Well, when you see a sign that says "Fresh Artisan Cheese" you stop for the fresh artisan cheese. You come in and are quickly hit in the face with some funky cheese smells (the BEST smell in my opinion). Then you are quickly greeted with a plethora of cheese from which to sample from. They will often give you a small plate of cheese to sample from so that you are able to make your decision. I meant to come in for one cheese but ended up with four. So that should tell you something about the cheese selection (that, or my lack of willpower). Their cheese would pair perfectly with the freshly-baked breads from Wild Flour bakery just a block away. read more

New find! Whenever in the area, we've been stopping at Freestone to visit Wild Flour Bread bakery. We often continue on to Occidental before heading East to HWY 101 to get back home. Freestone Artisan Cheese is on your left as you are going towards Occidental on Bohemian Hwy immediately after you pass Freestone Hotel. It kind of hides back there in the corner where Freestone Road curves. I have no clue how long they have been on that location, but the first time I noticed them was our last trip to Freestone. Freestone Artisan Cheese is nice little shop with many varieties of delicious cheeses of course, but they sell more than just cheese. They sell excellent olive oil, Vinegar, Pasta, jams, preserves and more. On this stop we tried and purchased a couple of cheeses and olive oil that we enjoyed with our bread from Wild Flour Breas bakery. The young lady who was behind the counter was very helpful in explaining the different varieties of cheese that were there for us to try. We had to be somewhere so could not spend as much time as we wanted there, but next time we will make sure to dig deeper into the cheese world at Freestone Artisan Cheese! read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - the front of the restaurant - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

We ended up here one day just before closing. The associate was super nice and helpful. He didn't make us feel rushed and seemed interested in helping us find what we were looking. They have excellent options to choose from. We will definitely go here when we are in the area again! read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - Front of Building - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

We were referred to come here by the folks at Wild Flour Bakery who were referred to us by the smoked salmon guy down the street. Lol. We were greeted warmly by 2 gentlemen who were both welcoming. One of them asked us if we would like to sample some cheese which of course we did. He gave us many samples of great cheese that we ended up buying 3 kinds. He was knowledgeable and patient and when I couldn't remember which one I liked, he let me sample them again. (That was not my intention. Ha!) The other gentleman was entertaining. He suggested we drive to Tomales Bay for oysters or wine tasting. Maybe next time. This was our last stop before heading home. Stop by for the cheeses. And the great conversation. read more

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Looks to be closed. Website said they'd reopen in March 2023, google maps says this is closed, phone goes to an answering machine. The attached pictures were take at 3:20 pm on a Monday in June 2023. Looks to be a "for sale" sign in front of the property (not in the picture). Star rating is a dummy since we weren't able to interact with the store. read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - Store front - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

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Hubby and I stopped here after visiting Wildlfour Bread down the street. The cheese shop is small, but was way less crowded and the young man behind the counter really knew his stuff. He offered us samples of a number of cheeses and we loved them all. Bought a little of 4 different kinds to take on a picnic with the bread we'd just bought down the road. Favorite cheese was the Black Betty. I also picked up a few non-cheese things from their shop, including some hand lotion and soap for my mom, and some jam and prosciutto for us to eat with the cheese. :) I'll *definitely* stop here next time I'm in Sonoma County! read more

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Great little cheese shop hidden off the main road through town. The owner was friendly and talkative and the cheese was AMAZING. Probably he best bleu cheese I've ever had in my life, and I'm a cheese lover. A tad pricey, but we filled a small bag for $70 and had no regrets at all about it. read more

Fantastic cheese, people, and other interesting munchies. The shop itself is someone hidden from the main road and is nestled in a cute cluster of homes. We dropped by this place since we were passing through. In addition to cheese, they sell all sorts of items such as jams, dried pastas, soaps, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, etc. We sampled their three olive oils and they were absolutely delicious, with strong grassy notes. The balsamic vinegar on sample was also very pungent and sweet. We tried a few of the cheeses on hand and they were all exceptional, each one brimming with flavor and richness. My favorite was the Italian pecorino with veins of black truffle running through. These cheeses were undoubtedly some of the best I've had in America. Omar was also so hospitable! When he found out we are foodies, he came out to hang out a bit and give us some fantastic recommendations for places to eat in the area, as well as some hidden gem hiking available in the vicinity. I highly recommend this jewel of a cheese shop especially if you're in the area! read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - Incredible cheeses - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

