Winslade Cheese Guide: History & Pairings

The Ultimate Guide to Winslade Cheese

One of the biggest travesties in the cheese world is not being able to consume copious amounts of Vacherin cheese outside of September - April…until now. Yes, that’s right, Winslade cheese is the answer to all of our prayers, and not only is it a pure British cheese, but it’s available all year round!

Made in the style of Vacherin, Winslade is a deliciously oozing cheese with a floral, earthy flavour that requires the biggest spoons available so you can indulge in cheese heaven. Want to know more about Winsalde cheese? Well, you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll explore how and when this cheese was first created and what wine it pairs with best, so you get the most out of it.

Winslade Cheese History

Stacey Hedges and Charlotte Spruce have created not one, but two incredible kinds of cheese worthy of stopping time and space. Their first cheese, the well-known Tunworth was created in 2006 after they set up their multi-award winning artisan dairy near Basingstoke in Northern Hampshire. 

After a few years, they decided that one perfect cheese just wasn’t enough! They wanted to create another cheese with the same shape and size as Tunworth but with an entirely different character. So, in 2013, Winslade was born, taking its name from a local Hampshire town. Both kinds of cheese are completely handmade using traditional Camembert techniques with Winslade being matured for 8 weeks.

Since Winslade’s creation, it’s won a ton of awards including, "Best New Cheese" in the British Cheese Awards of 2013 and "Best Soft Cheese" in the 2018 Artisan Cheese Awards.

What you Need to Know About Winslade Cheese

Thinking about making a big order of Winslade cheese? We don’t blame you! But, before you do, here are some of the smaller details you might want to know first:

• Type of cheese - Winslade is a soft cheese that’s similar to a Camembert and Vacherin style.
• Milk - it's made from pasteurised cow’s milk.
• Strength - on the strength scale, it scores a 4 out of 10, making it a fairly mild cheese.
• Hardness - on the hardness scale, this cheese scores a 2 out of 10, which is ideal for melting and dipping.
• Region - Winslade cheese is made in the region of Hampshire.
• Vegetarian - this cheese is perfectly suitable for vegetarians to enjoy.

Winslade Cheese Wine Pairings

Winslade is creamy and silky smooth with notes of pine and floral flavours, and so pairing this cheese with white wine is the perfect combination. Our favourite wine to drink with Winslade is the Distant Noises Chardonnay, which offers citrusy, zesty, oaky flavours that are a total delight with Winslade.

Winslade Cheese Accompaniments

When it comes to pairing Winslade cheese with other food, melting a small amount on some Peter's Yard Original Crackers and topping it with Proper White Truffle Honey is utterly divine.

Of course, this cheese also makes the ideal fondue, so dipping crusty bread, almonds, hazelnuts, roasted potatoes, apples and even pasta is a must with Winslade!

Can I Eat the Rind of Winslade Cheese?

You can most definitely eat the rind of Winslade cheese but, be warned, it is strong. You’ll find there are also certain times to eat the rind based on which you’d prefer. If the cheese is quite ripe, the rind will be very soft, and you’ll need to eat it with a spoon. But, if you want to enjoy it while it’s still hard, cut it off and slice it into portions as soon as you get the cheese, while it’s still young and firm.

How to Store Winslade Cheese?

When it comes to storing Winslade cheese, make sure you keep it in its original packaging to help preserve the flavour. Winslade can be kept in the fridge and is recommended after opening. But, it should be eaten within a week of delivery. 

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