Fontina, this is traditionally an Italian cheese. Don't know where Trader Joe's is made, but I'm guessing not Italy. It doesn't taste like much. I think I would probably call it bland. When I look at this, I have to compare it to introductory level fontinas, and they're all gonna be this kind of buttery mild cheese. I give props for texture. This is not gummy and it's not plasticy, and those are the two biggest flaws with most fontina on the market. So this fontina has a waxed rind, and some fontina do and some do not, but that wax is there to retain moisture and really help this cheese maintain its core identity as pliable, moist, great-melting cheese. Red wax is most commonly used for Dutch Gouda. This fontina will do exactly the same thing as a red wax gouda. People might buy it because of the appearance rather than the name.