Sample the best Ontario-made cheese
St-Albert Cheese | Destination Ontario
In Ontario, cheese-making is often a family business with generations of knowledge, skills and craftsmanship handed down. At the same time, new and innovative methods are adopted, resulting in superior, hand-crafted cheeses.
Visit Ontario’s top cheese makers to sample and savour classic and new flavours. Some may offer tours of the facility, factory or farm.
Southwestern Ontario
Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese
Another favourite stop along the Oxford Cheese Trail, artisanal cheese maker Gunn’s Hill is located in a picturesque rural region with a rich dairy history. Visit the shop and book a guided cheese plant tour.
Tasty collabs: Award-winning Dark Side of the Moo is a mild, creamy Swiss soaked in Dark Side Chocolate Stout from Upper Thames Brewery and Beaus is a delicious semi-soft cheese that’s washed with a seasonal beer from Beau’s All Natural Brewing in Vankleek Hill.
Location: 445172 Gunn’s Hill Road, Woodstock
Mountainoak Cheese
Located in the heart of Ontario’s dairy belt and a key stop along the Oxford Cheese Trail, Mountainoak Cheese was founded on love for high-quality Gouda.
Monthly tours of the state-of-the-art processing facility are available so you can learn all about traditional and modern cheesemaking methods.
Fan favourites include Black Truffle and Farmstead Mild. These cheeses have all been winners at The Royal Winter Fair Cheese Competition. Wild nettle is consistently one of the most popular Gouda varieties sold.
Location: 3165 Huron Road, New Hamburg
Jensen Cheese
One of Ontario’s most established cheesemakers, the Jensen family has been producing quality artisanal cheddar cheese for generations, since 1925.
Jensen is all about cheddar; aged, flavoured and smoked. Learn about the cheese-making process called “cheddaring.”
A second location, the Wilton Cheese Factory, is located in Southeastern Ontario.
Location: 37 Evergreen Hill Road, Simcoe
Stonetown Artisan Cheese
Following the traditions of the cheese-producing mountain dairies in the Swiss Alps, Stonetown is a multiple first-place winner at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair for its signature cheeses.
Great selection: The Grand Trunk gift box is a four-pack cheese sampler that includes the award-winning Grand Trunk Gruyère.
Location: 5021 Perth County Line 8, St. Marys
Southeastern Ontario
Wilton Cheese Factory
Wilton Cheese Factory was established in 1867 and operated as a Farmer’s Cooperative. In 1970, the factory was purchased by the Jensen family, who ran Jensen Cheese in Simcoe. The factory continued under the same name, producing quality cheese associated with the Jensen brand.
In addition to their cheddar cheeses, a fun variety of cheese flavours include hot pepper and onion garlic.
Location: 287 Simmons Road, Odessa
Glengarry Fine Cheese
This Eastern Ontario cheese maker specializes in artisanal hard and soft style cheeses made from the milk of Holstein and neighbouring Brown Swiss cattle and goats.
The aged Celtic Blue, a soft creamy blue cheese and the Lankaaster Gouda-style cheese are both multi-award winners.
Location: 5926 Highway #34, RR#1, County Road 34, Lancaster
St-Albert Cheese
East of Ottawa, St-Albert has been mastering high-quality cheddar since the late 19th century. The facility includes a restaurant, boutique shop, visitor centre and museum.
You’ll want the award-winning extra old cheddar on your cheese tray and stock up on cheese curds.
Location: 150 St. Paul Street C, St-Albert
Maple Dale Cheese
As the team at Maple Dale describes, much has changed in the last century, but one thing that’s remained consistent since 1888 is the great taste of authentic, farm-fresh, hand-crafted cheese.
Visit the factory retail store for everything from cheddar breadsticks and daily fresh curds to specialty cheeses that are not available anywhere else.
The timeless classic of naturally aged cheddar is the star of the show. You’ll also want to explore some of the amazing contemporary flavours, including caramelized onion and maple bacon cheddar.
