Our cheese is renowned around the world and while we have much more to offer, the multi-billion dollar cheese business is a huge part of our DNA and extends far beyond cheese shops.
Wisconsin is a national and world leader in cheese production. Nearly a quarter of the nation’s dairy farms are located in our state, and many of them are family farms that are open to the public for tastings and tours. As leaders in cheese and dairy production, we work challenging to care for our planet and exploit sustainable agricultural practices, including bioenergy. Our cheese is not only sustainably produced, but also award-winning. The World Cheese Championships take place in Wisconsin every year and win top honors.
But cheese is more than just a business for us, it is a labor of love. Our passion is rooted in generations of innovation and craftsmanship, and we love to share. Discover our love for cheese and celebrate the tradition with family and friends. Stop by our shops and cheese factories or visit a dairy farm, and if you’re here for the summer, take part in a cheese festival. While you’re exploring, be sure to buy enough cheese and spreads to last you through your next trip to Wisconsin.
Famous cheese shops and destinations
You’ll find specialty cheese shops across the state, from Door County to Ellsworth.
The Castle of the Cheeses of Mars is home to cheese delicacies worth a king’s ransom, from pointed cheddar to cottage cheese and chocolate cheese fudge. The Kenosha store also sells local sausages and wines. In Door County, Door Artisan Cheese Company matures its award-winning specialty cheeses on-site. During your visit, you can see the cheese-making process through a viewing window. The store also sells local and national wines, and there is a restaurant and bar inside.
To find cheese from multiple Wisconsin dairies in one place, visit Dane County Farmers Market were held twice a week in Madison. The capital is also home to From imaginationa cheese shop where you can buy everything from Gouda to mature cheddar, while also offering interactive classes, lunch menus, events and more.
Capital Cheese Cottage Cheese
Cheese curds are a favorite across the state of Wisconsin. In Ellsworth, they are not only made and eaten, but also celebrated.
In 1984, the governor called Ellsworth “the cheese curd capital of Wisconsin,” and that still rings true. It takes place every summer in Ellsworth Cheese Cottage Cheese Festival features over 6,000 pounds of cheese curds, as well as craft beers and local wines and ciders to aid you wash down all the delicious cuisine. The event also includes live music, a classic car show and food vendors selling everything from classics to cinnamon sugar dessert cheese curds.
The city is home to Ellsworth Cooperative Creameryz o. o. produces cottage cheese, white Cheddar cheese and other cream products for local and national grocery stores, gourmet cheese shops and restaurants.
Goat Cheese Straight From The Source
Add a goat farm tour to your Wisconsin itinerary and eat cheese and dairy products straight from the source.
Take a tour of Door County Creamery, a cheese shop and a goat dairy farm where guests can sample local cheeses and homemade ice cream. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet some farm animals during the tour – something kids will love. At the end of the tour, visit a shop that sells goat cheese and spreads, handmade soaps, and more.
It is located northeast of Fond du Lac LaClare Family Creamery, a goat cheese producer. Learn more about the cheese-making process on a guided tour that includes a visit to a goat farm. Find both LaClare and Saxon dairy cheese and wine, ice cream and other specialty products in the store. During your visit, be sure to eat a meal in the hotel’s café serving dishes straight from the farm.
You’re definitely salivating by now. So book a trip to Wisconsin to taste our world-famous cheese and learn more about our multi-generational traditions and latest innovations.
