With their affordable yet incredibly high-quality wax truckles of cheese, the Snowdonia Cheese Company has been on our radar for a while. They may not be your current go-to if you're considering splashing out on a festive hamper this year, bur if you're a cheese and wine lover, we think Snowdonia should be front of mind. Snowdonia offer a range of flavoured cheddars and a couple of Red Leicesters, each given an enticing name like Rock Star or Pickle Power, and enrobed in a different coloured wax, which helps to keep the cheese fresh. The Luxury Cheese & Wine hamper includes a selection of their biggest cheesy hits, as well as wine and related accoutrements.
| Information | Snowdonia Cheese Luxury Cheese & Wine Hamper |
|---|---|
| Best for: | Cheese fanatics |
| Alcohol: | Yes, x1 bottle |
| Number of items: | 9 |
| Price: | £70 |
| Delivery: | 1-3 days, free over £35 |
Initial impressions
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When I unboxed the Snowdonia cheese hamper, I noticed how compact it was compared to others I tested (to be precise, the hamper basket measures 35 x 26 x 17cm). I liked how this meant it wouldn't take up loads of room in the kitchen, but is still handy to use afterwards for storage.
Contents review
With three out of four cheeses being variations of mature cheddar, my concern was that the cheeses would taste too similar. But actually they each have a very distinct, equally delicious flavour. The truffle cheese is fragrant and umami, generously speckled with real Italian black summer truffle throughout. Rock Star was perhaps my favourite of the four, a sharp and crumbly cave-aged Cheddar that was a perfect match for the sweet chutneys (I particularly liked the fig and apple).
Although you get a pack of crackers included (I had the fig and cranberry ones with my hamper), I enjoyed the fondue cheese bake with a crusty sourdough baguette. With the weather getting colder, it's the perfect time of year to indulge in anything involving melted cheese. It may sound obvious, but make sure to eat it while it's hot out of the oven, as it's not quite as appetising when it congeals and cools. The Chilean red wine is smooth and aromatic, and has been selected to pair well with the cheeses.
- Black Bomber 200g - Extra Mature Cheddar
- Rock Star 200g - A distinctively rich cave-aged Cheddar
- Red Storm 200g - Vintage Red Leicester
- Truffle Trove 150g - Extra Mature Cheddar with Black Summer truffle
- Rock Star® Fondue Cheese Bake - A hot, fondue-style, cave-aged Cheddar dip
- Fig & Apple Chutney 114g - A sweet and fruity chutney with figs and Bramley apples
- Balsamic Caramelised Onion Chutney 100g - A versatile chutney with caramelised sweet onions and muscovado sugar
- Montes Alpha Colchagua Valley Carmenère 75cl
- A box of crackers
Suitability for gifting
For me, the affordability, smaller basket size (it won't take up lots of space in the car!) as well as the quality and amount of products within make this hamper ideal for gifting at Christmas. I also really like that its cheese and wine theme makes it feel a little more niche and considered; it stands out against the classic all-round hampers. For cheese fanatics (as surely most of us are), it makes for a perfect gift.
One thing to be aware of is that the cheese needs to be kept in the fridge, so if you're gifting it make sure you consider this, or let the recipient know if they might not plan to open it right away. For those that like the plan in advance, it's easy to open the hamper, chuck the cheeses in the fridge and then pop them back in before gifting without disturbing the packaging.
Delivery
The hamper arrived well-protected, in a snug-fitting cardboard box, and it's smaller size makes delivery easy. The delivery itself was quick and easy, and I really value that Snowdonia offer free delivery over £35, which is a huge bonus on top of this already very affordable hamper.
Luxury Cheese & Wine Hamper verdict
I think this is a really lovely little hamper for those looking for a savoury option amongst all the chocolate we tend to hoover up over the festive season. It would be a great addition to your own Christmas food shop, or as a gift to a cheese-loving friend or family member. For a family or group, it's perhaps a little on the small side (for a bigger hamper you'd be better off with their Christmas Cheese, Charcuterie & Fine Wine hamper), but I think the amount of food and drink that you get in this one is ideal to share between two people, or perhaps as a contribution to a larger buffet.
