Our Christmas orders are now closed. You can still buy our Cheese Subscriptions to start in January, as well as book our courses and tasting events. If you want to purchase vouchers you can do so until the 20th December but please note that it can take up to 48 hours for the vouchers to be emailed to you as we process these manually.
We have a full counter of cheese in our shop in Pangbourne so you can still come in and purchase items in store
Price range: £5.30 through £31.80
Brebirousse d’Argental is a delightfully soft sheep’s milk cheese with an orangery-red rind and a deep rich flavour. When you first taste this cheese the intense creaminess and gooey texture soon give way to a burst of superb, deep meatiness which is unmistakably sheep. It’s a fabulous combination of delicate sweetness and buttery intensity.
Brebirousse d’Argental catches your eye and your taste buds. Its bright orange rind and creamy middle make it a refreshing alternative to typical cow’s milk cheeses. Elegant yet approachable, it consistently appeals to those seeking rich, aromatic, well-balanced flavours.
Brebirousse d’Argental’s creaminess comes from Fromagerie Guilloteau, a French dairy in Rhône-Alpes known for crafting soft cheeses with flair. Their goal: create a sheep’s-milk cheese as indulgent as triple-cream Brie yet distinguished by its personality.
Brebirousse’s name hints at its story: ‘brebis’ means ewe in French, suggesting sheep’s milk; Argental references a town in the Loire. Though newer than many farmhouse classics, it feels rooted in France’s tradition of creamy cheesemaking.
Unlike southern French sheep cheeses like Roquefort, Brebirousse stands apart. Most are firm or blue-veined; Brebirousse is soft, creamy, and wrapped in its signature bloomy rind, showing growth in sheep’s milk appreciation beyond aged or blue varieties.
Brebirousse d’Argental begins with pasteurised sheep’s milk. Next, curds are gently ladled into moulds to preserve delicacy, then salted and nurtured by cultures, forming the prized bloomy rind.
Visually, Brebirousse d’Argental has an orange-pink rind. This colour comes from a light annatto wash during maturation, which fosters bacteria, creating a sunset hue. Unlike pungent washed-rind cheeses, its aroma is refined and gentle.
When young, its paste is firm with a creamy line beneath the rind. As it ripens, it becomes soft and spoonable, bulging when cut. The edible rind is thin, tender, and essential to flavour. Brebirousse d’Argental’s flavour stands out due its sheep’s milk, naturally higher in fat and protein than cow’s milk. It offers mild earthy notes, warm butter, and a subtle lactic sweetness.
Building on the flavour notes, Brebirousse’s texture is exceptionally smooth and creamy when ripe. It spreads easily with gentle tang, faint nuttiness, and subtle sheep’s milk sweetness. The flavour is creamy and characterful; inside is buttery, slightly sweet, with hints of hazelnut and fresh grass. The orange rind adds gentle earthiness and mushroomy savoriness without dominating.
Concerned about bold aromas from its washed-rind? Don’t be put off! Brebirousse remains elegant and approachable, ideal for newcomers to sheep’s milk cheese or those seeking a milder option.
Jen’s note: Its distinctive orange rind often leads people to assume it will be pungent like stronger washed-rind cheeses. In reality, it is surprisingly mild and creamy. The contrast between its assertive appearance and gentle flavour frequently surprises first-time tasters.
Sizes and Prices
Storage Advice
Delivery and Collection
Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)
MILK, salt, starter cultures, rennet, annatto
Normal opening Monday – Saturday 9am – 4pm until:
Sunday 22nd 9am – 4pm
Monday 23rd 9am – 4pm
Christmas Eve 9am – 12pm
Christmas Day Closed
Boxing Day Closed
Friday 27th Closed
Saturday 28th 9am – 4pm
Sunday 29th Closed
Monday 30th 9am – 2pm
Tuesday 31st 9am – 2pm
New Year’s Day Closed
Thursday 2nd January Closed
Friday 3rd 9am – 4pm then open as normal
After Christmas our courier delivery slots start from 8th January.
