Quicke’s launches British Farmstead Cheese Board, bringing a true taste of terroir to the Christmas table

In celebration of the land that provides, Devon-based Quicke’s has unveiled the line-up for its first ever British Farmstead Cheese Board, all hand-picked to be at their best during the Christmas festivities. Partnering with likeminded cheesemakers across the South West, who craft their cheeses from milk produced within metres of the dairy, Mary Quicke MBE has curated a winter cheese selection that supports the beautiful landscapes and delicate ecosystems behind some of Britain’s finest cheese.

Created with entertaining, gifting and sharing in mind, the British Farmstead Cheese Board can take palates on a journey of the West Country’s lushest pastures, as family and friends gather for festive fun. Beginning with Sharpham Rustic, a golden, crumbly and delicate semi-hard cheese, made with Jersey milk in Devon’s beautiful Dart Valley, next up is White Lake’s Eve from Somerset, a soft goat’s cheese made from the farm’s own beloved goats, wrapped in a vine leaf and washed in Somerset Cider Brandy.

Quicke’s 24-month matured Vintage Clothbound Cheddar brings Britain’s favourite cheese to the Christmas table, a culmination of the Quicke family’s 500 years spent nurturing the land at Home Farm, while Royal Bassett Blue from Brinkworth Dairy completes the set, handmade in Wiltshire from the milk of Friesian cows grazed on the traditional lush pastures of the Dauntsey Vale.

A true expression of the land from which they came, with every aspect of their characters’ imparted by the fields, the animals, the seasons and the cheese stores at each farm, farmstead cheeses also result in minimal food miles and the preservation of some the most ancient and ecologically diverse corners of Britain. Joining forces with fellow farm-to-fork cheesemakers, Quicke’s hopes to put more farmstead wedges onto Christmas cheeseboards and raise the profile of those who work in partnership with the land.

Mary Quicke explains:

“The crazy times we’re living through are shining a spotlight on where our food comes from and we feel that there’s an opportunity this Christmas to make the relationship between producer and consumer a little closer. The stories of our food heritage are coming to the fore as people dig a little deeper, so we feel it’s the perfect time to shout about farmstead cheese – a product that captures a moment in space and time, from the soil to the seasons and everything in between. Our Vintage Cheddar is actually my favourite cheese, created by accident when we closed our shop to protect our animals during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, showing how good things can come out of difficulty, while Sharpham Rustic is another of the region’s most popular farmstead cheeses. Royal Bassett Blue and White Lake’s Eve are both brimming with the personality and subtlety that come from great farmstead cheesemaking and they all balance so well together. We’ve been overwhelmed by the interest we’ve received over recent months, as cheesemakers have faced challenges like never before, and I hope that we can use the traditional time of family, friends and feasting to build upon this growing appreciation for our food and drink.”

The British Farmstead Cheese Board will be available to purchase from Thursday 1 October at www.quickes.co.uk, priced at £39, including next day delivery across the UK. The box will contain 500g of Quicke’s Vintage Clothbound Cheddar, 250g of Royal Bassett Blue, 200g of Sharpham Rustic and 125g of White Lake Eve.

Also available for festive gifting and entertaining are the Ultimate Quicke’s Cheese Box (£50), containing Quicke’s full range of clothbound cheeses, the Cheddar Tasting Box (£30), containing five award-winning wedges of Quicke’s Cheddar, and Quicke’s 1.8kg Mature Cheddar Truckle (£36), a miniature version of Quicke’s classic Clothbound Cheddar. Quicke’s full range of products have also been paired with complementary crackers, chutneys and beverages, all available from www.quickes.co.uk, to make sure all things cheese are covered this Christmas.