Chasing the Curds: Top 7 Cheese Factories in Ontario for a Savoury Road Trip

Ontario is packed with incredible food experiences, and cheese factories are some of the tastiest stops you can add to a road trip. From squeaky-fresh curds and aged cheddar to artisan cheeses, creamy spreads, and locally made dairy products, these destinations are perfect for anyone who loves discovering regional flavours.

Many cheese factories in Ontario are more than just places to shop. Some have viewing areas, tasting opportunities, on-site cafés, farm stores, ice cream, or specialty products you may not find in regular grocery stores. They also make great stops on the way to cottage country, small towns, scenic drives, and weekend getaways.

This guide highlights seven of the best cheese factories in Ontario for a savoury road trip. Whether you are craving fresh curds, looking for a unique foodie stop, or planning a delicious day out, these cheese factories are worth adding to your Ontario travel list.

What Makes Ontario Cheese Factories Worth Visiting?

Ontario cheese factories are more than places to buy cheddar or curds. Many are small-town destinations where you can sample local flavours, shop for specialty products, learn about dairy production, and pick up road trip snacks you will not always find in grocery stores.

They are also great stops because they often connect visitors to the region around them. A cheese factory might be near cottage country, farm country, wine routes, bakeries, markets, or scenic small towns, making it easy to turn one stop into a full day trip.

What to Buy at an Ontario Cheese Factory

Fresh cheese curds are usually the must-try item, especially if they are made on site. They are best when they are squeaky, fresh, and eaten the same day.

Other popular items to look for include:

• Aged cheddar

• Flavoured cheese curds

• Cheese spreads

• Cream cheese

• Cottage cheese

• Tortillon cheese

• Smoked cheese

• Gift baskets

• Local meats, crackers, jams, honey, and preserves

1. Nickel City Cheese

Location: Chelmsford, Ontario

Type: Cheese Factory, Food Stop & Northern Ontario Destination

Nickel City Cheese is a family-run cheese factory in Chelmsford, just outside Sudbury, that has grown from a small cheese curd operation into a true Northern Ontario food destination. Opened in 2018, the business produces its cheese in Northern Ontario using milk from local Ontario farmers, making it a proud “ON supporting ON” stop for cheese lovers.

The shop is best known for its award-winning cheddar products, including nearly 20 flavours of cheese curds, cheese blocks, tortillon cheese, cream cheese products, cheesecakes, gift baskets, and party trays. Their products are now carried in more than 50 locations across Ontario, but visiting the storefront gives travellers the full experience, including the chance to browse other small-business products like cured meats, honey, jarred goods, and Northern Ontario favourites.

From spring to fall, Nickel City Cheese becomes more than just a cheese stop. The property also features a seasonal poutine shop, mini donut shop, and ice cream spot, creating a fun road-trip destination where visitors can grab fresh curds, enjoy a loaded poutine, and finish with something sweet.

Best for: Cheese curds, poutine, local Ontario products, and Northern Ontario road trips.

Pro Tip: Visit during the warmer months if you want the full destination experience, including poutine, mini donuts, and ice cream on site.

2. Stonetown Artisan Cheese

Location: St. Marys, Ontario

Type: On-Farm Artisan Cheese Producer

Stonetown Artisan Cheese is an on-farm cheese plant in St. Marys, known for handcrafted alpine-style cheese made with fresh whole cow’s milk from the family farm. One of the most impressive details is how fresh the process is: cheese production begins about 30 minutes after the cows are milked, giving visitors a true farm-to-cheese experience.

The farm has earned recognition at both Canadian and international cheese competitions, including a Grand Champion win for its Wildwood cheese at the 2023 SIAL Canada international cheese competition. Their cheeses are inspired by traditional Swiss mountain dairy techniques, with a focus on pure, natural flavour and quality ingredients.

Stonetown is also a family-run business with a strong focus on sustainability and careful farm stewardship. For cheese lovers planning a savoury Ontario road trip, it is a standout stop for award-winning cheese, farmstead craftsmanship, and a deeper connection to where the milk and cheese come from.

Best for: Award-winning artisan cheese, farmstead cheese lovers, and food-focused road trips.

Pro Tip: Try Grand Trunk and Wildwood if they are available, since they have received major recognition at international cheese competitions.

3. Capella Meadows

Location: Brussels, Ontario

Type: Organic Farmstead Cheese Producer

Capella Meadows is a certified organic and biodynamic farm in Brussels, where cheese is made directly on the farm using milk from their own animals. This gives visitors a true farmstead cheese experience, with a clear connection between the land, the animals, the milk, and the final product.

Their on-farm cheese plant produces a variety of cheeses, with products available in multiple stores across Ontario and at their small on-farm store. Along with the cheeses listed online, Capella Meadows now also offers cream cheese, with three more varieties expected to become available soon.

The farm store also features other farm products, including flour, potatoes, goat and lamb meat, some beef, and seasonal items. Visitors can also take a small self-guided farm tour to meet the animals, learn about the farm’s organic and biodynamic approach, and get a closer look at how their cheese is made.

Best for: Organic cheese, farmstead products, self-guided farm visits, and sustainable food lovers.

Pro Tip: Leave time for the self-guided farm tour so you can meet the animals and better understand Capella Meadows’ approach to farming and cheesemaking.

