Cheesemaker: Village Maid Dairy
Region: Riseley, Berkshire
Milk: Ewes
Pasteurisation: Raw (Thermised)
Vegetarian: Yes
Inspired by Sardinian Pecorini cheeses, Spenwood is a wonderfully British take on a classic Italian cheese and routinely brings home awards for creators Anne and Andy Wigmore.
Smooth and firm with a little crumbly dryness. The paste has a nutty and savoury note beneath a sometimes quite piquant bite, while the thin rind brings a little farmyard note.
The combination of nuttiness and piquancy calls for a bittersweet accompaniment. Fig-based jams and chutneys work well, with the molasses like sweetness of the fruit. A light, slightly sweet vermouth blanc can bring out the brighter flavours in the cheese.