Semi Hard Cheese

Semi-Hard Cheese Delivers Full-On Flavor

When you think about cheese – and who doesn't? – a semi-hard cheese is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Semi-hard varieties are the icons of the cheese world: think cheddars, swiss varieties, goudas, havartis and monterey jacks. These cheeses walk the line between hard and soft: they're firm enough to slice and shred, but not hard enough to grate or soft enough to spread. They're often the main attraction in cheese-based entrées, and the heart of any meat charcuterie board. When you want a cheese that delivers creamy flavor and supple texture, semi-hard cheese has you covered.

Wisconsin cheesemakers truly excel when it comes to semi-hard cheeses. Our cheesemakers have perfected the semi-hard classics and invented quite a few of their own—from cheddar blue and colby, to Chandoka® and Cūpola. Of course, that's what you'd expect from cheesemakers who've been reinventing the cheese wheel for 180 years of cheesemaking excellence. When you're shopping for semi-hard cheese, you'll find a whole new array of styles, types and varieties of cheeses from Wisconsin.

Explore our website to discover all kinds of semi-hard cheeses that make great ingredients for cheese-infused meals or gifts for cheese lovers. Browse our index of recipes for simple cheese board and charcuterie ideas, or order wine and cheese gift baskets or charcuterie gifts from our online store. Or, to learn more about semi-hard cheese from Wisconsin, read on below.

Semi-Hard Cheeses from Wisconsin

There's an abundance of semi-hard cheese made here in Wisconsin. Here are a few of our favorites.

• Alpine-styles. Wisconsin alpine-style cheeses are the American cousins of Swiss originals like gruyère and comté. Wisconsin cheesemakers craft these classic cheeses using Old World techniques that produce nutty, rich and full-bodied cheeses filled with alpine flavor.
• Colby. A Wisconsin original, colby is a wonderfully melty cheese that's a milder form of cheddar.
• Cūpola. Named for the small wooden pinnacles atop traditional Wisconsin barns, Cūpola is an award-winning, small batch, artisan cheese with a pineapple flavor and caramel notes.
• Emmental. Emmental cheese has a nutty, fruity flavor with a savory finish and an elastic texture. It's dotted with iconic large, round holes or eyes that make it one of the most recognizable types of cheese to come from Switzerland.
• Gouda. Wisconsin's award-winning goudas are creamy, washed-curd cheeses that are slightly sweet, buttery, nutty and incredibly versatile. As a young cheese, gouda has a smooth and creamy texture that grows denser and more crystallized as it ages.
• Provolone. Produced in a range of shapes and sizes, provolone have a clean and buttery flavor with just a hint of sharpness and a toothsome texture. Provolone pairs well with everything from cured meats to pastas to bruschetta.
• Swiss. Wisconsin's version of swiss cheese is a cousin of Switzerland's emmental variety, a rindless cheese loaded with buttery, nutty, slightly sweet flavor.
• Young cheddar. Cheddars are one of America's absolute favorite cheeses. Young cheddar varieties from Wisconsin are mild, mellow cheeses with higher moisture contents, giving them a pleasantly creamy texture.

It's Completely Easy to Love Semi-Hard Cheese from Wisconsin

Next time you're smitten with a semi-hard cheese on a cheese board or in an entrée, odds are that cheese is being made right here in Wisconsin. After all, Wisconsin cheesemakers craft 600+ varieties, styles, and types of cheese. Like all our cheeses, Wisconsin's semi-hard varieties are among the best, made by a licensed cheesemaker, as Wisconsin is the only state that requires a license to make cheese.

Of course, foodies aren't the only ones who have fallen in love with Wisconsin cheeses. Judges at cheese championships have made Wisconsin artisans the most awarded group of cheesemakers out there. In fact, we've won more awards than any other state or country in the world!

So, next time you want the finest semi-hard cheese money can buy, just look for the Proudly Wisconsin Cheese badge on the label. That's the easy way to find semi-hard cheese that will be sure to please one and all.