It's hard not to love cheese.
As the weather slowly warms up, it’s time to get out and enjoy some great places regional Victoria has to offer. Today we’re taking a journey through the state in search for some of the best spots to enjoy some high-quality cheese.
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Yarra Valley Dairy
Nestled in one of the world’s most popular regions for creating high-quality wines and food, you know you’ll enjoy a visit to Yarra Valley Dairy.
They use the best local fresh ingredients from nearby farms, making sure they are creating something of the best quality for customers. They mainly focus on the soft range of cheeses, so the perfect type goes with a glass of wine, or on a charcuterie board.
This isn’t the kind of thing you can buy online – You can head to the shop to check it out for yourself, they are open Thursday through Monday, where you can sample them all, and even pick up some amazing local wine and produce if you want!
Check out some more info over at their website here.
Note – They are currently closed, keep an eye on their socials for any updates.
Coldstream Dairy
Another awesome spot to check out if you’re a cheese fan is Coldstream Dairy. There’s not a lot online about this spot, showing that all their time and energy is spent making some of the best cheese out there.
They focus on providing cheeses made with the freshest Yarra Valley milk, specifically focusing on the creamy feta cheese, the kind perfect for a pizza or a salad. Their $25 cheese platter is the best choice if you visit – gives you a taste of all the best cheeses they’ve got on offer.
You can find Coldstream Dairy on 735 Maroondah Highway in Coldstream.
Boatshed Cheese
Now for a journey down to the outer Mornington Peninsula, we get Boatshed Cheese. Their milk of choice is cow, goat, and even buffalo, for that fancier taste. They’ve won a bunch of awards for their high-quality manufacturing, and their dedication on providing the best customer service.
They even offer a cheesemaking class, where head of Boatshed, Tamara, will teach you how to make Brie, Goat Cheese, and the creamiest Ricotta you’ll ever taste. Keep an eye here for any future classes that pop up.
Check out their menu and some more info here.
Bassine Speciality Cheeses
One of the longest run spots on this list, you can find Bassine Speciality Cheeses in Bass. They’ve been dedicating their life to making the best cheeses since way back in 1966.
Their shopfront sits next to the farm, where all the cheese they offer is made. Bassine offer customers a number of different cheeses, where they might even find their new favourites; to name a few; Brie, Camembert, Coulommiers, Haloumi, Ricotta, Feta, Washed Rind, Parmigiano, Gouda and Quark.
Check out some more info about Bassine Cheeses here.
Tolpuddle Farm
This place is more of an experience than a cheese shop, but it’s still worth a visit to at least once in your lifetime.
Tolpuddle is actually an accommodation point, and when you first visit the farm for your stay, hosts / owners Melissa and Donovan will guide you through a cheese tasting, where you will get to experience some truly mouth watering cheese. You can stay at Tolpuddle at anytime throughout the year, but keep an eye on their website for any potential closures.
Check out some more info about Tolpuddle and Book in here.
Shaw River Buffalo Cheese
A family-run farm and manufacturer out of Yambuk in outer VIC, the Haldanes family focus on creating and providing Victorian stores with the best Buffalo Cheese. The Shaw River farm and manufacturing centre are located on opposite sides of the Shaw River, so the milk they used is put into their little tanker and driven down to the cheese factory for creation, making sure it stays fresh.
Since starting their business in the 1990’s, their business has grown, now with the further extended family working on keeping the business strong making sure it stays a family affair.
Check out all the stockists for Shaw River Buffalo cheese here.
Schulz Organic Creamery And Cafè
Only a short drive from the Great Ocean Road, Schulz has quickly become one of the most popular spots in Victoria. Their cafe is located on their large property, where a bunch of the stuff they offer is grown and produced.
You can enjoy some decadent morning tea, or gourmet lunch, using some of the farms’ fanciest cheeses. Their cheese platter is a popular choice too – with a constantly changing display, you’ll always find something you like or even a new favourite.
In some exciting news, they are soon offering tours of their farm, so you can see for yourself how it all works. Keep an eye here for when it’s set to start.
Check out some more info on Schulz here.
The Cheese Society Geelong
If you can’t resist fantastic fromagerie but don’t want to travel too far, we recommend hitting up The Cheese Society on Minerva Road.
The brainchild of cheesemonger Alain Sparey, The Cheese Society is a venture spawned from a lifelong love of cheese and the result in a joint storefront with the legends from Union Cellars Wine with the aim of bringing high-quality products to locals in a thriving and central location.
While they don’t make their own cheese, this little gem is the go-to for when you want to try something new.
There will be a small but carefully selected range of products available, plenty of advice and recommendations of what is eating well right now, along with great wine to compliment from Union Cellars. You can expect lots and lots of artisan and hard to find cheeses, smallgoods and accompaniments (and bread and crackers from Newtown bakery Need The Bread), with a focus on local produce.
With everyone’s favourite double act on their playbill, the venue has also created a dedicated area for people to enjoy a glass of wine (or two) and try some of the cheese and smallgoods.
Find them at 15 Minerva Road, Herne Hill. Head here for more information.
