Erich Hunkeler is a cheesemaker based in the district of La Glâne, in Sommentier. Passionate about his craft, Erich produces 148 tonnes of Gruyère AOP and 2.5 tonnes of Vacherin Fribourgeois AOP each year. His "celebrity" status, however, mainly comes from his creation, the "Petit Glânois"—a semi-hard, raw milk cheese he developed in 1999. After many trials, Erich became convinced he had found the right formula: beautiful 2.8 kg wheels that he could initially only produce six of per day. With the purchase of a larger cheese vat, he can now make up to twenty-four at once. Today, the Sommentier cheesemaker produces between 3,000 and 4,000 wheels of "Petit Glânois" annually. This cheese is aged for two and a half months in white wine and can easily be stored for three and a half months. It comes in six varieties: natural, garlic, wild garlic, green pepper, chive, and ash-coated.
