News

 

 

WENSLEYDALE CHEESE SHOULD ONLY BE MADE IN WENSLEYDALE
Creamery seeks to protect Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese

Wensleydale Dairy Products is seeking to protect Wensleydale Cheese from imitations following the announcement that it is to make a submission for Protected Designation of Origin for Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese.

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) aims to promote and protect food products in the EU and is used to describe foodstuffs which are produced, processed and prepared in a given geographical area using recognised know-how. This means that any manufacturers outside of the designated Wensleydale area cannot produce a cheese and call it Real Yorkshire Wensleydale.

The application process involves the first stage submission and approval by DEFRA after which the application is submitted to Brussels. DEFRA has put an enormous amount of effort behind protecting products that have a strong regional bias and protectable origin.

Wensleydale Dairy Products, based in the picturesque market town of Hawes in the heart of Wensleydale and the Yorkshire Dales National Park, makes the only Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese in the world.

Managing Director David Hartley said: “The Wensleydale Creamery has been at the heart of the Yorkshire dale’s economy for many years. Over the past 14 years the staff and management at the Creamery have created a thriving business based on the precious commodity of Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese.

“The livelihoods of more than 190 Creamery workers and 36 farms in Wensleydale depend on the Creamery and we believe that Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese contributes more than £8m to the local economy. By putting forward our submission for PDO status we are not just protecting the future prosperity of Wensleydale but also elevating our product above those manufactured outside the region.

“Wensleydale Cheese very much belongs to Yorkshire and we have been very encouraged by the support we have locally, regionally and nationally. Research has proven that consumers want greater emphasis to be placed on regional foods and also want to know that they are buying the genuine article.”

Made to a traditional recipe at the Wensleydale Creamery using real Wensleydale milk, the company’s hand-crafted and cloth-bound cheeses are available as traditional, blue, smoked and mature varieties which are also carefully blended with quality ingredients.

Wensleydale Creamery has been hand crafting cheese for more than 100 years to time-honoured traditional recipes. Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese is made with milk from 36 farms in the dale.

Alice Amsden, Production Director, said: “The wild flowers, herbs and grasses that grow in Wensleydale give the milk and hence the cheese its unique and special Wensleydale flavour. Much of the area is designated as one of environmental sensitivity where the use of artificial fertilisers and chemicals is restricted.

“All of our cheese is pure, wholesome and full of goodness.”

David Hartley adds: “For the Creamery it will mean that we can plan the future of our business and that cheese producers outside the designated area of Wensleydale cannot produce a cheese and call it Real Yorkshire Wensleydale. This will help protect the regional heritage of our cheese which directly impacts on the livelihoods of Wensleydale farmers and families. It will help to ensure that consumers are getting the real product – which is a hand-crafted cheese, made from real Wensleydale milk with a unique taste. We intend to place significant emphasis on further informing our consumers as to the fact that Real Yorkshire Wensleydale is the only genuine article.”

In 1992 the creamery was closed with the loss of 59 jobs. Yorkshire pride was insulted as production of Wensleydale cheese moved out of its home territory to Lancashire.

Six months later, following many offers to rescue the Creamery, a management buyout took place led by local businessman, John Gibson, and the management team, with the help of eleven members of the former workforce, cheese making recommenced in Wensleydale.

In 1994 a Visitor Centre was opened incorporating a viewing gallery, cheese shop with tasting area, gift shop and restaurant giving people the opportunity to “Share the Goodness of Real Yorkshire Wensleydale”. Today Wensleydale Dairy Products is a thriving business, producing award-winning cheeses and it employs 190 local people. Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese has even won the support of plasticine movie heroes Wallace & Gromit.

 

WENSLEYDALE CREAMERY NAMED CHAMPION IN CHEESE AWARDS
Creamery picks up five trophies in Cheshire Cheese Show

Just days after sweeping the cheese board in the World Cheese Awards, Wensleydale Dairy Products has picked up a further five awards in the Cheshire Cheese Show.

At the Cheshire Cheese Show the Yorkshire company was named Reserve Supreme Champion for its Traditional Wensleydale. It also won a gold medal for its Traditional Wensleydale; two silver awards for its Double Gloucester and Goats Milk Wensleydale and a bronze for its Traditional Red Leicester.

