My husband is on the road for work, happened upon Arena Cheese a few years ago and brought home a…read moredecent sized wheel of Colby Jack cheese he scored for $4. Turns out Arena Cheese is the home of the original Colby Jack! We ended up passing by there on a recent weekend and I got to experience the place for myself. It's not a large store, but there are good things to be found. They had some great value cheese, especially if you have room for larger portions. There was also a selection of meat sticks, string cheese, and some chilled beverages. If you're nearby and looking to stock up on some cheese, watch for the mouse!

We always stop here for curds and other cheeses. They are always knowledgeable and friendly…read more Definitely try the garlic curds if they are fresh. Those are our favs. So far!

This place is huge and has free samples around every corner!…read more Reasonable prices on meats and cheeses, plus a large selection of other specialty items for tailgating, charcuterie boards or just BBQing in the backyard! Staff are super welcoming and offer you wine or bourbon samples as soon as you walk in. They're happy to direct you or help you select items. I will most definitely make this a frequent stop!!!

All the canned food is basic, nothing stands out. Same for cheese. This is not the best Wisconsin…read morecan offer. Where are these items even produced?Where is it actually made?

We bought gifts for friends and cheese for us. Everything is amazing. Friendly and helpful staff…read more Definitely worth the stop.

I love coming to Carr Valley Cheese - not only for the top notch products, but because shopping…read morehere is an experience. I will spend like 20 minutes in this little shop looking at every single product they sell. All local, which I appreciate. I come here looking to buy a pound of cheddar, and leave with about 10 other products I didn't plan to buy. I always end up making a charcuterie after for all my unexpected purchases. They have so many varieties of cheddar - I ended up getting half a pound of their 2 year aged white cheddar and half a pound of soft Gouda to make the perfect mac & cheese. I also got some seasonal wildflower cheddar that I'm excited to try. This small shop is well organized and very cute, with a variety of products not limited to cheese, such as soup kits, bread kits, locally produced honey, all types of fresh butter (including goat butter), wine, and kitchen goods. And of course all your cheese fixings, such as crackers, meat sticks, several types of jams, and charcuterie boards and knives. I didn't interact with the employee working except when she greeted me when I walked in (which is always nice) and when she checked me out. She was friendly and approachable, so if I did have any questions I wouldn't feel like I was bothering her by asking (which I feel at some businesses I've been to in the past). Carr Valley Cheese is my go-to local quality cheese place for all my special cheesy meals.

I just tried some of their signature Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheese, which currently runs $17 for an…read more8 oz package. I must say premium Wisconsin cheeses are like hazy IPA's to me. There are a ton of tastes (and textures) and they're all a little different, and I like them all! Maybe one day I'll develop enough of a palate to have a favorite, but for now, they're all good!!

Pleasant Ridge Reserve, the signature cheese of the Uplands Cheese Company, may be one of the…read moresingle most perfect hard cows milk cheese made in the US. A traditionally made cheese in the style of alpine cheeses from southwestern France, Pleasant Ridge Reserve is made only during the months when cows graze on grasses, sweet clover, and wild herbs, giving their milk a depth of flavor not usually found in most cheeses from year-round milkers grazing on silage and grain. This award winning cheese (just go to their website to see how many accolades they've earned...it is simply awesome) is a favorite both here in the Midwest and all over the country. For those of us lucky to live in Chicago, it is on the menu of many local restaurants, who use it both on cheese plates and in more complex dishes. During a recent visit to Hot Chocolate on Damen, for example, I had a Pleasant Ridge Reserve-filled brioche. I think this cheese is better to eat out of hand than to incorporate in a recipe - with heating, many of the subtleties of texture and flavor are lost. Seek it out. And if you do find it in a cheese shop, make sure the piece you get does not touch plastic. Because plastic is the enemy of all cheese. If it must touch plastic, make sure you get it out as soon as possible and put in proper cheese paper or wax paper and foil. And eat it right away - it isn't going to get any better in your fridge. Uplands isn't open to the public, but if you call ahead they may just accomodate you. The trip through the lush, rolling hills of southern Wisconsin is an agrarian's dream.

The best curds I've ever had! I stop and buy a cooler, ice pack and several bags every-time I visit…read morethe area for work. They seem to have fresh ones every few days and you can't beat the freshness! Staff is always so pleasant and they have a great selection.

You come to Wisconsin for the cheese! And do they got it!…read more They have a great variety of cheese and meats! They have aged cheese and bacon bread cheese. Also pumpkin spice cheese. And some local wines, honey, bbq sauce and such. Great place to check out in you're passing through or looking to make a charcuterie board!

Really loved this place while we were on vacation. Tons and tons of cheese and at a very normal…read morereasonable price will be coming back for sure.

