Somerset, UK – December 1, 2009 – Wyke Farms, the UK’s largest independent cheese producer and milk processor, announce that their limited edition Christmas wrapped cheddar is available to the public for one month.

For over one hundred years the special Christmas line of premium vintage cheddar has been reserved for family and close friends during the holiday season. This year however, the special Christmas cheese; a specially selected line of the Wyke Farms Ivy’s Vintage Reserve, is also available to the public for the month of December.

Ivy’s family founded Wyke Farms in the 1900s and now, three generations later, the Clothier family continues to use her celebrated 100-year-old recipe for turning their fresh milk into award-winning cheese with perfect texture and exquisite taste. Fresh milk is collected daily from Wyke’s local farms, where the cows are grazing the lush pastures in the heart of Somerset, the milk is then made into cheddar at the dairy near Bruton.

The Ivy’s Vintage Reserve Cheddar then goes through a careful maturation period, for no fewer than 15 months, under the watchful eye of the head cheese maker.  The traditional art of cheese making is maintained at Wyke Farms as the skilled cheese maker carefully brings all of the ingredients from the lush pastures of the Mendip Hills into full development of taste and texture.

“The Christmas line of Cheddar is our premium vintage at its best” Commented Richard Clothier, third generation family member and Managing Director. He continues “It’s been a tradition to save this for family and friends for over 100 years but this year we want to share it out with those who have the same passion for cheddar as we do”

The 100 years of tradition at Wyke Farms are now matched by over 100 trophies, awards and prizes won by the company at national cheese shows.  From an original 3000 plus, Wyke Farms is now one of less that 20 farmhouse cheese makers remaining in the West Country and today its mild, mature, extra mature and vintage cheddars are sold throughout Europe in over 25,000 retailers.

Wyke Farms has been producing award-winning cheddar for over a century and has grown to become the largest family-owned cheese maker in Britain selling over 12,000 tonnes annually. The company have achieved substantial growth year on year by staying true to the traditional values behind the brand and have become the fastest growing cheddar brand at a rate of 82% year on year.

Wyke Farms cheese and butter products are available nationwide and can be found in Asda, Co-op, Makro, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose.  The limited edition Christmas cheddar is available from Asda stores and priced at £5.00 for a 600g block.