• The Connoisseur's Christmas Cheeseboard

The Connoisseur's Christmas Cheeseboard

Cheeses:  5 cheeses
Weight:  1050g

Christmas is about tradition, especially on the cheeseboard which, as everyone knows, is cheddar, stilton, brie and Wensleydale or Lancashire to go with the Christmas cake. This year I’ve decided to ring the changes with a few alternative suggestions and something funkier for the adventurous palate.

Winslade. Made by Stacey Hedges and Charlotte Spruce in Hampshire (pasteurised cow’s milk and vegetarian). Winslade’s plump white duvet of a rind overspills its spruce
band, which allows you to bake this soft cheese for a luxurious starter. Eaten au naturel, a creamy flavour with a hint of fresh greens is joined by a resinous note from the spruce – a great alternative to camembert or brie.

Sparkenhoe Red Leicester. Made by the Clarke family in Warwickshire (unpasteurised
cow’s milk and animal rennet). With its deep orange colour this cheese is the ultimate
winter warmer. Sparkenhoe brings all the depth and complexity of a traditional style. A firm fudgy texture delivers salted caramel, umami, earthiness and a toasted cheese finish. Perfect with Christmas cake.

Yarlington. Made by David Jowett, washed by Sam Wilkin in Tom Oliver’s Yarlington Cider (pasteurised cow’s milk and animal rennet). The terracotta rind with its dusting of white and the buttery oozing paste signal treats to come. Funky barnyard, umami and a
smoky finish are delivered by a rich mouth-coating texture with a light salty crunch on
the rind.

Isle of Mull Cheddar. Made by the Reade family on the Isle of Mull (unpasteurised
cow’s milk and animal rennet). A pale straw colour shows this cheese’s origin, and its
difference from Somerset cheddar. The cows are fed on draff – the barley mash from
whisky-making – which gives that paler colour. Flavours include toasted cheese, a hint
of peat, a trace of smoke and a mild heat in the finish.

Cropwell Bishop Stilton. Make by Robin Skailes and his team in Nottinghamshire
(pasteurised cow’s milk, vegetarian rennet). Stilton is non-negotiable at Christmas, and this one’s a cracker. The restrained blue veining suggests balance, while the ivory paste and deep indigo of the blue itself denote profundity.

Delivery is FREE and all Cheese Club boxes will be delivered on Thursdays. You can also select delivery for the New Year. Each delivery comes in a climate control box (the only in the industry) with a 48 hour freshness guarantee. The cheese is cut fresh on the day that it is sent out to ensure it's in the best condition. 


Each box comes with an insert that will talk you through the info on the cheeses, tasting notes and a scorecard to help you make the very most of your BBC Good Food Delivery!

Free Shipping

Free next delivery to UK mainland on all cheeseboxes. Boxes are delivered on Thursdays (last orders 9am Wednesday)

Perfect Condition

Our cheese is delivered in climate-controlled packaging. We recommend eating within a week for optimum freshness

Guarantee

We have a 48 hour freshness guarantee. If your box is more than a day late, we will send you a fresh one for free

About BBC Good Food Cheese Club

BBC Good Food have teamed up with fellow enthusiasts cheesegeek to bring you some of the finest fromages in the UK. You may know cheesegeek from BBC’s Dragons’ Den when founder Edward Hancock and Operations Director Richard Simpson secured investment from entrepreneur Steven Bartlett earlier this year. We'll have more great cheeses available every 12 weeks. There's zero obligation and we guarantee you'll enjoy every cheese - or your money back!

About BBC Good Food Cheese Club