Wood River Creamery Black Truffle

Gruyere Cheddar with back truffles is full of flavor.

Right from the first bite, this cheese is intriguing. There are a lot of flavors present all at once, but after the initial confusion passes and with a second nibble, more distinct flavors begin to emerge: nuts, lightly sauteed garlic, button mushrooms cooked in butter, and a familiar tang of cheddar cheese. Initially, this unusual product is interesting, but it can easily and very quickly go from a little bit odd but pleasant to very tasty and downright addicting. 

This was the first time I had ever heard of a Gruyere Cheddar cheese. I'm not talking about combining cheeses in cooking, on a four-cheese pizza, in a blend in mac & cheese, or shredded to use on tacos or sandwiches, for example. This was my first experience with a marriage of two kinds of cheese in one solid block. It's a bold move to merge two classic cheeses. Until you try it, you wonder who the heck would do that and why. Swiss or Alpine cheese and Cheddar are two completely different animals. It's like pairing white and dark chocolate, only instead of melting or mixing two separate products into one, this cheese is made using specific bacteria that produce enzymes that allow all the magic in cheese to occur, and with a bit of magic, the final product comes together quite nicely. As far as taste, it all makes sense. You get the robust sharp tang of Cheddar cheese paired with the mild nutty, earthy flavors associated with Gruyere. And then there are the black truffles. Oh, those truffles! 

Wood River Creamery is part of the Burnett Dairy Cooperative in Wisconsin, located in the north-western part of the state. Some might remember the terrible fire that destroyed part of the over 100-year old building in the summer of 2020. Fortunately, with some heart-warming community support, the dairy was back up and running to almost full capacity by the fall of that same year. The Wood River Creamery is one of the oldest in the state, dating all the way back to 1896! With such a rich and long history, it's not surprising that Burnett Dairy Cooperative has received top honors and awards on the world stage over the many years they have been in operation. 

From their website:

Burnett Dairy Cooperative is a farmer-owned cooperative based near Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Founded in 1896, we are one of the few remaining full-service cooperatives producing cheese today. With the guidance of our Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker®, our award-winning cheeses are Masterfully Made™ with inventive flavors and inspired quality for retail, deli, foodservice and private-label customers.

Many of our retail cheese products are sold in grocery stores throughout the United States, online at burnettdairyshop.com, and at our retail Cheese Store & Bistro in Grantsburg, Wis., and Cady Cheese in Wilson, Wis.

Burnett Dairy Cooperative provides farmers with a full range of agricultural services needed for farm management. We provide agronomy services, fuels, grain, feed, animal health and nutrition services, and a General Store with farm supplies.

A great gift idea is a box of assorted cheeses!

Made in small batches, Wood River Creamery cheeses are distinctive in both how they are made and aged but also because of the unique flavors added to their beautifully crafted cheeses, especially the Cheddar Gruyere varieties. The Creamy Black Truffle cow's milk cheese is aromatic, nutty, tangy, and earthy. It's both slightly sweet and savory, a product of the two different styles of cheese in one. With the added truffles, garlicky notes are prominent. Despite what might seem like a mess of conflicting flavors, everything comes together perfectly. The very next day after I first sampled this cheese, I actually craved it and thought about it, that next lovely bite, as I was making my way home from work, excited to dive in when I got the chance.  

Wood River Creamery Black Truffle is excellent on its own or in cooked dishes.

This is a great cheese to eat on its own, but it is fantastic in baked noodle dishes, mac and cheese, for example. Cooking softens the sharper flavors. It's wonderful on grilled or cold sandwiches. You can serve it with crackers, on a baguette, or in a fondue. Winter fruits, dried or fresh, are also a nice accompaniment to this truffle cheese.  

If you're looking for a good wine pairing, try Wood River Creamy Black Truffle with a sparkling  Lambrusco. It also goes well with Pinot Noir, Syrah, Riesling, or a blanc de noir or rose Champagne. For a beer selection, try it with a Pilsner or wheat beer. 

Lambrusco wine pairs well with truffle cheeses.