Snowdonia Cheese Co is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the launch of Purple Vale (from £5.50, snowdoniacheese.co.uk). This new balsamic-infused artisan mature cheddar cheese is handcrafted in collaboration with renowned balsamic producer Giuseppe Giusti of Modena, whose legacy spans more than 400 years and 17 generations.
Crumbly, intensely savoury and with a whisper of dark fruit and honeyed sweetness, Purple Vale boasts a bold and complex flavour. Snowdonia’s mature cheddar cheese is first blended with its own Balsamic Caramelised Red Onion Chutney, made with Giusti’s Duchessa Carlotta Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, and then finished with the addition of Giusti’s award-winning 3 Gold Medals Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.
Crafted from local red and white grape varieties plucked from the vineyards near Modena, the grapes are gently pressed with the grape must then slowly cooked and aged in oak barriques. The balsamic vinegar’s complexity adds an extra layer of depth and richness to the indulgent, buttery cheddar, while the dark, concentrated red onions bring a gentle sweetness that make the flavours sing.
A true showstopper on any cheeseboard, Purple Vale is best enjoyed with wholemeal and extra-virgin olive oil crackers, topped with balsamic caramelised onion chutney and paired with a juicy, medium-bodied Italian red wine.
Encased in Snowdonia Cheese Co’s signature wax, the deep purple truckle of Purple Vale nods to the heather-clad valleys and vales of North Wales surrounding the company’s home and to the rich colour of the Lambrusco grapes used by Giusti.
Created specially to mark the artisan cheese producer’s 25th anniversary, Purple Vale is the latest addition to Snowdonia Cheese Co’s award-winning range of Cheddars and Red Leicesters that includes its classic Black Bomber, cave-aged Rock Star and Truffle Trove that’s infused with Italian Black Summer truffle.
Founded in North Wales in 2001, Snowdonia Cheese Co is a family business whose celebrated cheeses are now enjoyed in over 35 countries across the world. Inspired by the lush greenery of North Wales, Snowdonia began using fresh ingredients to craft natural, premium Cheddar and Red Leicester cheeses that married an extraordinary depth of flavour with a remarkable creaminess.
Snowdonia Cheese Co’s cheeses were an instant success in local markets and, as it continued in its pursuit of incredible flavour, went on to create more varieties that developed a cult-like following. Snowdonia Cheese Co has also created a range of delicious handcrafted cheese bakes, crackers and chutneys, all traditionally made to recipes unique to Snowdonia Cheese Co.
I: @Snowdoniacheese