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We struck gold when we landed here. Friendly service, rock music in the background, tastings, cool unique items - can you ask for anything more? Cool little sitting areas. Crepes are good - can get gluten free. read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - Cool awesome place! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

The inside is super cute and has tons of cheeses to pick from. If you don't know what you like the people working are always super nice and helpful. They let you try a variety of cheeses to see what you like. This is always fun to go with friends and try a bunch of cheeses and buy some for later. This place makes for the perfect charcuterie boards. The store sells other delicious things that pair nicely with the cheeses too. read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - Outside - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

Cheese is one of my favorite food groups! When I stumbled upon this place as influenced by my in-laws, well it didn't take much to get me in this place. I don't know about you all, but I'm always intrigued and admire when I find the owner of this shop left corporate America with an entrepreneurial spirit and to follow a passion of cheese. No matter what the passion is, it's always a risk. Well fast forward to today after much time spent in Vermont learning about cheese and getting to know the local cheese community and you have Freestone Artisan Cheese. The variety of cheeses are too numerous to count. After spending $70 on just cheese & crackers which quickly became my dinner that evening along with wine. I know it's shocking. Wine & Cheese only for dinner. This place does it up right. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable about every cheese they pulled out of the case. Tasting notes on the cheese, what farm it came from and what wine would go well with it too. This little shop also offers a small refrigerated section of yogurts, other local cheese players and some beverages as well. Don't forget to grab the crackers and check the small gift options too! We bought our first cheese cave there instead of using wrap. Truly a delight to find. If you're a lover of all things cheese u should definitely check this place out! read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

You had me at CHEESE! LoL OMCheeeesssseee - What an amazing experience my husband surprised this cheese lover with on our recent December getaway for HIS birthday and he did this for ME - so sweet or cheesy if you will lol (pun intended). I was actually able to try artisan cheese tasting and I've never heard of that before but I wasn't about to say NO, umm well duhhhh. They had local artisan cheeses from goats, sheep, cows and water buffalo, Oh my lol Where do I start well I had a bleu, a jack and a swiss of course. This was absolutely, this was absolutely, wait I said that already - I think you're understanding that somewhere in this experience I completely lost myself and may have asked the young lady behind the counter if I could live amongst the cheese rounds. Needless to say I most definitely bought enough cheese to get me through our vacation and back home (the bleu cheese crusted a many a fine cut of steak), some beautiful water crackers to compliment said cheeses and of course some wonderful de-shelled pistachios. To my fellow cheese lovers out there or if you are passing through to head up to wine country, stop in, grab the necessities and some FANTABULOUS Artisan Cheeses and definitely partake in the tasting - YUMMY! read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - OMCheeeesee! I have literally died and gone to cheese heaven and I get to taste it for FREE too!! You had me at Cheese! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

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I absolutely LOVE this place - been here several times and always have a great experience. Fabulous friendly service and a great variety of wonderful local cheese which they will let you sample to your heart's delight. They also have a great selection of gourmet jams, vinegars, oils and other stuff to go with your yummy cheese. Great location in Freestone where you can pick up some cheese before going wine tasting in the area. There's even a bakery right down the street to pick up some bread to go with all your cheese. What more can you ask for? :) . read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - Fabulous selection and so helpful! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

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Omar is a Cheese Wiz (pun intended)! If you haven't sampled Freestone's artisan cheeses then you are missing out, people. We're so lucky to have all this cheesy goodness in our backyard. Make sure you try the Sicilian Cheese. De-lish! I'd recommend swinging by their shop on your way to Bodega Bay or Osmosis Day Spa. Super friendly staff. This is the perfect place to pick up picnic goodies. read more

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Cool place to sample cheese from all over the world, including locally made cheeses! Frankly I was a little disappointed that they didn't make their own cheese but it was nice that they had cheeses from 8 miles down the road. My group and I sampled a few cheeses and I ended up buying a blue cheese from the UK. My gripe is I wish they would tell us how much each cheese cost before selling it. It really was a gamble bc I see that other people have spent hundreds of dollars on some cheese! read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - Blue cheese from the Uk - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

