Top 36 Californian Cow's Milk Cheeses

Monterey Jack is an American cheese made from cow's milk. It originates from Monterey in California, where it was first made by Spanish missionaries under the name queso blanco pais, but it was later taken from them by David Jack, who bought nearly all of Monterey in 1859 and renamed the cheese to Jack's Cheese, soon to be called Monterey Jack's Cheese. Historical shenanigans aside, this semi-hard cheese has a firm, open, supple, and compact texture and a natural rind. It is pale yellow in color, while the flavors are mild and buttery. Monterey Jack also melts exceptionally well. It has a few subvarieties, such as Dry Jack and Pepper Jack. The cheese can be easily found in almost all supermarkets in the United States.Expand

Pepper Jack is an American cheese produced in Monterey, California. This popular variety of Monterey Jack cheese is flavored with jalapeño peppers for a spicy kick. It's made from cow's milk and has a natural rind that hides a creamy, smooth, and open texture. The aromas are herbal, while the flavors are sharp, spicy, and buttery. The cheese has a high moisture content and melts easily. Pepper Jack is often used to add flavor to sandwiches, pizza, omelets, and casseroles. It's also recommended to use it in Mexican-style dishes such as quesadillas, enchiladas, and nachos.Expand

Point Reyes Bay Blue is an American cheese hailing from California. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it's left to age for 90 days. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is crumbly and creamy with blue-green veining running throughout the paste. The aromas are strong and earthy, while the flavors are creamy, sweet, mushroomy, salty, and buttery, with hints of caramel at the finish. It's recommended to pair Point Reyes Bay Blue with toasted nuts or grilled peaches. The cheese also melts well, so it's often used in risottos and pasta dishes or on steaks and burgers.Expand

Point Reyes Original Blue is an American blue cheese produced in California by Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company. The cheese is made from raw cow's milk and has a natural rind. The texture is creamy and buttery and the aromas are milky, fresh, and intense. The flavors range from milky, sweet, and creamy to strong. It's recommended to serve it with pasta dishes, red meat, grilled vegetables, or fresh salads. Pair the cheese with a glass of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, or sparkling wine.Expand

Mt Tam is an American cheese hailing from California, where it's produced by Cowgirl Creamery. This soft triple-cream cheese is made from organic cow's milk with the addition of cream. It has a bloomy rind and the texture is firm, smooth, dense, and creamy. The flavors are rich and buttery with earthy, mushroomy, and grassy hints. Mt Tam is named after the majestic Mt. Tamalpais in Northern California. It's recommended to pair the cheese with a glass of Sancerre.Expand

Breakfast Cheese is an American cheese hailing from California, where it's produced by Marin French Cheese Company. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it's usually sold at a very young age of 3 days. The texture is firm and dense, slightly clay-like, and ivory white in color. The aroma is fresh while the flavors are tangy, salty, buttery, mild, creamy, and citrusy. It's recommended to serve it with bagels and fruit as a tasty snack. This cheese was originally sold in saloons where it was served as an alternative to pickled eggs, hence the name Breakfast Cheese. The small version is known as Petite Breakfast, made with the addition of a dollop of fresh cream to the mix.Expand

Fiscalini Bandaged Cheddar is an American cheese hailing from Modesto, California, where it's produced by Fiscalini Cheese Company. The cheese is made from raw cow's milk and it's aged from 18 to 30 months before consumption. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is hard, firm, and crumbly. The aromas are rich, buttery, and slightly smokey, while the flavors are nutty and earthy. Fiscalini Bandaged Cheddar has won numerous awards, including gold medals at the World Cheese Awards in 2006, 2007, and 2008. It's recommended to serve the cheese with fresh fruit such as pears and apples. Pair it with wines such as Gamay, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, or Chardonnay for the best experience.Expand

Marin French Triple Creme is an American brie-style triple cream cheese hailing from Petaluma, California, where it's produced by Marin French Cheese. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk. Underneath its bloomy rind, the texture is soft, smooth, and fluffy. The aromas are sweet and rich, while the flavors are creamy and sweet, with a sharp finish coming from the rind. It's recommended to pair Marin French Triple Creme with a bottle of India Pale Ale or sparkling wines.Expand

Chimney Rock is an American cheese hailing from California, where it's produced by Cowgirl Creamery. The cheese is made exclusively in fall from the milk of Holstein cows. It ages for 4 weeks, and during that time, it develops a bloomy rind that's washed in Muscat wine, then rolled in black pepper, shiitake mushrooms, and summer savory. The aromas are rich and fruity and the texture is soft. The flavors are piquant, savory, and earthy, with hints of orange blossom and apricots. Chimney Rock is named after a hiking trail in Point Reyes.Expand

Nicasio Square is an American cheese produced in California by Nicasio Valley Cheese Company. This Taleggio-inspired cheese is made from cow's milk and ages for about 30 days. Underneath its washed rind, the texture is creamy and slightly crumbly, with irregular eyes dispersed throughout the paste. Near the rind, the texture is slightly crunchy. The aromas are strong and earthy, while the flavors are reminiscent of caramel, bacon, yeast, and garlic. As the cheese ages, the flavors develop and become stronger. It's recommended to pair it with beer and rich and oaky white whines. Nicasio Square melts exceptionally well, and it's especially popular to serve it over roasted potatoes or use it in gratin dishes. The cheese was named after the main square of Nicasio.Expand

Cowgirl Creamery is a renowned artisanal cheese producer, founded in 1997 by Sue Conley and Peggy Smith in Petaluma, California. The company specializes in the production of organic cheeses, offering a wide range of hand-crafted cheeses that reflect their commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation.

