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: £2.95 through £17.70
Our Yorkshire Wensleydale PGI is a firm, yet crumbly cheese. It has a lovely fresh, almost citrussy flavour with hints of wild honey.
When people think of quintessential English farmhouse cheese, Yorkshire Wensleydale usually comes straight to mind, particularly Wensleydale made in and around Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales. This is a cheese with deep roots, a distinctive character and a protected identity that connects it to the land and traditions of the area.
Wensleydale has been around for a long time, since the 12th century, in fact, when Cistercian monks at Jervaulx Abbey started making it. They brought their cheesemaking know-how from France and soon made the most of the rich milk from local sheep grazing those lush dales. Even after the monasteries were dissolved in the 16th century, the cheese continued to be made. Local farmers kept the tradition going, switching to cow’s milk and handing down their methods from one generation to the next.
Of course, like so many traditional rural crafts, Wensleydale cheesemaking hit a rough patch in the 20th century. By the early 1980s, things were looking pretty bleak and the cheese nearly vanished altogether. The local creamery in Hawes was on the brink of closing, but a group of determined workers stepped in to save it, wanting to keep the cheese’s story alive. That same spirit is still going strong today, helped along by a renewed love for artisan and regional foods
To recognise its special character and long history, Hawes Yorkshire Wensleydale was given Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status by the European Union. So only cheese actually made in Wensleydale can be called by that name.
PGI status is a bit like a promise on the label; it means the cheese you’re picking up really does come from where it says it’s from, and it’s made in the traditional way.
Hawes Yorkshire Wensleydale is one of those cheeses that’s easy to love but still stands out from the crowd. Inside, it’s pale and creamy, almost ivory. The texture is just right, slightly crystalline, never rubbery or too dense, and it comes with a natural rind.
On the nose, you immediately get fresh, milky notes. There are subtle hints of grass and spring flowers, but nothing too overpowering. The first hit of flavour is definitely a gentle lactic sweetness, then the light citrusy and tangy hints come through. There’s no strong funk: this is a friendly, balanced cheese.
Jen’s note: We all know the famous line, “Wensleydale, Gromit.” Wallace (from Wallace & Gromit) calls Wensleydale his favourite cheese in several of the films. As it turns out, Wallace’s fondness for Wensleydale actually helped revive interest in the cheese in the late 20th century, a lovely example of art giving a hand to food traditions.
Sizes and Prices
Storage Advice
Delivery and Collection
Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)
MILK, salt, starter cultures, vegetarian rennet
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.
