily and holds shape. No intense funk. No runny core. Just a gentle, savoury-sweet flavour with a nutty afterglow, thanks to slow breakdown of milk proteins and a restrained aging process.
It’s a cheese built for function and flavour—slice it, melt it, cube it, grate it.
Taste and Texture
Rind: Natural and minimal—protective but fully edible. Slightly dry and earthy.
Paste: Firm but not hard. Moist, clean-cut, smooth structure with no eyes or crumble.
Flavour Profile:
Fresh goat’s milk: light, lactic tang
Sweet cream and almond
Toasted hay and subtle nuttiness
Mild salt, soft acidity
Flavour builds through gentle proteolysis and lactose fermentation, with sweetness from residual milk sugars and heat-stable caseins.
Pairing Logic
Caprinella is mild, nutty, and easygoing. Pair it with freshness or toastiness—don’t overcomplicate.
Classic Pairings:
Dry rosé or young Pinot Gris
Wheat beer or pale ale
Fresh pear, fig, or muscat grapes
Wholegrain bread, roasted almonds, or quince paste
Non-alcoholic:
Sparkling apple juice
Cold rooibos or barley tea
Verjuice spritz with mint
Kombucha with light spice (ginger, turmeric)
Avoid: aggressive reds, vinegar pickles, or strong mustard—they’ll swamp it.
Serving Guidance
Slice thin or cube for platters. Great for sandwiches, salads, or melting onto vegetables. Bring to room temperature before serving to soften the texture and open up flavour.
Storage
Store wrapped in cheese paper or baking paper inside a sealed container in the fridge. Keeps well for 1–2 weeks. If surface darkens, trim lightly and let it breathe.
Waste-Conscious Use
Grate into omelettes, tarts, or grilled cheese
Cube for salads or grain bowls
Melt over roast veg or stir through risotto
Use rinds in broths or savoury custards
Caprinella is goat’s cheese without the drama. Quietly brilliant, everyday-ready.