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 gift hamper this Christmas, but if your loved one is a cheese and wine lover (and who isn't?), we think Snowdonia should be the first port of call for a foodie gift. Snowdonia offer a range of vintage and 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 Christmas Cheese Selection & Wine Wicker Hamper includes a selection of their biggest cheesy hits, as well as a bottle of wine, crackers and artisanal chocolate bars. We've had the very difficult job of trying out the hamper's contents; read all about this luxurious, yet affordable gastronomic gift below.
House & Garden's verdict:
They impressed us last year with their Luxury Cheese & Wine Hamper, and this year is no different from Snowdonia Cheese Company. At a slightly higher price point than last year's pick, the Christmas Cheese Selection & Wine Wicker Hamper offers more variety, and more cheese, even bringing chocolate into the fold courtesy of artisanal chocolatiers Willie's Cacao. This year the red wine is a fruity Quinta da Fonte Souto, Florao Red 2021 from Portugal. It's the perfect hamper to take along to a festive dinner party, or could be an effortless cheeseboard, readymade for Boxing Day snacking.
Give this hamper to… cheese & wine lovers.
| Information | Snowdonia Cheese Christmas Cheese Selection & Wine Wicker Hamper |
|---|---|
| Best for: | Cheese and wine lovers |
| Alcohol: | Yes, x1 bottle |
| Number of items: | 11, plus a slate cheeseboard |
| Price: | £95 |
| Delivery: | 2-4 days, free over £35 |
| Currently available? | Yes |
Initial impressions
The wicker hamper is really smart, and made from really sturdy feeling wicker. This makes it ideal for reusing, especially as the fabric lining can be removed, because the prominent branding on the front may put off some from displaying it in their home.
Contents review
While it's most apt for those searching for the perfect savoury hamper, we love the addition of chocolate to this selection, making it truly the best of both worlds and pleasing those with a sweet tooth too. When testing, we heated the Black Bomber cheese fondue bake in the microwave. However, we would definitely recommend finishing it off under the grill, to achieve a golden, bubbling finish on top. It may sound obvious, but make sure to eat the cheese bake while it's hot out of the oven, as it's not quite as appetising when it congeals and cools.
The fig and cranberry crackers are very sweet, and one thing we would say is there aren't really enough in one box for all four cheeses, so you are best off adding some bread or extra crackers to the table if serving it all at once (we'd suggest a warm, crusty baguette to pair with the cheese bake and use the crackers with the truckles). On the other hand, the accompaniment of three chutneys feels generous, and ensures that there is plenty to go with the four cheeses. At team House & Garden, we are particular fans of the Black Bomber and Truffle Trove, though all the cheeses are delicious and each have something subtly different to offer.
The fruity Portuguese red wine, with berry and spiced notes, has been selected to pair very well with the cheeses. And the Willie's Cacao chocolate bars are truly indulgent - it's a nice touch to have something sweet to finish with after all that cheese, and the milk chocolate with sea salt flakes was a highlight.
- Black Bomber Extra mature Cheddar
- Red Storm Vintage Red Leicester
- Truffle Trove Cheddar with Italian truffles
- Rock Star Cave-aged Cheddar
- Balsamic Caramelised Onion Chutney - Sweet caramelised onions and aged balsamic vinegar
- Fig & Apple Chutney - Rich figs with chunks of Bramley apple
- Rhubarb & Gin Chutney - Sweet, zingy rhubarb with aromatic London dry gin
- Fig & Cranberry Crackers - Delectably sweet and fruity crackers for your cheeseboard
- Black Bomber® Welsh Rarebit Cheese Bake - A rich and velvety Cheddar and ale dip, served hot from the oven
- Willie’s Cacao Chocolate Bar Duo - Two single-estate chocolate bars by Willie’s Cacao
- Quinta da Fonte Souto, Florao Red 2021 - A vibrant, vegan-friendly Portuguese red
- Duo Slate Board
- Large Wicker Hamper - W41.5cm x H19cm x D26cm
Suitability for gifting
For me, the affordability, very smart basket as well as the high quality and amount of products within make this hamper an ideal festive gift. It could be shared together with family members after a home cooked meal on Christmas or Boxing Day, and takes all the faff out of curating a cheeseboard. Its cheese and wine theme makes it feel a little more niche and considered; it stands out against the classic all-round hampers that saturate the market. 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
Delivery was free, fast and easy, with all the items securely packaged inside with cooling bags to keep the cheeses fresh. We did note that the weight of the cheeses had slightly bashed the cracker boxes, though the crackers inside remained intact.
We think this is a really lovely hamper for those looking for a savoury-leaning option amongst all the sweet treats that tend to dominate hampers. Although the chocolate is a lovely extra addition, and is of just as high a quality as the cheese. For £95 (only £15 more than our top Snowdonia pick last year), we think this premium offering from the cheese company is well worth the money, and is still much more affordable than many of its competitors. The amount of food and drink that you get in this hamper is not overwhelming and neither is it paltry, it's a happy medium in terms of size, so is ideal to give as a gift, share between a family, or as a contribution to a larger festive buffet.
