Yoredale

Producer: Curlew Dairy

Location: Wensleydale, Yorkshire

Style: Semi-Hard

Milk Type: Cow

Milk Treatment: Raw

Tasting Notes: Yoghurt, Citrus, Fresh

Vegetarian: No

Yoredale is a traditional Wensleydale made by Ben and Sam Spence at Curlew Dairy in the Yorkshire Dales.

Made slowly in small batches from raw cow’s milk and clothbound before maturing, it is a world away from the mass-produced crumbly Wensleydale many people are familiar with.

What does Yoredale taste like?

Fresh and buttery with the gentle lemony acidity characteristic of Wensleydale.

Closer to the rind you’ll find more earthy, mineral flavours, while the texture is softer and creamier than most modern Wensleydales.

Who would enjoy Yoredale?

If you think you already know Wensleydale from supermarket versions, this is the cheese I’d try.

It’s particularly good for anyone who enjoys traditional British territorial cheeses such as Lancashire, Cheshire or Caerphilly.

How to serve Yoredale

Serve with a good oatcake, sourdough or — in proper Yorkshire fashion — a piece of fruit cake.

It also melts exceptionally well, so try it on toast.

Stephen’s Take

“Yoredale is the cheese I’d give someone who tells me Wensleydale is boring.

It tastes like a proper farmhouse cheese: buttery and fresh in the middle, then more earthy and complex as you get towards the rind. Completely different from the block Wensleydale most of us grew up with.”

— Stephen, Founder of George & Joseph Cheesemongers