The tour was worth every penny! Audrey was so passionate and clearly has the best interest of the animals in mind with every decision made. We learned so much and got to brush and pet the sweet baby buffalo! The tasting was fresh and delicious and we made sure to buy some while we could :) read more

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Disclaimer: I've never been on another cheese tour, so I can't make comparisons. However, this tour is special and is quite an experience. The tour is more expensive in comparison to other cheese tours that we've seen in Petaluma, $35 plus tax, but those cheese aren't made with water buffalo milk. With this tour, you get a super informative history/back story of the founders. It is quite the story and could be made into a Hallmark movie. Their story is really inspiring and you can see how passionate they are about their company, product, and water buffaloes. The owner, Audrey, has a hand in every part of the business, and does most of the work, with help from a handful of employees. Please schedule a tour here to support this small company that has ethical and sustainable business practices. I believe every dollar from the tour really helps with their bottom line and I think they really need it as the owner does most of the work herself to cut cost. The highlight of the tour, other than the cheese tasting was getting to pet and brush the water buffaloes until they'd fall over from euphoria. read more

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Yet another five star review for this business! I just finished writing a huge review in G Maps so I'm going to keep this one short... If you like animals and food, you should book a tour of this farm! Appropriate for all ages - my 9yo and 16yo kids both had a great time, which is hard to achieve! read more

Ramini Mozzarella - Water buffalo! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Tomales, California

Took part in the tour last weekend and had a blast and the amount of information was awesome. Those Buffalos are pretty spoiled and most importantly the cheese is fantastic. You get a good amount of time petting the Buffalos, and like a dog they love those belly rubs, ear scratches etc. You then follow up with a nice tasting of the cheese with some fresh tomato, basil etc. The tour is pretty focused on these 2 things which is fine with me. Not a ton of area to run around a roam but you really don't need or want to. I'd highly recommend taking this tour - With the petting and tasting I feel the price is reasonable and you have the opportunity to buy cheese to take home, which I did. Not too mention you're supporting a local non-franchise establishment which I'm always a fan of. read more

Great small time operation. The tour was informative; it conveyed the eminence amount of love and dedication that goes into raising this herd of water buffalo and producing cheese from their milk. A highlight for me was a nod to Temple Grandin design in the dairy parlor. The cheese was delicious, you can definitely taste the higher percentage of milk-fat. I definitely suggest waiting to eat the mozzarella as it softens as it ages. read more

Ramini Mozzarella - Water buffalo Hello! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Tomales, California

Ramini mozzarella has been one of the most memorable cheesemakers on the California cheese trail. Ran by a remarkable woman who puts her entire soul into this business (imagine working 100 hours a week into anything), you could really tell that the quality of the cheese is of the utmost importance. Even through COVID-19 and the loss of her husband, the owner of this business has not ever cut corners or sacrificed the happiness of her Buffalo. By coming up with creative solutions to avoid e errors putting her Buffalo in uncomfortable situations, she's done fantastic things that are considered impossible to do in the cheesemaking world (separating mothers from their children isn't something that this business does). However, times are tough and more now than ever this business needs our help! With unique and delicious cheese that literally NO ONE ELSE in America makes (water buffalo are too hard to manage for everyone except Ramini), we can continue to have a slice of Italian heaven right here in the Bay Area. Please make a tour, it's a 5/5 experience! read more

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Visiting Ramini Mozzarella and taking the dairy farmstead tour was the highlight of my trip to Northern California. It was an amazing place to visit. I really enjoyed learning about how the buffalo mozzarella is made and the process behind maintaining the herd of water buffalo. These animals are loving, friendly, and have gentle souls. The owner Audrey is an incredibly hard working and her story is fascinating. She really made sure the tour was an incredible experience for everyone. I found her to be kind, authentic, passionate. It was so inspiring to see. I highly recommend a tour of Ramini Mozarella. It's worth the drive and the scenery is magnificent. read more

