Orange Meets Blue: Wisconsin’s Bold Red Rock Cheese

Orange Meets Blue: Wisconsin’s Bold Red Rock Cheese

Some cheeses make a statement with flavor alone. Others, like Red Rock from Wisconsin’s Roelli Cheese Haus, stop you in your tracks with color and taste. This isn’t your everyday cheddar—it’s an American original that marries the creamy familiarity of cheddar with the earthy, subtle punch of blue cheese.

About Roelli Cheese Haus

Roelli Cheese Haus has roots stretching back to the 1920s, when Swiss immigrant Adolph Roelli settled in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Four generations later, Chris Roelli continues the family’s cheesemaking legacy on the same land. Under his guidance, Roelli has shifted from large-scale industrial cheddar to small-batch, artisanal creations. A recently completed, state-of-the-art aging cellar has doubled production and opened the door to inventive cheeses like Red Rock.

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The Birth of Red Rock

Red Rock started as a playful experiment in 2011. While making a batch of orange cheddar, Chris added extra annatto coloring—and a touch of blue mold spores—to the vat. The result? A brick-shaped cheddar with streaks of blue and a naturally formed rind, aged in the cave for two to six months. Twice as much annatto as traditional Wisconsin cheddar gives Red Rock its unforgettable orange hue, while carefully introduced blue veins lend a mild, earthy tang.

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Tasting Notes

Red Rock delivers creamy complexity. The cheddar base is approachable and familiar, while the blue veins add subtle earthiness and a hint of tang at the finish. It’s a cheese that invites curiosity at first glance and rewards every bite.

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Pairing Suggestions

Red Rock shines alongside wines and spirits that can hold their own against its bold flavor. Try:

• Wines: Rioja, Zinfandel, or sparkling varieties
• Spirits: Small-batch bourbon
• Snack Boards: Dried fruits like apricots or raisins, fresh figs or pears, whole-grain crackers, and almonds

Its versatility makes it perfect for wine-and-cheese nights or a standout addition to any cheeseboard.

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A True American Original

Red Rock celebrates the quirky traditions of orange cheddar—rumored to have been dyed with annatto in Northern France during Napoleon’s era, later popularized by American GIs returning from WWII—and elevates them with a uniquely American twist. With its creamy texture, rustic rind, and award-winning flavor (3rd place at the 2025 American Cheese Society Awards), Red Rock proves that cheddar and blue can be a match made in cheese heaven.