Cowgirl Creamery prides itself on using milk from local farms in the Point Reyes area, known for its rich pastures. The use of locally sourced, organically grown milk gives their cheeses a unique character, depth of flavor, and a high level of quality. Two of Cowgirl Creamery's most famous products are Mt.

Tam and Red Hawk, both cheeses with rich, creamy textures and complex flavors. Mt.

Tam is a soft, creamy cheese with a mild sweetness, while Red Hawk is a washed-rind cheese with a deep, intense flavor, characterized by its reddish-orange rind. These cheeses have become symbols of quality and excellence in the world of artisanal cheese. Cowgirl Creamery produces cheeses in small batches, allowing them to pay close attention to every step of the production process, from sourcing the milk to the final aging phase.

By combining traditional techniques with innovative approaches, they continuously improve their products while staying true to the authentic methods of cheese-making.Expand

Central Coast Creamery is located in Paso Robles, California, where they specialize in producing handcrafted cheeses using local milk free of artificial hormones. The company focuses on aged cheeses and offers a variety including goat, sheep, and cow milk varieties.

Their product lineup includes multiple award-winning cheeses recognized in national and international competitions.Expand

Marin French Cheese Company, established in 1865, is the oldest continuously operating cheese manufacturer in the United States. It specializes in producing artisanal soft-ripened cheeses, including varieties such as Brie and Camembert.

The company focuses on sustainable practices, sourcing its milk from local dairies in the surrounding region.Expand

Bellwether Farms, located in Petaluma, California, is a family-owned creamery that produces a variety of artisan cheeses and dairy products. They are known for using traditional methods and primarily sheep's milk, along with cow's milk, to create their products.

Bellwether Farms also offers a line of yogurts alongside their cheeses.Expand

Rumiano Cheese Company is a family-owned cheese producer based in California. They are known for making high-quality cheese, including organic and non-GMO products.

Rumiano Cheese specializes in crafting various types of cheese such as cheddar, mozzarella, and butter using sustainable practices and high-quality ingredients. Their headquarters is located in Willows, California, and they source their milk from local, pasture-raised cows. The company has a long history, dating back to 1919, and is known for being one of the oldest family-owned cheese companies in California.Expand

Fiscalini Cheese Company is a family-owned dairy farm and cheese producer located in Modesto, California. The company specializes in handmade cheeses crafted using traditional techniques.

They are known for their award-winning Bandage Wrapped Cheddar, which has achieved international recognition. Fiscalini Cheese Company operates with a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibly, utilizing renewable energy and recycling water for irrigation on their farm.Expand

Belfiore Cheese Company is a small-scale cheese producer based in Berkeley, California. The company specializes in Italian-style cheeses, offering a range of products such as mozzarella, ricotta, and mascarpone.

Belfiore Cheese Company is one of the few companies that craft cheese using traditional methods, supplying both retail and wholesale customers.Expand

Sierra Nevada Cheese is a small but passionate family-owned cheese dairy located in the heart of California, at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. They produce cheeses using traditional methods passed down through generations, with a special focus on handcrafted work and careful selection of raw materials.

The quality of the milk, sourced from local farms, is crucial to their production process, as they believe the best cheese reflects the authenticity of its terroir. Their philosophy is based on sustainability and respect for nature, collaborating with farmers who practice responsible and environmentally friendly livestock farming. Cheeses from Sierra Nevada often have rich, complex flavors with subtle fruity, nutty, or earthy notes, developed thanks to the specific aging conditions and local microclimate.

This dairy is the perfect choice for lovers of authentic, artisanal products who value quality and tradition.Expand

Joseph Farms Cheese is an American cheese producer based in Livingston, California. It was founded by Joseph E.

Gallo, 1946 they built a cheese factory, launching production under the Joseph Farms brand. Joseph Farms Cheese produces a wide range of cheeses, including various types of cheddar, mozzarella, Jack, and provolone.

Their cheeses are known for high quality and have often won awards at domestic and international competitions. The brand is also recognized for its commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices; for example, in 2004 they implemented a manure-to-methane system that powers most of the factory’s energy needs. Today, Joseph Farms Cheese is in its third generation of family ownership, and their cheeses are available in many retail chains across the United States, Mexico, and other countries.

The brand takes pride in being the first American cheese producer to receive government certification for products made without artificial hormones.Expand

Bravo Farms Handmade Cheese is a cheese producer based in California, known for crafting artisan cheeses. They produce a variety of cheese types, including cheddar, gouda, and unique blends.

The company emphasizes traditional cheese-making methods and sources milk from local dairies. Bravo Farms also offers cheese tasting and sales at their facility.Expand