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Loved this tour! I accidentally found it on TripAdvisor and being a huge fan of buffalo mozzarella I knew immediately we HAD to go!! Best $25 we spent! The tour was not only educational...it was very touching and inspiring. Audrey is an amazing human being! Despite the struggles of her business she is as tough and resilient as her buffalo. She sincerely cares about each animal and the products she creates. After the tour is the tasting, we had 40 people on our tour. So we only got one piece of buffalo mozzarella each. We didn't know it but you can have a picnic there if you choose to. Make sure you bring wine and lunch if you're hungry. Luckily we had some extra wine bottles with us! After the tasting you have the opportunity to brush and play with the baby buffalo! Being animal lovers we we had an amazing time. We even went home with some buffalo mozarella! Gotta support and shop local! Highly recommended and can't wait to come back!! read more

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A must-see stop if you are a fan of big animals, artisan cheese, or both. (2020 COVID status: yes, tours are open again with plenty of space and mask wearing.) We heard about Ramini Mozzarella from a friend and signed up for a Saturday tour. It was wonderful. The day started with the owner Audrey talking about the history of their dairy, the character of the water buffalo and her herd, their philosophy of herd management and cheese making, and taking questions about their operations. We lucked out: a calf had been born earlier that day, and we were able to watch his mother caring for him just hours into his young life. After the introduction, there was a chance to explore the dairy, followed by a sample of fresh buffalo milk mozzarella made just the day before. Delicious! (They had additional cheese for purchase, but you need to bring cash for that.) The tour ended with the best part (if you're an animal lover): the amazingly well-socialized calves were brought in from the pasture and we all got to brush, scratch, and give them belly rubs. This is a wonderful insight into a micro dairy dedicated to making great cheese and being compassionate stewards of their wonderful herd of gentle giants. read more

Ramini Mozzarella - Part of the herd - Cheese Shops Near Me - Tomales, California

Fantastic farm tour. We enjoyed a beautiful day out despite of covid (they have proper mask and social distancing measure). I didn't know the buffalo are such affectionate and cuddles animals! We spent hours brushing and petting them. Buying some yummy cheese home to enjoy. The owner, Audrey, is very passionate about her business and her herd. It's extremely tough to be a small business owner now, so please come visit! read more

Let's start with the cheese, because this cheese stands alone. Go ahead and try to find good buffalo mozzarella anywhere. Know why it's hard to find? It's hard to raise water buffalo and make artisan buffalo mozzarella from them. Yes, buffalo mozzarella is made from actual water buffalo milk. I got to taste some of this delightful cheese a few dozen feet away from the water buffalo that had just given their milk to make this cheese. It was covered with some olive oil and on a piece of toast with a bit of basil, and I added a bit of salt and pepper. Delicious! Ramini Mozzarella has a dedication to making artisan cheese which is such a pleasure to see, and there is a moving and unique story behind this cheese maker which you can hear for yourself if you take their tour. The tour is very worth taking if you are near Petaluma, CA. read more

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We experienced our tour during Covid protocols, so it may be run different during "normal" times. It's not really a tour of the farm. You arrive and spend about 1 - 1.5 hours standing in one spot and listening to the owner speak about the farms history. There is certainly a lot of interesting information, but it's tough to stand still for that long of a time and remain engaged. The tour is also quite large, so we ended up in the back to maintain proper distancing which meant we couldn't even get a good look at the buffalo during this time. However, the highlight comes at the end when you get to pet and brush the baby buffalo. This is an amazing experience and makes the entire tour worth it! There isn't any crowd control so there is a lot of close gathering, but if you wait in back and are patient, eventually you will get a turn with the buffalo while maintaining proper distancing. read more

Wonderful family day at Ramini. We booked the 3 hour tour and tasting. Audrey's story is really inspiring and we all learned a lot! The quality of the buffalo mozzarella is amazing and we were able to buy some to bring home (you can't buy it in retail stores anywhere else). Loved petting the baby buffalo too! read more

