I was lucky to be in Europe on holiday a few weeks back, Paris and Madrid, bookending a lovely and delish ten days in Andalusia’s Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, and, of course, Jerez. While I cringe at the thoughts of my soon-to-arrive credit card bills, the trip was well worth it on so many levels. The experiences, the family time, the food and within the food….the cheese. I am a sucker for all cheeses from cows, sheep, goats, water buffaloes and any mixes of same. Hard or soft, fresh or aged, washed rinds or blues, they all make me swoon. High on my bucket list is a cheese trip through Western Europe with wine as the sideline and not vice versa. In the meantime, I will comfort myself in knowing that there’s a lot that you can get close to home—in your store and increasingly on your local cheese maker trail. And you don’t need to be in Europe to partake.

When my good friends buzz in from out of town, I will help them make their winery visits and, from time to time, accompany them- schedule and such permitting. Today, I increasingly insist that they take the time to explore our other artisanal products—from abounding and high quality farmers markets, to epicurean epicenters like San Francisco’s Ferry Plaza Building or its cousin, the Oxbow Public Market in Napa, and to sample the freshly shucked oysters and shellfish at Hog Island Oyster Farm in Marshall to heading a touch north to visiting and tasting with the gals at Cowgirl Creamery. Being a cheese guy, I make sure my friends are aware of the many options abounding in Marin and Sonoma Counties to our north.

On any given day you can visit over ten different cheese makers, and taste and tour just as you would hop up and down the Silverado Trail on your quest of Cabernet perfection. Marin County boasts such gems as the aforementioned Cow Girl Creamery in Marshall, the quaint Marin Cheese Company in Petaluma, and the Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company in Point Reyes Station. Venture northeast more towards Southern Santa Rosa and beyond, and you can add to that list Redwood Hill Farm in Sebastapol, Bodega Artisan Cheese in, of course, Bodega, and the Achadinha Cheese Company again in Petaluma. Make the effort…you’ll be glad you did. But do call first as most will require appointments.

And while you’re at it….taste a few wines (wineries and cheese makers tend to be in close range of one another).

Here’s a good way to get started: Sonoma County Wine and Cheese Guide

With the goal of hearing about your creating your perfect cheese plates and wine matches, I leave you to the table. Let me know what you discover.