Wood River Creamery is a brand created by Bruce Willis – the Master Cheesemaker, not the actor – of Burnett Dairy. Wood River Creamery was born after Willis created Alpha's Morning Sun, a provolone, cheddar, and Alpine-style concoction that was so popular that it led to the foundation of its own brand. Today, Wood River Creamery is known as the pioneer of a line of cheddar gruyere cheeses, a fusion of two classic varieties that combines the familiar tang of cheddar with the creamy, complex flavors of gruyere. There are 10 varieties of Wood River Creamery Cheddar Gruyere cheese, handcrafted in small batches with ingredients like herbs de provence, fenugreek, black truffle, and smoked cracked peppercorn. Wood River Creamery cheeses have developed a national reputation for surprising the most discerning cheese experts.
The Wood River Creamery brand is owned by Burnett Dairy Cooperative, a cheesemaker with roots in northwest Wisconsin since the 1890s. Today, Burnett Dairy produces a wide range of award-winning cheeses – everything from colby, gouda, cheddar, and havarti to mozzarella, provolone, string cheese, and cheddar gruyere.
Burnett Dairy Cooperative, Wood River Creamery, and Master Cheesemaker Bruce Willis are all part of a long tradition of cheesemaking excellence and innovation in Wisconsin. We've been making cheese in these parts longer than Wisconsin has been a state. By constantly experimenting and improving, our cheesemakers have produced more than 600 varieties, styles, and types of cheese. Along with cheddar gruyere from Wood River Creamery, you'll find award-winning varieties like Dill Havarti from Roth Cheese, SarVecchio Parmesan from Sartori, Whiskey Gouda from Hill Valley Dairy, The Wild Boar Cheese from Dear Creek Cheese, and Ewe Calf to be Kidding, a triple-milk blue from Hook's Cheese.
Wood River Creamery is a line of cheeses made by Master Cheesemaker Bruce Willis at Burnett Dairy Cooperative in Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Wood River Creamery produces artisan cheeses that are handcrafted in small batches.
Cheddar Gruyere cheese from Wood River Creamery is a fusion of two classic cheeses. Rather than making cheddar and gruyere cheese separately, Wood River Creamery's products are made using cultures and techniques from both cheddar and gruyere cheesemaking processes to produce a product that features the flavor and texture of both kinds of cheese. Cheddar gruyere is a semi-hard cheese that's made in small quantities and aged to develop sweet and nutty notes.
In addition to the original cheddar gruyere, Wood River Creamery offers a variety of cheeses flavored with peppercorns, applewood smoked sea salt, black truffle, chipotle peppers and garlic, herbs de provence, mango and habanero peppers, roasted red pepper and cracked peppercorn, and smoked cracked peppercorn.
When you take a bite of Wood River Creamery Cheddar Gruyere, you'll first get the mouthfeel of a cheddar and then the sweet, nutty flavor of a gruyere. The gruyere qualities give the cheese excellent melting properties, which makes a great for cooking. It's also a crowd-pleasing addition to a charcuterie tray or grazing table.
Wood River Creamery cheeses pair exceptionally well with wine and craft beers.
Because Wood River Creamery cheeses melt exceptionally well, they're perfect on grilled cheese sandwiches, flatbreads, and paninis with prosciutto. Shred it up as a topping for pizza or potato bacon soup. Toss with gnocchi, melt it into casseroles, or bake it into a cheesy apple tart.
Wood River Creamery cheeses bring big-time flavor to cheese boards and charcuterie spreads. Surround it with fresh and dried fruits, pickled vegetables, toasted nuts, cured meats, crisp crackers, dips, and chutneys.
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