Description
Golden Saye Cheese
About Golden Saye
Golden Saye is made by our friends at Village Maid Cheese here in Berkshire, and if you’ve already read about Spenwood, you might notice something rather familiar about it.
That’s because Golden Saye is made using the same basic recipe as Spenwood, but instead of sheep’s milk, the cheesemakers use wonderfully rich Guernsey cow’s milk.
And what a difference the milk makes.
The first thing you’ll notice is the colour. Guernsey milk is naturally rich in beta-carotene, giving Golden Saye its beautiful buttery-yellow paste — and, rather conveniently, its name.
The Story Behind the Name
Golden Saye takes us right back to the early days of Village Maid Cheese.
In the late 1980s, Anne Wigmore began experimenting with Guernsey milk from the Duke of Wellington’s herd at Stratfield Saye. It was here that she first explored what this particularly rich milk could bring to cheesemaking.
The Golden part of the name comes from the wonderful natural colour of the cheese, while Saye is a nod to Stratfield Saye and those early experiments.
I love that connection. Village Maid has gone on to make some wonderful Guernsey milk cheeses, but Golden Saye takes the story right back to where Anne first started playing around with the milk all those years ago.
The Make
Golden Saye follows the same recipe as Village Maid’s Spenwood, but swapping ewe’s milk for Guernsey cow’s milk creates a remarkably different cheese.
The curds are pressed to create a firm cheese before being left to mature and develop their flavour. Over time, the texture becomes dense and smooth, while the naturally rich milk gives the paste that unmistakable golden colour.
It’s a brilliant reminder of just how important milk is in cheesemaking.
Same cheesemaker. Same recipe. Different milk.
Completely different cheese.
Golden Saye – Jen’s Tasting Notes
Golden Saye has a firm, smooth texture with a lovely buttery richness that you notice almost immediately.
The Guernsey milk brings a natural sweetness and creaminess, followed by flavours of toasted nuts, caramel and a gentle grassy note. There’s a lovely savoury depth too, with just enough acidity at the end to stop all that richness becoming too much.
For me, it’s the buttery character that really makes Golden Saye stand out. It’s rich without being heavy and has that wonderful balance of sweet, nutty and savoury flavours that keeps you going back for another piece.
And that colour really is quite extraordinary. No annatto or colouring needed — that’s just Guernsey milk doing its thing.
How to Serve and Pair Golden Saye
- Make sure you take it out of the fridge a good hour before you want to eat it so it can come up to room temperature.
- Classic pairings: I like Golden Saye with a light red such as Gamay. The juicy fruit works beautifully with the buttery richness of the cheese without overwhelming it.
- Something a little different: A pale ale is a great alternative. The gentle bitterness cuts through the richness while the malt picks up those toasted, nutty flavours.
- On the plate: Keep it simple. A few nuts, some crisp apple and plain crackers are really all it needs.
- In the kitchen: Golden Saye melts beautifully. Try it in a toastie with caramelised onions or grate it over a vegetable tart before baking.
Jen’s note: I love that Golden Saye uses the same recipe as Spenwood, but swapping sheep’s milk for rich Guernsey milk creates a completely different cheese. If you ever want to understand just how much the milk matters in cheesemaking, taste the two side by side. It’s a brilliant little cheese experiment — and you get to eat the evidence!
Buying Golden Saye
- Brand or Producer: Village Maid Cheese
- Product name: Golden Saye
- Milk: Cow
- Country: England
- Region: Berkshire
- Strength: Medium
- Vegetarian: Yes
- Suitable for pregnancy: Yes
- Allergens: MILK
Sizes and Prices
- 100g wedge, £3.60
- 500g wedge, £18.00
- Whole wheel (approx. 2kg), available to pre-order
Storage Advice
- Keep refrigerated
- Wrap in waxed paper or cling film
- Remove from the fridge before serving
- Consume within 10 to 14 days of opening
Delivery and Collection
- UK wide courier delivery
- Click and collect from our Pangbourne shop
- Free local delivery available for selected postcodes
Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)
MILK, salt, starters, rennet
