Wyke Farms delivers the UK’s first innovation in hard cheese in 20 years

Leading independent cheese producer Wyke Farms has announced the launch of “Ivy’s Reserve Somerset Red”. Sitting under the Ivy’s Reserve range of premium cheddar and butter, the premium cheese is billed as the first innovation in hard cheese from the UK in the past 20 years.

The Somerset cheese comes with the very special ‘reserve’ status, as it has a special flavour profile that, on the cheese board, compliments the Ivy’s Reserve Vintage cheddar. Ivy’s Reserve Vintage Cheddar has a firm body and full rounded flavour with a shortness of texture and hint of crunch on the end, whilst Somerset Red boasts more buttery smoothness, combined with the richness and savouriness as the vintage reserve, but with added creaminess, tanginess, and nuttiness on the end. This new cheese has a ‘moreish’ taste and melts with ease.

“For this special cheese we selected a unique strain from our natural starter set,” Rich Clothier, third generation cheesemaker, said.

“The starter we use is a Cremoris based strain that we adapt in the recipe to enhance its creaminess and complexity. My grandmother would be pleased to sit this cheese alongside her famous Vintage. We affectionately call it ‘Grandfather Tom’ as it’s nice to see them together again complementing each other so nicely.”

Wyke Farms said Ivy’s Reserve Somerset Red will meet emerging market trends across the world and fulfill a global appetite for new, creative offerings within the category. Somerset Red surpasses traditional vintage recipes, and the complex flavour profile is perfectly suited to global taste preferences.

The natural starters used to produce the rich and creamy texture, have been kept on the farm by the Clothier family for over one hundred years. The cheese is then matured for a full year, under wood and under the watchful eye of the master cheese grader at Wyke Farms, all trained from knowledge passed through four generations of family cheese makers.

In line with the Ivy’s Reserve range of products, Somerset Red is verified as carbon-neutral to the PAS 2060 standard.

“We remain focussed on developing the Ivy’s range and continue to work towards more net positive improvements. This is the future of dairy, and we are leading the way with fresh innovation and creative, sustainable offerings that have global appeal,” Clothier, managing director at Wyke Farms, said.

Ivy’s Somerset Red will be available to stock in the UK and launches into US retailers in April 2024.