Discovering the world's best artisanal cheeses

Cheese Journeys is the American travel company specializing in unforgettable itineraries that revolve around cheese, set within the cultural and gastronomic context of the explored region. Recognized by Condé Nast Traveler, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Food and Wine magazine, these "cheese trails" are highly successful, offering travel solutions that cater to a growing demand for experiential journeys.

Founded in 2013 by former cheese shop owner Anna Juhl, the initiative crafts gastronomic holidays for cheese aficionados and food lovers in various European destinations, including France, Italy, Switzerland, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, and other regions historically dedicated to cheese culture.

Cheese journeys: a cheese-centric approach

The meticulously designed itineraries include a significant educational component on cheese production processes and techniques in the visited regions. They also incorporate cooking classes with professional chefs, allowing participants to learn (and taste) local traditional dishes, as well as activities like painting classes, cheese styling, typical sports, and other forms of cultural exploration. Juhl and her team of experts, guides, communicators, and industry professionals selected for each destination become excellent travel companions and deep sources of knowledge about everything related to cheese. A characteristic feature of Cheese Journeys is the stay in charming locations, where guests are welcomed in charming structures and historical residences.

Here are some of the Cheese Journeys organized trips that are particularly enticing

British Cheese Odyssey - Cheddar Lessons in England

An experience providing privileged access to the world of British farm cheeses through a cheese-themed journey across London, Bath, and a 13th-century castle in the heart of Somerset. Hosted by Jamie Montgomery – one of the world's foremost cheddar producers – participants spend seven nights exploring his cheese dairy. Bonus: A visit to the secret cellars of Neal’s Yard Dairy in London (a haven for high-quality British cheeses); a gala dinner with around twenty local producers featuring their products; whiskey tasting; cows grazing in the garden; golf matches.

Cheese Journeys in Piedmont - Langhe, Slow Food, and the biennial Cheese Fair in Bra

Every other year, Juhl takes a group of industry professionals and cheese entrepreneurs to Bra for the Cheese fair, the "Burning Man" of cheese. The biennial Slow Food market is the occasion for a cheese-focused itinerary. Bonus: A visit to the maturation cathedral of a Parmigiano Reggiano producer; wine tasting at the vault of the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo; a lunch featuring white truffle and butter, elbow to elbow with the producer, Beppino Occelli.

Cheese Journey to Paris - Brie and Champagne in the City of Light

The journey begins with a relaxing stay in a 17th-century château and ends in a cooking school in the heart of Paris, overlooking the Seine. During the vacation, participants meet artisans, explore French wines, enjoy sumptuous dishes, and shop in Parisian boutiques and markets with a private guide. Bonus: A cheese crawl (tasting of cheeses on the go), a walk with a flock of sheep, hands-on cheese making.

Cheese Journey at High Altitude: Jura Mountains and Swiss Alps - The Birthplace of Comté and Gruyère

This 11-day tour through the French and Swiss Alps is a must for lovers of alpine-style cheeses. Accommodations include a château surrounded by vineyards at the foot of the French Alps. Each day involves excursions to alpine cheese producers, witnessing cheese preparation in a copper cauldron over a wood fire, and lessons on cheese and wine, indulging in as much fondue and raclette as humanly possible. Bonus: Access to spaces not usually open to the public, such as Fort Saint Antoine, Marcel Petite's Comté labyrinth cave in the Jura Mountains; dinner at the Michelin-starred Le Bon Accueil, and participation in the historic parade of cows returning from the alpine pastures, complete with yodeling, horn players, and flag bearers.

Cheese Journey in Belgium and the Netherlands - Beer, Chocolate, and Cheese

An exciting spring getaway during tulip season, with interesting gastronomic experiences such as private meetings and tastings with some of the world's top cheese, beer, and chocolate producers. After discovering Amsterdam's canals, historic districts, and thriving gastronomic scene, the journey continues to Belgium, visiting breweries like Cantillon (the main producer of spontaneously fermented lambic beer) in Brussels and tasting Belgium's famous trappist and saison beers. The stay includes a trip to Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage city. Bonus: Foraging in the polders; private beer and cheese tastings in Brussels; typically Dutch treatments in a former 1913 fortress turned elegant wellness center, and a tour of the chocolate shops in Flanders.

Among the emerging destinations for the future, some areas in the United States where artisanal production is experiencing a true Renaissance. "Then there's Spain, it's a destination I've wanted to propose for a long time," says Juhl, "but it's quite challenging. My approach is never to visit 10 locations in 10 days; I want to give our guests a deep exploration of some truly exceptional areas. So, a lot of research is needed first."

In addition to the organized itineraries, Cheese Journeys also offers tours for private groups and reward programs with prizes and rewards for participants. Where shall we go?