Local establishment offering items unique to Wisconsin. Large selection of drinks, cheese and…read moresweets. If you a looking for something special this is your place.

We loved visiting this little place. It was wonderfully stocked with a great variety…read more I picked up multiple trimmings for some quiche and mac and cheese. Perfect sizes and a great price. I'm giving a 5 rating but am putting a disclaimer. This is for the cheese and wonderful support staff that answered questions and helped us out. Not for any tours as it was Saturday and no cheese making was going on. This was a great little stop and really is some wonderful cheese. We plan on ordering some for Christmas gifts this year. My family made sure to mention you need to get some pictures next to the holding tanks. The cow pattern is too cute!

When you think "Wisconsin" you automagically think "Cheese!" and this factory store says it loudly…read moreand clearly! I first learned of this award-winning cheesemaker when it was featured on an episode of Wisconsin Public Television's series, "Wisconsin Foodie". I decided then and there I had to find this factory. It's about a 2-1/2 hour drive from my house, straight across the state on Wisconsin Highway 60. (West of Sauk City, follow Cty B to Mill Road to the store. It's signed.) My first attempt got me here about 15 minutes after the store closed. :( My second attempt got me here in plenty of time! The variety of cheeses available here makes it difficult to choose. Regular dairy cheese, along with sheep and goat milk cheeses are here. (There are some specialty cheeses available from other makers, such as bleu cheese.) I opted for my favorites, Colby and Swiss, an took a chance on a block of garlic cheddar. You'll also find a wide selection of accessories. I purchased a wire cheese slicer with dual widths, thick and thin. There are refrigerator magnets, t-shirts and logo ball caps. Large windows allow you to watch cheese making in progress, as long as you're there early in the day. When you arrive late in the afternoon, as I did, you'll see sparkling clean, stainless steel cheese making equipment. If you arrive after closing time, you can find their product in Plain at the Shell station and at Straka Meats in Plain. (You should visit Straka Meats, anyway, for another gastronomical adventure!) Oh, yes. The garlic cheddar was delicious!

When you're in the Cheese Capital, your first stop has to be a cheese shop--and Fromagination is…read moreone of the top-rated cheese stores in the U.S. for a reason. This place is a dream if you love cheese (or snacks in general). You can sample a ton of different cheeses, and the staff is super helpful at guiding you toward what you'll actually love. I tried multiple varieties and ended up taking home their top-selling, award-winning cheese--and wow, it lived up to the hype. They also have all the perfect add-ons for a cheese board, so it's an easy stop whether you're building a picnic, hosting, or just want a great souvenir from Madison. Save this for your next trip to Madison, Wisconsin!

This. Place. Is. Awesome! It was recommended on a work website, as a must visit when in Madison…read more And I can see why! It is a small shop that does big business. They have such a wonderful selection of all things cheese related. Not just delectable dairy, but all kinds of accoutrements, snacks, seasonings, even books about cheese. They have samples, sandwiches, and even glasses of wine available. It is a shopping experience. I was there on a random weekday, and the shop was busy. Though they were fully staffed and able to quickly attend to everyone there. Unfortunately, this was my first stop while I was out exploring the town, and I didn't want to go back to my hotel yet and didn't purchase anything. By the time I came back around, they had just closed. I will know better next time.

We've stopped here many times over the years for our cheese fix (some of the best curds). This time…read morewas hands down the busiest. The store is on the smaller side and there was a crowd of people ordering cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches on a Friday. Have a plan - don't decide at the front of the line, please. We got our grilled cheese after about 20 minutes. It was good but definitely wasn't on sourdough like stated on the menu. The special sauce was like an aioli - good on the side but happy I didn't get it on there as-is. Tried the mouseketeer (3 cheese) and it was good. We went back in after to pick up our cheese curds and waited in line again for at least another 15 minutes. All in all, great stop if you're in the area. Just be prepared to wait as they're a small operation and can only do so much at one time.

Located in rural Brodhead, this is a nice little dairy that offers a huge selection of cheese and…read morealso serves up grilled cheese sandwiches. More and more people are starting to shop here, occasionally there are lines but move fast. Large selection of nice, squeaky curds, many flavors. Bring cash, they accept charge but add a small fee.

Every time I am through Deforest, I have to stop here. Friendly, knowledgeable staff and great…read moreselection of cheeses. They also have candies, syrups, jams, etc. You gotta stop in if in the area. They ship also!

We are so happy we decided to stop inside when we found this chalet across the street from our…read morehotel. We ended up purchasing a cheese spread and throughly enjoyed it once we made garlic bread knots with it (they were amazing). I was tempted to buy a lot more then just cheese and meat since they also had a large selection of fun stationary items. If you are in the area stop in!