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: £4.60 through £46.00
Spenwood is one of our very best local cheeses. It has a fantastic depth of flavour with a long, lingering finish. Its wonderful flavours come from the high quality sheep’s milk used in its production.
Among many famous European cheeses, Spenwood stands out as distinctly British. It honours Mediterranean traditions but focuses on local milk and expertise.
Spenwood is a firm, hard English cheese made from ewe’s milk. At its core, it’s quintessentially British, but with hints of Mediterranean brightness in both aroma and flavour. Its style bridges the richness of Italian Pecorino and the nutty, mellow tones characteristic of English country cheeses.
Spenwood emerged in the mid-1980s thanks to Anne Wigmore, a pioneer in British cheesemaking. After a decade in dairy science, she took a break to travel.
Her travels led her to Sardinia, renowned for sheep’s milk cheeses like Pecorino Sardo. Inspired by bold flavours there, she aimed to make a British version with local ewe’s milk.
Back home, she founded Village Maid Cheese in Riseley, Berkshire, and created Spenwood. Her goal: craft a hard sheep’s-milk cheese that matches continental classics while reflecting British tastes and terroir.
Spenwood has won praise, including World Cheese Awards, and is now one of Britain’s iconic artisan cheeses, furthering the reputation of modern British cheesemaking.
Spenwood is matured for at least six to nine months, during which a thin, natural rind develops. As it ages, its paste becomes firmer, its flavours deepen, and the texture may develop a slight granular quality, not unlike that of an aged Pecorino.
The rich ewe’s milk and the cheesemakers’ skilled ageing gives Spenwood a dense, firm body and a flavour profile that blends English character with Mediterranean zest. The cheese has a pale yellow, firm interior with a rustic, natural rind. Its aroma is clean and subtly tangy, signalling the depth and complexity of flavours to follow.
The main flavour is definitely nutty, think toasted almonds, with deep savoury notes. I also pick up a subtle sweetness, almost caramel-like, which acts as a balance to the stronger flavours. With age, it develops a tangy, piquant finish.
Jen’s note: Spenwood is named after a Berkshire village called Spencer’s Wood. Anne used to live in the village before moving to bigger premises a couple of miles down the road.
Sizes and Prices
Storage Advice
Delivery and Collection
Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)
MILK, salt, 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.