The latest accolades add to the awards recently achieved at the World Cheese Awards, when Wensleydale Dairy Products were presented with a special trophy for the Best English Cheese for its Traditional Wensleydale.

Managing Director David Hartley said: “This latest set of awards underscores the creamery’s commitment to excellence and quality in all that we do. All our cheeses are made by people who care about the product and hopefully that is reflected in these awards.”

The only makers of ‘real’ Wensleydale cheese in the world, the creamery is based in the picturesque market town of Hawes in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Wensleydale Creamery has been hand crafting cheese for more than 100 years to time-honoured traditional recipes. Real Wensleydale Cheese is made with milk from 34 farms in the dale.

Alice Amsden, Production Director, said: “The wild flowers, herbs and grasses that grow in Wensleydale give the milk and hence the cheese its unique and special flavour. The area is designated as one of environmental sensitivity where the use of artificial fertilisers and chemicals is restricted.”
21/06/06


WENSLEYDALE CREAMERY TRIUMPHS IN WORLD CHEESE AWARDS
Creamery picks up seven medals and special trophy in awards

While the England squad might be struggling on the field in the World Cup, Wensleydale Dairy Products has today (Friday, June 6) emerged triumphant in the World Cheese Awards.

The Yorkshire company picked up seven medals for a range of its cheeses and was also awarded a special trophy for the Best English Cheese, sponsored by Fortnum & Mason, by the judges for its Traditional Wensleydale

The World Cheese Awards are the world’s largest international cheese competition and judging is organised by the UK Cheese Guild.

Wensleydale picked up three gold medals for its Real Traditional Wensleydale, Real Blue Wensleydale and Traditional Red Leicester. It won a further two silver medals for its Traditional Double Gloucester and White Cheshire. Meanwhile, the creamery picked up two bronze medals for its Special Reserve Real Wensleydale and its Wensleydale & Onion and Chive blended cheese.

Commenting on the win, Managing Director David Hartley said: “All our cheeses are made by hand to time-honoured traditional recipes at the Wensleydale Creamery using real Wensleydale milk – this quality has clearly been recognised by the judges and we are delighted to have figured so highly in these prestigious awards.”

The only makers of ‘real’ Wensleydale cheese in the world, the creamery is based in the picturesque market town of Hawes in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Wensleydale Creamery has been hand crafting cheese for more than 100 years to time-honoured traditional recipes. Real Wensleydale Cheese is made with milk from 34 farms in the dale.

Alice Amsden, Production Director, said: “The wild flowers, herbs and grasses that grow in Wensleydale give the milk and hence the cheese its unique and special flavour. The area is designated as one of environmental sensitivity where the use of artificial fertilisers and chemicals is restricted.

“All of our cheese is pure, wholesome and full of goodness. We do not add sweeteners to our recipes ensuring a natural cheese flavour is delivered.”
16/06/06

WENSLEYDALE CREAMERY GETS THE DOUBLE

Football fans visiting Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes will get a chance to experience what it feels like to win the double as the company puts both the Barclays Premiership Trophy and the Wensleydale Creamery Football League (WCFL) Trophy on display.

The Barclays Premiership trophy, which was won by Chelsea Football Club this year, and the WCFL Trophy, which dates back to the 1920’s, will go on display on Friday, June 23.

Wensleydale Dairy Products, the official sponsors of the Wensleydale Creamery Football League, has also arranged for Len Scott, Chairman of the North Riding FA, to be present on the day and meet visitors to the Creamery.

Visitors will get the chance to have their photographs taken with the trophies and will be asked to make a discretionary contribution to Wensleydale Dairy Products’ adopted charity, the Great North Air Ambulance.

Creamery Director, Alice Amsden said: “Amid all the World Cup frenzy, we thought it would be nice to give visitors to Wensleydale a little taste of football glory all of their own with a picture of themselves and the trophies.”

She adds: “We have sponsored the league here in Wensleydale for over 10 years now and there’s nothing better than seeing the faces of the players as they raise the trophy above their heads. We are delighted to have the Barclays Premiership trophy here and I would urge any football fans to make a trip to the creamery and come and join in the fun.”