Ramini Mozzarella - Cheese Shops Near Me - Tomales, California

Everyone go tour this farm!! Audrey kicks off the tour with the most beautiful story of her history and the farms history, I found myself getting unexpectedly emotional listening to her. Definitely come here if you're looking to restore your faith in humanity and get a hit of serotonin from snuggling with baby water Buffalo. Thank you Audrey we need more people like you and Craig read more

When I cook Napoli style margherita pizza at home, I need mozzarella di bufala. Previously I needed to search for mozzarella di bufala imported from Italy. But they started providing the missing piece! Their mozzarella di bufala tastes great as the ones imported from Italy. The only difference is their cheese is always fresh! They do tours with tasting in weekends. It costs $20 per person. You should send a mail to them to arrange an appointment. I love mozzarella di bufala. So their tour was a great experience for me. If you love it too, I bet you would enjoy their tour and tasting! read more

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Wonderful farm tour, absolutely floored by the care and attention they provide the buffalos. The owner Audrey had a truly inspiring story of following their dream and creating a successful business from scratch. The delicious ricotta cheese was an extra delight. read more

Audrey is Amazing. Please support her by visiting and touring her creamery. She is such a passionate person and unlike all the other tours you can take in the area, you can really feel her devotion to her art. read more

Fantastic farm. For $30 you get to see the farm, listen to the owner's story, taste their cheeses and pet the animals for more than 30 min. Highly recommend it. I will be back. read more

One of the best farm visits and tours I've ever done! I was amazed by how friendly the buffalo were. You can tell how much they are loved and how well the farm is run. This tour is a must for anyone who likes cheese! Can't wait to go back! read more

It's hard to put into words how important this place is for the future of sustainable and quality agriculture. These people have through trial and error found a formula for production of an incredibly desirable product, personal fulfillment, and collaboration with an endangered species (less than 4000 left In the wild!) my kids loved the one on one time with the animals ; best buffalo mozzarella we've ever eaten (even in Italy unless you live next to a producer , good luck getting something as fresh as a day old.) bite the bullet and make reservations / pay for the tour the first time you go. You will be doing the world a favor just hearing the stories they have to tell. read more

What a unique experience! For $25/person we got a 2 hour tour of the farm which includes a cheese tasting and the opportunity to pet and brush the baby buffalo!!! That was the highlight for me because they are so affectionate and dog-like. What a great experience. Keep in mind that the owner is on farm time so tours are likely to start 20 minutes late and go at a relaxed pace, so don't make any early dinner reservations. Wear closed toe shoes unless you want a buffalo poop pedicure. Bring a jacket or sweatshirt because the fog can roll through in the late afternoon. The owner will go over the history of the business, how she got started, how she runs the farm on a day-to-day basis, and she'll even show you how she milks the buffalo and makes the cheese. She is the strongest and most resilient woman I have ever met and it is incredible what she accomplishes on her own. The tour is such an interesting and unique experience, I highly recommend it! read more

The tour of Ramini Mozzarella is fun, inspiring, and delicious. Audrey shares her very personal story of starting, growing, and maintaining the business and gives you an up close look (and feel!) of the process, including petting and brushing the baby water buffalos. Plus a delicious tasting and the chance to buy more to take home. So special in every way. read more

Just up front, this is still a struggling business trying to get off the ground. So bring your patience, gratitude, and compassion with you. There's a lot that's not quite as up to snuff as the bigger establishments, but that's ok. It's a fun time and an interesting story, even at $25 a pop. There's not much to the tour itself, unless you've never been to a dairy farm before. Petting the young buffalo at the end is pretty cool though. As for the cheese itself, we tried one that she categorized as on the firmer side and that would last 6 to 7 days, as opposed to the typical 2 to 3 days. If you know fresh cheese, particularly mozzarella, you know the shorter time is better. There will be more flavor there. As such, the cheese we tried was not any better than any other mozzarella, especially one that is really fresh. So take it for what it's worth. I would've loved to try some of the milk because that's not going to change as much as the cheese would, and you could experience the richness more fully. read more