Location: 2864 ON-37, Plainfield
Fifth Town Artisan Cheese
Sample hand-made fresh and aged cheese produced from local cow, goat and buffalo milk, celebrating the rich terroir of Prince Edward County.
Visit Fifth Town on Instagram for factory store and patio hours.
Location: 4309 Prince Edward County Road 8, Picton
Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley
Balderson Village Cheese
Established in 1881, Balderson has become a household name in Ontario for its fine cheeses.
While you may find Balderson cheese at your local shop, it’s worth the trip to the Balderson Village Store for the full selection of cheeses as well as other products like charcuterie meats, spreads and home decor. And gift someone special (including yourself) one of the cheese-themed gift baskets, like the “Cheese and Cheer” or the “Entertainer”.
Location: 1410 511, Balderson
Ontario Water Buffalo Co.
Experienced dairy farmers turned their knowledge and passion to raising and milking water buffalo instead, to produce the finest grass-fed, natural buffalo mozzarella.
In addition to the mozzarella, you’ll want to try the buffalo asiago and gouda.
Location: 3346 Stirling Marmora Road, Stirling
Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington
River’s Edge Goat Dairy
Milk produced by the resident goat herd at River’s Edge is used to create handmade goat cheese, yogurt and kefir as well as specialty soaps and lotions.
For a takeaway, the Goat’s Picnic is great on the go. It features award-winning chevre (cream cheese) balls marinated with olives, tapenade and roasted red peppers.
Location: 8102 Wellington County Road 109, Arthur
Monforte Dairy
One of Ontario’s favourite artisanal cheese makers, Monforte Dairy, is known for its superb selection of artisanal cheese. Rose d’amour is a soft water buffalo milk cheese with pink peppercorns, while the Nocino is a nutty cheese with fenugreek seeds.
In addition to the dairy in Stratford, you can locate Monforte cheese in Toronto. Head to the Liberty Village shop at 125 Jefferson Avenue or find Monforte at popular markets like the St. Lawrence Farmers’ Market, Evergreen Brickworks and Wychwood Barns.
Location: 49 Griffith Road, Stratford
Bruce, Grey and Simcoe
Secret Lands Farm
This family-owned and operated sheep farm in the heart of Grey Highlands will fast become your favourite source of small-batch, fresh and aged artisanal sheep milk cheese.
Add a farm tour or organized farm experiences to your visit. And try the rich and textured Labneh cheese balls coated with crushed pistachios.
Northeastern Ontario
Fromagerie Kapuskoise
Meet producers of artisanal, pressed and soft cheese made with whole milk from local cow, goat and sheep farms.
With a nod to its northern Ontario location, the cheeses are named after local rivers and lakes like the Mattagami and the Kapuskasing. Several varieties have been featured in the CN Tower 360 Restaurant menu. Visit for in-store samples and tours.
The Kapuskasing is a creamy cheese lined with vegetable ash in the centre. You’ll also want to try the limited edition, earthy-flavoured beer and wine-infused Opasatika cheeses.
Location: 376 Government Road East, Kapuskasing
Northwest Ontario
Thunder Oak Cheese Farm
The first farm in Ontario to specialize in a creamy Dutch-style Gouda now produces over a dozen different flavours that range from mild to extra aged. All cheese is made from fresh Holstein cow milk from the family farm.
Pick up your favourite flavoured Gouda along with a selection of Dutch products and gifts at the farm store. You can also find Thunder Oak cheese at the year-round Thunder Bay Country Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The Dill Gouda is a consistent fan favourite.
Location: 611 Boundary Drive, Thunder Bay
Niagara Region
Upper Canada Cheese Company
Sample award-winning cheese made from pure, fresh and quality Guernsey milk and goat milk from local farms in the heart of wine country.
If you’re looking for the tried and true cheese, the rich and creamy Niagara Gold is a must for your cheese selection.
Location: 4159 Jordan Road, Jordan Station
Whether it’s cheddar, Gouda or brie, pair your favourite Ontario cheese with award-winning cool climate Ontario wine.
Last updated: August 19, 2025