Murray’s Cheese

www.murrayscheese.com
Select your wine and the site pairs it with the perfect cheese.
try: Beer and Spirits Selection (shown), $40.
navigation notes: Browse by beverage pairing, region, type of milk (cow, sheep, goat, buffalo), or type of cheese (soft, semisoft, hard, semihard). Most gift boxes can be ordered according to the occasion.
gift options and wrapping: All cheeses are wrapped in butcher paper stamped with the company logo. In time for the holidays, most gifts are being upgraded to wooden boxes engraved with the logo.
customer service and shipping: Most cheeses are sent via FedEx overnight. Gel ice packs are included to keep everything fresh.

Zingerman’s

www.zingermans.com
Buy fine global cheeses or the company’s own handmade cheeses.
try: American Cheese Passport (four varieties and a loaf of sourdough), $55.
navigation notes: The cheese menu is divided into regions, from North America to Spain and Portugal. There are no pictures of the products — only cartoonlike illustrations.
gift options and wrapping: Gift boxes are generally organized by country, and most cost $55. They include cheeses plus bread or jams, packaged in a colorful box. You can customize a box.
customer service and shipping: Fresh cheeses are shipped overnight, and the cost is based on the amount you spend, not package weight. For second-day service for other items: When you spend up to $20, it costs $9; up to $40, $12.

Formaggio Kitchen

www.formaggiokitchen.com
Select hard-to-find cheeses from small farms across the world.
try: Manchego, $17, and a complementary quince paste, $18.
navigation notes: Shop by country; each cheese has a succinct, helpful description beneath it. The “Food Care” link offers tips on storing. (Good to know: It’s OK to cut off any mold and keep eating.)
gift options and wrapping: Cheeses come wrapped with handwritten labels and packed in a basket. If you’d like to customize a basket, call the store (888-212-3224).
customer service and shipping: Cheeses are shipped via FedEx 2-day or overnight in a foam cooler with gel ice packs. If you choose 2-day but your cheese will be fresher shipped overnight, the company will advise you.