Amazing owner and a moving story behind this only US operation producing authentic Mozzarella di Buffala. The owner, Audrey, has started from zero and is now a successful cheesemaker, her passion and energy is contagious. You will be seated at nice farm style tables while she tells the story of the Ramini Mozzarella. You get to play with the baby buffaloes, tour the milking and creamery facilities, get a tasting of cheese and you are allowed to picnic there. There is deliciois cheese for purchase, made freshly onsite. We loved our tour, the water buffaloes and the cheese! read more

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Phenomenal. It doesn't get any more legit than this. 11/10 recommend. There isn't anymore to say but yelp requires me to write more text. read more

Couldn't think of a better way to spend an afternoon. This place is really something special. Highly recommend for families, couples looking for a fun date idea, or anyone who loves cheese or animals. We had a blast, and it was apparent how hard Audrey works to make the tour an incredible experience for everyone. She's so kind, authentic, and passionate - so inspiring. Ramini Mozzarella has an amazing story as a small local business, and I feel lucky to have had the chance to learn more about the amazing labor that happens here every day. (Plus the cheese was out of this world). read more

An experience to have! Bring your mud boots and pack a picnic. You can sip on your wine as you take in these amazingly loving creatures. The Ramini Farm is a one of a kind place, it's a love story between two Bostonians. It's a place where there is passion and human love for the cheese as there is for their buffalo family. Every buffalo is name and nurture by human touch. read more

I love the idea of quitting your job to start a buffalo farm - that's exactly what the owner, Craig, did. He and his wife run this place themselves and do everything by hand. They tell the story and the process, and it really sounds like a labor of love, but they're super passionate about what they do. Their cheese is generally available at some SF restaurants (including 2 of my favorites: Seven Hills and Delfina), but they don't do retail sales outside because they want to control the quality and shelf life of the mozzarella. They do sell it at the farm if they have enough (come by on a Friday or Saturday). The mozzarella is sold at $12/ball, and they give you some basil leaves and baby tomatoes to go with it, which is a nice touch. You can arrange for tours/tastings by appointment ($20/person). The tour includes the creamery/dairy, seeing the milking and mozzarella making process, learning about cow vs water buffalo. At the end, there is a cheese tasting in the picnic area (bring your own wine and additional food). You can also go into the pens and meet the baby buffalo and pet / feed them. All together, we were there for almost 3 hours. Beware - where there are buffalo (and their poop), there are lots of flies.. Make sure to email Craig before heading out there. He and his wife are super accommodating, and Ramini Mozzarella is worth a visit even though it's kind of in the middle of nowhere. read more

This was the highlight of the trip my friends and I recently made to explore Marin county. Audrey, the owner, is such an inspiration to all as she continues to keep alive the legacy of her late-husband's dream of producing buffalo mozzarella. Her passion for cheese making and the welfare of her buffalo is clearly evident in her tour and production of her cheese. Audrey's tour, both informative and engaging, presents the history of the farm and allows a candid look into her world of owning and running this farmstead operation. We all enjoyed being able to hear from Audrey as well as meeting her herd. None could resist the sweet gaze of these water buffalo, nor turn away the opportunity to brush and pet the adorable, sweet babies! Tips : 1) Bring food/drinks to enjoy at the outside picnic area. 2) Wear closed toe shoes that you don't mind getting a little dirty. It's a ranch, so lots of hay, dirt, and animals! 3) Advance reservation required (totally worth it). Cash only. Bring extra cash for purchasing delicious buffalo mozzarella! Will definitely be recommending this place to friends and family coming up to visit the area! read more

Hands down one of the best experiences on a creamery tour ever. The passion Audrey has for the process is indescribable. The cheese is beyond delicious. But the highlight is the chance to be one on one with the "kids." Their affection fills you with such joy. Do not miss the chance to experience this one of a kind tour. read more