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Awesome spot. Tried a variety of cheese as well as chocolate to pair. Solid variety of charcuterie options. read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - The cheesemonger serving samples for our purchase. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

After buying a round of bread we spotted Freestone Artisan Cheese. We expected a local provider with two cheeses, instead we found a full cheese shop with local, US and European cheese. The owner served us thin tasting slices and we bought chunks from 3 out of the five we tried - French cow, Dutch Gouda, and a local Blue. We went outside and sat at their picnic tables in the shade of some redwood trees. Now if I had just know about the grocery selling wine another block down the road.... read more

Love this place! The staff and products are fantastic! I highly recommend buying your provisions here.

Lovely cheese shop but we were hoping for a local cheese maker Excellent cheeses and knowledgeable, friendly staff offering advise and tastes Cheese is very expensive however the prices are up on a wall so you don't really know the price of the cheese that you are trying read more

Cheese monger in paradise... Get the cheese crepes...hot, made to order, and filled with cheesy goodness (I think the actual variety of cheese can vary, but ask the owner. They may also offer other fillings, but those cheese ones are too dang good that we only order those, every single time.) Then, take it out to the small garden or front porch for an instant picnic lunch. Try a few samples from the wide variety. Taste some olive oil including local products. We find it irresistible and have to get something to take home. Just down the block from the excellent wild flour bakery, for those who like to carbo load along with their fats. There used to be a winery there too, so you could have a progressive-party-picnic. read more

CHEESE......CHEESE.....and more CHEESE Everytime i drive past Freestone, I must stop at Wild Flour for their amazing fresh baked bread. And i must stop at this place and get some cheese. Cheese and bread.......fat and carbs! But whos counting calories anyways? When you enter this fine little cheese shop. You find yourself greeted by smiling faces. Then the fun begins......cheese sampling! These guys are so generous. You just keep getting fed cheese bite after cheese bite after cheese bite. They have a wonderful plethora of olive oils, vinegars and balsamics. Dont worry, you get to try all of those too. There is endless crackers.....YUP, you can sample those as well. Its truly a sample fest. But that is where you can get into trouble and buy EVERYTHING! They also carry this delicious Vally Fod Gelato. The water buffalo just live right up the road. That is about as local as it gets!!! read more

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The town of Freestone is about 3 blocks long so if you're going to get some bread at Wild Flour, you better also hit up the cheese shop just a block away or so. By the way, the internet is really bad in this area so you better have an idea of where you're going before you arrive. Sample the delicious olive oils inside and, of course, sample the cheeses. Tell them what you like or simply tell them to blow you away. They're the experts. The two cheeses they suggested to me were awesome. Fresh, local cheese can be expensive but a little goes a long way. It's a cool shop. read more

Amazing cheeses and super friendly service. They let you sample and pick out just the right one. Perfect to go with wild flour bread. They also have lots of spreads and gift items. Crepes, too! read more

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Fantastic selection of delicious cheeses. Great, friendly customer service. I could spend a long time (and a ton of $$$) wandering through all of the local speciality jams, crackers, and dried fruits. The cheeses were off the hook and I bought 2/3 that I tried. Heaven! read more

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Brilliant pairing of 2 awesome stores, cheese and bread. This one has the cheese of course, but also olive oil and vinegar to which we took home the pear balsamic (this flavor never fails). Check this out, we told him which breads we bought and he paired cheeses with them! I think we took home 3 ranging between strong and milder, soft. He probably would have let us taste all day, but we cut ourselves off. If you want to snack out front, there are even picnic tables surrounded by Redwood trees. This was one of the best areas of our Sonoma County trip, don't miss it! read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

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Top of the line selection of locally made cheeses and other gourmet treats. They will put together a little tasting platter to sample outside (still requiring masks inside at time of this writing). We sampled a selection of hard cheeses. All delicious. This is all free. We ended up making a purchase, but no requirement. They also have a nice selection of locally produced wines, oils, vinegars & other gourmet items. There is a bread shop a block away with lines out the door, so recommend stopping in both and putting together a little picnic! read more

