Monica and Todd Brown, owners of Ridgefield, Connecticut’s 109 Cheese & Wine, were drawn to cheese by their passion for pairing the wines at their boutique wine shop with food. They opened 109 Cheese in 2009, inspired by the closure of a local gourmet food store. “Along with a lot of our [wine shop] customers, we were sad to not be able to buy specialty cheeses,” says Monica. When she spotted a storefront available in a shopping center, it seemed like the ideal spot for a cheese shop—she called the landlord first, and then told Todd about her scheme later. “She sold me on the fact that it would be easy!” he says with a rueful chuckle.
The couple delved into the world of cheese by attending the Fancy Food Show, visiting cheese shops, and absorbing as much information as possible. They eventually sold their original wine store and opened a small wine shop adjacent to 109 Cheese, and later expanded both spaces in 2017. The couple also operates a second 109 Cheese location in Kent, Connecticut.
The Shop
The cheese portion of the Ridgefield shop is about 1,000 square feet, with another 400 square feet for the wine shop. “It’s very rustic, with barnwood shelving throughout,” says Todd. “It’s very warm and inviting—a lot of people are terrified of going into cheese shops so we try to make it as inviting as possible. Our staff is incredibly knowledgeable and very warm and friendly.”
Although the “109” in the shop’s name was inspired by the address, Monica notes, “We probably were close to 109 cheeses when we started! We hover around 100-150 different cheese selections now.” She adds, “It’s a nice balance of everything, international, domestic, we’re just trying to find the best cheeses we can get our hands on at all price points.”
Todd characterizes the second location in Kent, Connecticut, as “a mini-cafe driven to summer traffic—it’s more a summer weekend kind of town.” In addition to cheese and sandwiches, the Kent location has a commercial kitchen used to produce cheese-focused prepared foods including soups, pates, appetizers, and mac ‘n cheese.
Top Selling Cheeses
OG Kristal
“Our customers love OG Kristal,” says Monica. “It has beautiful crystallization, it’s not your typical aged Gouda.” Adds Todd, “The texture is just amazing!”
Rodolphe Le Meunier Crémeux des Citeaux
Crémeux de citeaux. Photo credit Rodolphe Le Meunier
“Our customers love triple creams,” says Monica. “Rodolphe Le Meunier Cremeux des Citeaux is a nice small-format triple cream.”
High Lawn Farm Crema Alpina
High Lawn Farm Crema Alpina. Photo credit High Lawn Farm.
“We just discovered High Lawn Farm Crema Alpina—it’s amazing that they’re almost in our backyard!” says Monica. Made in western Massachusetts from Jersey cow’s milk, the sliceable Alpine cheese is washed in Down East Cider for a funky, fruity flavor.
Also Look For
In addition to cheese and wine, the shop has a charcuterie program, an extensive selection of olive oils and gourmet foods, and gift and household items including pottery, cookware, and candles. “We try to appeal to the person who loves to cook and entertain,” says Todd. “We think of ourselves as a lifestyle cheese shop.”
109 Cheese & Wine also offers cheese and charcuterie boards, which can be arranged on customers’ own serving dishes and boards. “We tell them that they can easily lie to people and say they did it all themselves!” says Todd.