A Traveler's Guide to Exceptional American Cheeses: Regional Highlights and Must-Visit Spots
Cheese enthusiasts rejoice: National American Cheese Month arrives every October, celebrating the diverse and award-winning varieties produced across the U.S. Far from the processed slices of lore, American cheeses rival global classics with innovative flavors and techniques unbound by tradition.
Discover these specialties at their origins, often in stunning pastoral settings. Embark on this expert-curated cheese lover's tour, highlighting top cheesemakers, farms, and tastings nationwide.
Vermont
Vermont leads the nation in cheesemakers per capita, with cheddar reigning supreme. Start at nonprofit Shelburne Farms, where 120 Jersey cows produce exceptional cheddars. Join the two-hour Sun to Cheese Tour for tastings of six varieties, including an American Cheese Society Award-winning 6-month-aged cheddar.
For hands-on immersion, stay at Liberty Hill Farm in Rochester, part of the farmer-owned Cabot Creamery Coop, famed for 24 cheddar styles. Innkeepers Bob and Beth Kennett welcome guests to interact with cows—pet, feed, or milk them under guidance. Savor family-style meals featuring Cabot dairy, like the irresistible Shaker cheese bread pudding with sharp cheddar.
Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey
This tristate region offers diverse delights. Visit Arethusa Farm in Litchfield, CT, during Open Barn Saturdays (through Oct. 26). Sample nine cheeses at Arethusa Farm Dairy in Bantam, CT—highlighting the award-winning English-style Arethusa Blue, World Championship Cheese Contest best in blue-veined category. Enjoy it melted in a panino at nearby A Mano.
In New York, Alleva Cheese (est. 1892) in Little Italy crafts fresh ricotta and mozzarella daily. Iconic Murray's Cheese in Greenwich Village offers samples, cave tours, classes, and whiskey pairings almost daily. At Union Square Greenmarket, discover Valley Shepherd Creamery's punny raw milk cheeses like More-beer and Melter Skelter; tour their NJ caves for more.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin produces 25% of U.S. cheese, famed for tangy curds and limburger. Explore history at National Historic Cheesemaking Center in Monroe, touring a restored factory producing 90-pound Swiss wheels. Nearby, Baumgartner’s, Wisconsin's oldest cheese shop, serves its signature limburger rye sandwich with onions and mustard.
Savor Dutch-style goudas at Marieke Gouda in Thorp, with flavors like bacon and fenugreek. Visit Dutchess Cafe for gouda-smothered dishes or peek at the cows. In Milwaukee, Clock Shadow Creamery offers tours of quark and curd production. In Madison, Fromagination's Funky Fridays (Fri 3-6pm) feature discounted boards and raclette with wine.
California
California pioneers artisan cheeses, from goat to triple-cream varieties. In Point Reyes, Cowgirl Creamery in a historic barn sells Mt. Tam, a buttery French-style triple cream. Nearby, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company provides farm tours, tastings, and concierge experiences; try their iconic Blue.
At Ramini Mozzarella in Tomales, water buffalo yield superior mozzarella—sample on Saturday tours. Stepladder Ranch & Creamery in San Luis Obispo County blends goat and cow milk for nutty Cabrillo, paired with house-grown fruit.
Pacific Northwest
Ideal climates yield superb cheeses. In Seattle's Pike Place, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese crafts Flagship on-site. Portland's The Wedge festival (Oct. 5) showcases 75+ artisans. Appel Farms in Ferndale, WA, offers drive-thru gouda and cozy grilled curd sandwiches. At Crushpad Creamery in Oregon, pair weekly fresh goat cheese with on-site wines and charcuterie.