This place was so cute and had a delicious cheese selection! It feels like it's just tucked away. We came in around 5pm, and there was one other couple just finishing up their cheese purchase. The guy behind the counter let us quietly browse then asked if we wanted a cheese sampling, which I wasn't expecting since it's covid time. He prepared a little plate with four types of cheeses for us to sample. We ended up buying three types along with a box of crackers. The selection here is great, and I'm really happy we were able to pick up these cheeses to keep in our hotel for night time cheese. It's quiet, serene and picturesquely green at this storefront. One of my favorite stops during my trip around the Sonoma Coast! read more

I took my friend who was visiting from Florida out for a day trip to Freestone, where we enjoyed coffee and an incredible olive loaf at Wildflour bread, followed by a visit down the road a bit to this absolutely delightful cheese shop, where we were treated to generous samples and lots of camaraderie with the owners. We left with a hefty bag full of cheeses and other goodies, and a promise we made with Omar (the owner) to swap some art. Way too much fun. My friend and I spent the following day creating the pieces we would trade him and took them back out to the cheese shop. Omar made good on his word and presented us with two beautiful pastels. Just love it when something completely unexpected turns out like this. Freestone Artisan Cheese is truly a gem not to be missed. read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - Omar's beautiful pastel of a kitty - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

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An amazing variety of cheese and great customer service. Highly recommend coming here after visiting Wild Flower Breads.

Make your entire family hate you by purchasing their smelliest cheese, and then leaving it in a cooler in the car for three hours while you wine taste around Sonoma. Each time you get into the car they'll lambast your choice of cheese, but don't be bullied into thinking your choice wasn't a good one. It was. Also, fuck em. read more

Amazing selection of local and international cheeses and meats. Good guys that are passionate about their craft. Always willing to share samples. This is a real hidden gem in Sonoma county! Fun, entertaining while getting a cheese education! read more

Looking for the right words for these cheeses but I keep just coming up with nom-nom-nom. Spectacular cheeses -- just perfectly balanced and tasty. Omar was super nice, the cheeses.. just seriously .. CHEESE. My vegetarian friend said cheese like that is why she can't be vegan... and she's right. Makes life worth living!! Definitely stop here when going to Osmosis Spa and getting some bread from Wild Flour Bakery. So good. read more

I must have come on a off day. There were hardly any cheese to choose from and no samples whatsoever. The owner was talking to two couples and we waited for awhile and then ended up just leaving . I wanted to purchase cheese but there was nothing impressing about this location. read more

Omar was an incredible host to my newlywed wife and I this afternoon. We enjoyed a fantastic tour of their cheeses, but even more important to me, we made a wonderful connection with great people. It was incredibly refreshing to not only learn more about the different foods both locally and abroad, but to feel like you're part of a family that is asking questions, learning, and growing from one another, in a single visit, is just magical. We'll absolutely be back in our future travels, but friendships and connections that build like this are going to have us making plans and packing bags a whole lot sooner. Thank you for ending our honeymoon on a very high note. read more

What an amazing shop! We were visiting at the end of March and were first greeted by the sweetest yellow lab laying on the porch. Both the owners greeted us inside and were so amazing letting us try cheese. We ended buying three different kinds to take back with is to Southern CA. I would have bought more but we were limited because we had to stuff them in our luggage in addition to the bread we bought just down the street at Wildflour. Definitely worth the stop. They also suggested several wineries which we visited and were also amazing. I wish we had such an unpretentious cheese shop in Southern CA. read more

Right down the road from Wild Flower Bread. Great spot with more cheese than I've ever seen in my life. Best of all, they let you sample it all! Tasted some cheeses here that absolutely blew me away. Cow, sheep, goat, some with all of the above. They really do have an insane selection. Beyond that, they have vinegars and olive oils available for sampling. As we as crackers, chocolate, ice cream, and so many other things for sale. Really high quality stuff. The people who work here are great too, and so knowledgeable! read more

Freestone Artisan Cheese - Front entrance - Cheese Shops Near Me - Freestone, California