Wensleydale Dairy Products is the only makers of ‘real’ Wensleydale cheese in the World. The creamery is situated in the market town of Hawes in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Wensleydale Dairy Products enjoys global acclaim for its award-winning cheeses. The company continues to apply the traditional methods of hand crafting cheese using time-honoured recipes.
02/06/06

WENSLEYDALE DAIRY INTRODUCES NEW CHEESE TO ASDA
Wensleydale Cheese & Pesto and BLT Cheddar from leading cheese maker

Asda shoppers have developed a taste for two new blended cheeses from award-winning cheese maker Wensleydale Dairy Products.

The leading high street store group is now stocking “real” Wensleydale Cheese & Pesto – an interesting blend of traditional English Wensleydale with a taste of Italian Pesto.

The combination of Pesto with its strong undertones of garlic and basil is neatly counterpoised with the clean, fresh taste of Wensleydale. Excellent for summer picnics and barbeques and as an accompaniment to chilled white wine.

It is now retailing at Asda’s delicatessen counters for 73p per 100gms.

Accompanying the new Wensleydale & Pesto is BLT Cheddar, a tasty blend of English cheddar cheese with bacon, rocket and sun-dried tomato. The marriage of these classic ingredients delivers an interesting cheese that combines the zingy taste of the sun-dried tomatoes with the more mellow tones of traditional cheddar. Also available in Asda stores nationwide for 75p per 100gms.

Based in the picturesque market town of Hawes in the heart of Wensleydale and the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Wensleydale Dairy Products continues to win praise for its range of traditional, hand-crafted cheeses.

Wensleydale Creamery has been hand crafting cheese for over 100 years to time-honoured traditional recipes. Real Wensleydale Cheese is made with milk from 34 farms in Wensleydale in the heart of the Dales.

Alice Amsden, Production Director, said: “All of our cheese is pure, wholesome and full of goodness. We do not add sweeteners to our recipes ensuring a natural cheese flavour is delivered.”

Wensleydale Dairy Products’ Managing Director, David Hartley said: “At the Creamery we continue to adhere to age-old cheese-making traditions but we are also committed to innovation in cheese making. The Wensleydale Cheese & Pesto and BLT Cheddar are a good example of how the creamery continues to revisit its product range to reflect the tastes of cheese lovers throughout the UK.”
02/06/06

Cracking ideas, Gromit!
Wensleydale teams up with Wallace and Gromit to create Eccentric Cheese Inventions

Wensleydale Dairy Products, the only producer of real Wensleydale cheese, and the creator of the popular Wensleydale and Cranberry have announced a range of innovative new products to support Wallace and Gromit's first full length feature film, The Curse of the Were-rabbit.

Inspired by the veggie theme of the movie - as well as the Plasticine
heroes' quirky outlook on life - the forward-thinking product development team at Wensleydale have dreamed up three unusual and delicious new cheeses that form the basis of a new gift range, ideal cheeses for the deli, and products for the chilled cabinet.

The new products are set to take the partnership to another level, strengthening the link between Wensleydale and the film event of the year.

The three delicious new flavours are:

  • Wensleydale with Carrot and Orange, a sweet tasting cheese with a great kick of zesty orange and caramelised carrots, very popular with children
  • Leicester with Leeks, A well rounded cheese teamed with the slightly tangy onion flavour of leeks
  • Cheddar with Cherrybell Peppers and Sundried Tomatoes, cheddar complimented with the of sweet- full flavour of sundried tomatoes and piquant cherry bell peppers

 

The new products are being launched between September and Christmas, to coincide with the launch of the film, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

Wensleydale sales director Phil Jones said: 'Our new flavours might sound a
little unusual at first, but we're past masters at blending cheeses with
new flavours. We launched the first Wensleydale with Cranberries in 1995 and
now it's a best seller.

'The new flavours have been extremely well-received in tests. The carrot and orange blends wonderfully with creamy, crumbly Wensleydale, while
cheddar is perfect with the more robust tomato and spicy pepper.

'And who better to promote our slightly eccentric new inventions than the
slightly eccentric and wildly inventive Wallace and Gromit?'

Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-rabbit is the pair's first full length
feature film, following short films, A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers and
A Close Shave. Stars signed up to provide the voices for the new film
include Peter Kay, Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham-Carter. And of course,
Last of the Summer Wine star Peter Sallis, returns as the voice of Wallace.
The film will be distributed worldwide and released in the UK in October 2005.