Vacherin Mont d'Or is a luxurious, seasonal, soft-ripened cheese made from raw cow's milk, originating from the Jura region, straddling the border of France and Switzerland. Its unique production is limited to autumn and winter months (August to March), as the milk is sourced from cows grazing on alpine pastures during these seasons. The cheese is encased in a spruce bark band, which imparts a distinctive woody, resinous aroma and flavor. It is traditionally sold in a wooden box, and its creamy, spoonable interior makes it perfect for serving warm, often baked with garlic and white wine, as a decadent dip.