Partridges in pear trees are all very well, but if your true love really wanted to win your heart they’d send round a cheese for every day of Christmas too. Cheese is of course brilliant any time of the year but it adds real flavour and zing to Christmas celebrations. There’s always room for a slice of something creamy and tangy after Christmas lunch (even if you did have seconds of turkey).

And no corny old Christmas film should ever be watched without a plate of cheese, a box of crackers and a bottle of port in easy reaching distance. Here are 12 great cheeses that will add sparkle to your Christmas. Give the list to your true love, but don’t let them make you wait until the twelfth day to try them all. 

	The first cheese of Christmas has to be Vacherin Mont d’Or. In France it’s the Christmas cheese and the spruce boxes fly out of the shops in December.It’s gooey, creamy and flowery and it goes brilliantly with champagne.
	The second cheese of Christmas is port’s best friend Stilton. It’s so tangy, mellow and creamy it’s always irresistible even when you’re too full to eat anymore. But don’t accept anything less than a Cropwell Bishop Stilton. It is Christmas after all.
	The third cheese of Christmas is Lincolnshire Poacher Cheddar You need a great cheddar at Christmas to go with the chutney and pickles. And Lincolnshire Poacher is a truly great cheddar, with a delicious fruity flavour. Perfect with a full bodied red in front of a roaring fire.
	The fourth cheese of Christmas is Wensleydale. This tart and crumbly cheese is absolutely delicious with a slice of Christmas cake; a Yorkshire tradition well worth getting to know.
	The fifth cheese of Christmas is Comté Always a welcome sight on a cheeseboard, Comté goes brilliantly with the Christmas nuts and port. The nutty sweetness of this cheese is also pretty good with cold meats and charcuterie so it’s handy for a buffet and all those Christmas snacks.
	The sixth cheese of Christmas is Brie de Meaux which is up there with tinsel on the list of Christmas essentials. Goes very well with crackers and the Queen’s speech.
	The seventh cheese of Christmas is Swiss Raclette because Christmas is the perfect time for a Raclette party. You just melt the cheese in your special table top raclette grill and then pour it over potatoes, cornichons and charcuterie. Great fun for children and the grown-ups too.
	The eighth cheese of Christmas is Stinking Bishop A bit of a talking point on the cheeseboard, Stinking Bishop tastes a lot better than it smells. Rich, mild, sweet and creamy, it’s a great alternative to Christmas pudding, especially if you serve it with a ripe pear.
	The ninth cheese of Christmas is Isle of Mull Cheddar because one cheddar just isn’t enough for Christmas. This intense, sharp, fruity cheese is made from the milk of cows that dine on fermented grain from the Tobermory distillery. Not a bad choice if you’re having a dram of whisky at New Year.
	The tenth cheese of Christmas is St Marcellin A lemony, creamy soft cheese that’s very moreish, even after Christmas lunch. Better still, you can bung the whole thing in the oven and serve it with crusty baguettes for a ridiculously easy and delicious meal.
	The eleventh cheese of Christmas is Ribblesdale Smoked; a lovely goats’ cheese with a dry creamy taste and delicate smoky tang. Something a little different for your festive cheeseboard.
	The twelfth cheese of Christmas is Morbier, a sweet buttery cheese with a distinctive black line in the middle. Its delicate creaminess makes a nice contrast to the stronger cheeses and it’s also sublime melted on toast – perfect for a late night snack after your Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Merry Christmas and enjoy your cheese!

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