4. River’s Edge Goat Dairy

Location: Arthur, Ontario

Type: Farmstead Goat Cheese Producer

River’s Edge Goat Dairy is a farmstead cheese producer where handcrafted goat cheeses are made directly on the farm using milk from their own herd of dairy goats. This gives visitors a deeper connection to the food, with the chance to experience the journey from pasture to cheeseboard and better understand the care behind each cheese.

The dairy is known for goat cheeses with flavours inspired by small-farm cheeses from France and Europe. Their lineup includes creamy chèvre, tangy feta, bloomy rind cheeses, and specialty farmstead varieties, with award-winning products that offer depth, freshness, and character for serious cheese lovers.

River’s Edge is also a great stop for anyone who thinks they do not like goat cheese. Many visitors are surprised by how rich, nuanced, and creamy farm-fresh goat cheese can be, especially when it is made in small batches with a focus on craftsmanship, quality milk, and traditional cheesemaking.

Best for: Goat cheese lovers, farmstead cheese, French-inspired flavours, and artisan food road trips.

Pro Tip: Try a few different styles, from chèvre to bloomy rind cheeses, to experience how varied and approachable goat cheese can be.

5. Mountainoak Cheese

Location: New Hamburg, Ontario

Type: Farmstead Gouda Cheese Producer

Mountainoak Cheese is a family-owned farmstead cheese producer in New Hamburg, specializing in traditional Dutch-style Gouda made with milk from their own dairy cows. Their farm store is a great stop for cheese lovers, with a wide selection of Gouda varieties, fresh curds, quark, bottled milk, homegrown beef, and other local products.

The big draw here is the Gouda. Mountainoak produces more than 20 varieties, including aged Gouda, smoked Gouda, black truffle, wild nettle, chili pepper, fenugreek, cumin, goat Gouda, and their award-winning Farmstead GOLD, known for its rich butterscotch and caramel notes. It is a great place to build a road-trip cheese haul or pick up something special for a charcuterie board.

Visitors can shop directly at the farm store and may also be able to attend tour and tasting events, depending on availability. With its farm setting, Dutch cheesemaking roots, and focus on fresh milk and handcrafted flavour, Mountainoak Cheese is a must-stop for anyone chasing the curds through Waterloo Region.

Best for: Gouda lovers, farmstead cheese, local products, and Waterloo Region food trips.

Pro Tip: Visit the farm store Monday to Saturday and ask about current samples, tour dates, or seasonal specials before you go.

6. Glengarry Fine Cheese

Location: Lancaster, Ontario

Type: Artisan Cheese Producer & Cheesemaking Supply Shop

Glengarry Fine Cheese is an Eastern Ontario cheese producer in Lancaster, known for handcrafted cheeses, cheesemaking knowledge, and a strong connection to traditional European-style dairy craft. It is a great stop for anyone travelling through the Glengarry region who wants to discover artisan cheese with a local Ontario twist.

Their cheese lineup includes a variety of soft, semi-soft, washed-rind, blue, and aged cheeses, with options inspired by classic French and European traditions. The shop also carries cheesemaking supplies, making it especially interesting for visitors who are curious about how cheese is made or want to try making their own at home.

For a savoury Ontario road trip, Glengarry Fine Cheese is a strong pick because it combines a retail cheese stop with a deeper cheesemaking focus. Whether you are shopping for a picnic, building a charcuterie board, or looking for something more unique than standard grocery-store cheese, this Lancaster stop is worth adding to the route.

Best for: Artisan cheese, European-style flavours, cheesemaking supplies, and Eastern Ontario road trips.

Pro Tip: Ask what is currently available when you visit, since artisan cheese selections can vary by season and production schedule.

7. Fromagerie Kapuskoise

Location: Kapuskasing, Ontario

Type: French-Inspired Artisan Cheese Shop

Fromagerie Kapuskoise is a Northern Ontario artisan cheese shop in Kapuskasing, specializing in French-inspired cheeses and fresh cheese curds. The shop’s slogan, “Saveur de France, Made in Ontario,” captures what makes it such a unique road trip stop for cheese lovers travelling through the north.

Their cheeses include distinctive varieties made from cow, goat, and sheep milk, with some products named after Northern Ontario rivers such as Missinaibi, Opasatika, and Mattagami. Visitors can stop at the shop on Government Road East, where free sampling and tours are available in store throughout the year.

For anyone chasing the curds across Ontario, Fromagerie Kapuskoise is a memorable final stop because it brings European-style cheesemaking to a true Northern Ontario setting. It is a great place to pick up fresh curds, artisan wheels, and something a little different from standard grocery-store cheese.

Best for: French-inspired cheese, fresh curds, Northern Ontario road trips, and artisan cheese lovers.

Pro Tip: Stop in for free samples if you are passing through Kapuskasing, and ask what seasonal or specialty cheeses are currently available.

Final Thoughts

Ontario’s cheese factories are more than quick food stops — they are destinations for fresh curds, handcrafted cheese, local dairy products, and regional flavours you may not find anywhere else. From Northern Ontario curds and farmstead Gouda to goat cheese, organic cheeses, and European-inspired artisan varieties, each stop brings something different to the table.

What makes these cheese factories especially worth visiting is the connection to place. Many are family-run, farm-based, or deeply tied to local farmers, giving visitors a better appreciation for where their food comes from and how much care goes into each batch.

Before heading out, check each cheese factory’s hours, tour availability, product selection, and seasonal offerings. Bring a cooler if you are planning a longer road trip, because once you start sampling Ontario-made cheese, you will probably want to bring plenty home.