Our group of 8 decided to go on a cheese farm trail visit and this one was the HIGHLIGHT!! The owner Audrey was exceptional, she is so passionate and knowledgeable. Her dedication to make the finest buffalo mozzarella is very impressive. We truly enjoyed the tour and brushing the buffalo was so much fun! I will definitely return, bringing my grandchildren next time. read more

The architecture reminds one of a quaint Tuscan mozerella farm, and the natural aroma of the mozzarella drifts into the bedrooms and makes you dream of simpler times. You will never want to leave your room. The informative lecture will satisfy all your beet curiosity, and the dawn goose walk will tug at your heart strings. Mozzarella making never seemed so possible. Great story to tell your friends. Plenty of parking! The staff's attention to detail and devotion to cleanliness was limitless. From their enthusiastic welcome to the last wave good-bye, Ramini farms delivers. read more

Wow wow wow. Absolutely delicious, incredibly personal experience and gorgeous scenery. Well worth the trip or while you're already in heavenly Sonoma County. Go. read more

My boyfriend and I took a tour this past Saturday and it was wonderful! Ramini Mozzarella is a creamery making the only true buffalo mozzarella in the country with beautiful surroundings and an incredible leader in Audrey. She gave us the full history of how Ramini Mozzarella came to be and my heart broke to hear about her husband Craig's passing. I was incredibly impressed with Audrey's composure and perseverance. She is dedicated to her animals, the property, and, of course, the cheese. The tour is very reasonably priced at $20 a person and lasts about 2 hours, though our group took a bit longer since it was so large and we spent a lot of time petting the baby water buffalo. You get a tour of the facilities, a lovely picnic table (bring your own food and wine), samples of the cheese, and time to pet the babies! Afterwards, you can purchase the cheese ($12 a ball and comes with an heirloom-y tomato and basil) and any gear (hats, t-shirts, stickers) from Audrey with cash or check. It's hard to choose what my favorite part was: the cheese or the animals. The cheese was delicious and we at the ball we brought home with a drizzle of olive oil, sea salt and crackers. The water buffalo were so gentle and once you came near them with a brush, they were immediately putty in your hands. Audrey is right, they do behave like dogs! If you're spending time in the area I highly recommend visiting Ramini Mozzarella and learning the joy that is baby water buffalo kisses. read more

I have bought Ramini mozzarella twice at Orange Farmers Market...all I can say is "absolutely delicious !" I only wish I could buy it in store or online. I believe this is the best mozzarella in the states Thank you for this wonderful treat. read more

When buying the tickets I thought that they were a bit pricey and that a 2 hour tour was going to be boring. I was wrong. The price was very fair and the tour was educational, fun and delicious with a chance to pet the baby buffalo ! I would recommend this tour and their cheese to anyone! read more

The tour was excellent. I was visiting the farm with my disabled daughter and elderly mother, the staff went above and beyond to help us. I was in awe of Audrey and her passion for the buffalo and her business. The cheese is delectable and the whole experience was well worth the drive. read more

I wasn't sure what to expect and I was beyond happy with the tour. It's not every day you hang with 50 water buffalo. Audrey is amazing and was such a gracious host as was her assistant. Be sure to bring a picnic as you can use the tables for that purpose. You learn a lot about the animals and the cheese making process. The barn cats and kittens were an added "cute" factor. The part where we went in w/ the young buffalo's and brushed them was my absolute favorite part of the journey. They are such docile and sweet animals. I feel incredibly blessed to have had the experience. I'll be telling everyone I know to go and you get to buy some amazing buffalo mozzarella cheese (the only cheese that should be used to make Caprese if you ask me) at the end. Go - you will not be sorry!! read more

The full package! Amazing hospitality, story, cheese, and last but not least you get to hang out and pet water buffalo.

A tour for the whole family. We all enjoyed this tour very much. We appreciate the origin of this farm, all those that run it and their very warm and thoughtful hospitality. We recommend this tour for any one. read more