Best Southeastern English Sheep's Milk Cheese Types
Spenwood is a hard cheese originating from Berkshire. The cheese is made from raw sheep's milk. It has a thin natural rind, while the texture is smooth and dense. The flavors are nutty, sweet, milky, and caramel-like, becoming slightly piquant as the cheese ages.
Spenwood is left to age for 9 months, but it can also be left to age for up to 12 months, when it becomes drier and the flavors are more concentrated. This cheese is ideal for cooking, and it's recommended to grate it over pasta. It was named after the Berkshire village of Spencers Wood.
Wigmore is an English cheese made from sheep's milk. It is produced by Anne and Andy Wigmore of Village Maid Cheese at the village of Riseley in Berkshire. The cheese has a natural bloomy rind. The aroma is yeasty, the flavors mild, sweet, and fruity, while the texture is creamy and similar to that of Brie.
Wigmore matures for at least 8 weeks before it's fully ripened, when it reveals hints of grass, hay, citrus, and caramel.
Sussex Slipcote is an English cheese hailing from Horsted Keynes, West Sussex. This fresh cheese is made from sheep's milk, and it's often flavored with peppercorns, garlic, or aromatic herbs. The ripening period usually lasts for 10 days.
The texture is soft, moist, and almost mousse-like. The aromas are clean and fresh, while the flavors are lemony and tangy with sweet notes. The name of this cheese is derived from an old English word meaning a little (slip) piece of cottage (cote) cheese.
Duddleswell is an English cheese hailing from West Sussex, where it's produced by High Weald Dairy. The cheese is made from high-fat sheep's milk. It matures for 5 months, and during the time it's turned daily. The aroma of Duddleswell is sweet, the texture is smooth and creamy, while the flavors are buttery, nutty, and mildly acidic.
There's also an oak-smoked version of this cheese. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of Merlot and use it in pasta dishes and salads.
Flower Marie is an English cheese produced in Sussex by Golden Cross Cheese Company. The cheese is made from sheep's milk and has a bloomy white mold-ripened rind that's tinged with pink. The texture is creamy, soft, and fudge-like, almost like ice-cream.
The flavors are sweet, aromatic, and slightly mushroomy, with hints of citrus. Flower Marie matures for about 3 weeks, although some cheeses are left to age a few weeks more. The name of this cheese is an anglicized version of Fleur de Maquis, a Corsican sheep's milk cheese.
Best Southeastern English Sheep's Milk Cheese Producers
Village Maid Cheese, based in Reading, England, was established by Anne Wigmore in 1986 after a decade of experience at the National Institute for Research in Dairying. The company is renowned for its artisanal cheeses, including the award-winning Wigmore, Waterloo, and Spenwood, which are all produced using traditional methods and milk from local farms committed to sustainability and animal welfare.
The cheese production at Village Maid emphasizes minimal changes to traditional methods over the years, focusing on handmade processes and environmental sustainability. For instance, they innovated by replacing disposable cheese cloths with a more sustainable alternative to reduce waste.
Best Southeastern English Sheep's Milk Cheeses
Spenwood cheese, produced by Village Maid Cheese in Berkshire, England, is a distinguished artisanal cheese crafted from unpasteurised ewe's milk using vegetarian rennet. This firm cheese is matured for about 7-8 months, developing a thin, natural rind during the process.
Its flavor profile is rich and nutty with sweet and savory notes, and it becomes more piquant and slightly crumbly as it ages, making it a great substitute for Parmesan in various dishes. Spenwood is often compared to Mediterranean cheeses like Pecorino and Manchego due to its texture and taste.
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022, 2021
Culture Cheese Magazine Best Cheeses issue - Best
2023
Wigmore is a semi-soft cheese crafted by Village Maid Cheese, a company known for producing artisan cheeses. This particular cheese is made using pasteurized ewe's milk, which gives it a delicate and creamy texture. Wigmore has a gentle flavor that carries hints of floral and mushroom undertones, attributable to its aging process and the quality of milk used.
Its rind is washed and develops a light, bloomy appearance as it matures. Lovers of cheese often note Wigmore for its smooth and slightly sweet taste, making it a favorite among those who prefer milder cheeses.
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023
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