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Samples, loot & deliciousness 2 take home! Local chz & seasonal specials u don't see! Got a handful of cheeses that I don't know the name of (and that's a good thing). - Packaged charcuterie from fra'mani, charlitos cocina. - Roundhousw creamery - cheeky chevre - Blue: moolisuous (?), Rogue River - season specialty - Ewenique - Creamy funk delicious - Oma (?) - Mini baguettes - Kiss forever honey - Eevo - Some serveware read more

Love and marriage. Horse and carriage. Sonny and Cher. Bert and Ernie. Castor and Pollux. Gooey Nutella and sliced ripe bananas. Beyonce's beautiful single ladies and thousands of empty ring fingers waving rhythmically in the air. What do these unlikely things all have in common? Each one can be enjoyed by themselves, naturally enough. For instance, I slept with a stuffed Ernie doll for years while letting a string pulled Talking Bert hang out on his own on my dresser, and it didn't traumatize Ernie or me in the least - although Bert constantly telling us that "Pigeons are MY friends" and "I'm Mr. Excitement!" most definitely did. And Sonny-less Cher is doing just fine - witness her scene-stealing performance at the climax of the "Mama Mia!" sequel. If, however, you were to combine each of these two things together in just the right way, synergies start to form, like cheese curds after the addition of rennet to warm milk. Sparks begin to fly. And unlimited amounts of good, clean fun can ensue. The Freestone version of the perfect pairing is brick oven artisan bread served with local farmstead cheese. You get the former from Wild Flour Bread down the road. You get the latter here. BYO wine, beer, and spirits are optional. When in doubt about what to choose from the impressive array of cheese on offer, channel your inner citoyen du monde and order up a bunch of owner/chef Omar's classically made crêpes with oodles of melted racelette or Point Reyes Toma cheese, or a sweet one to share doused with Grand Marnier, caramelized sugar and butter, and drizzles of Catalunyan orange blossom honey. In mild weather, wait in line at Wild Flour for a bread or two - the Z Bread made with Meyer lemon, tarragon, and green olives is especially nice, as is the fougasse of the day and the seeded whole wheat and rye. Walk or drive a quarter of a mile down the road to the parking lot here, ask to sample a cheese or two, order some to eat with the bread and the rest to take home. The Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company's two year aged Gouda - the 2018 "Cheese of the Year" at the California State Fair - would be a good one to nibble on by an open hearth fireplace, with toasted hazelnuts, almonds, chestnut honey, and a bottle of Rare Wine Co. Historic Series Charleston Sercial aged Madeira. My FB friend, Mark Z., and I like to share this delicious edible experience once each year in winter, following a speed hike to the top of Windy Hill so that we can watch the sun set over the Pacific before settling down in front of a crackling fire. I'm just kidding, Priscilla! That would never actually happen. Besides the cheese on display, there are lots of other imported and locally made items inside the shop that may appeal to your palate. Just ask. And if you're planning to dine al freso on your bread and cheese booty at the charming, redwood-ringed picnic area, consider stopping at the Barlow shopping district on the drive in from Sebastopol, as enjoyable a foodie paradise as you'll find in West Sonoma County. Spring for a prized bottle of Pax Mahle's 2015 Griffin's Lair Vineyard Syrah to match with a hearty Point Reyes Bay Blue, or Pax's current vintage of Buddha's Dharma Vineyard Menodocino County dry farmed Chenin Blanc to accompany a Cowgirl Creamery triple cream Pierce Point summer seasonal, or something fresh, goaty, and sheepy from Anderson Valley's Pennyroyal Farm in the springtime, when the flock is ready again for milking after their wintertime resting and birthing hiatus. Bring a bag of mixed baby greens or bunch of fresh herbs for fiber, antioxidants, and crunch. And then lie on your back and dream of something or someone nice. Or watch "Crazy Rich Asians" again on your iPad. It's your call! Just make sure to give yourself enough time and space properly to enjoy all that Freestone Artisan Cheese has to offer. read more

My son is a hard sharp cheese enthusiast. He's six mind you, but we had fun trying cheeses, learning about them, and finding his level of cheese curiosity. "Nothing with dark bits, Dad." We left with three new cheeses to share with his sister and mom tonight. Plus, we got a 'treasure map' to a kid friendly redwood trail in Occidental. Thanks! read more

The best cheese shop EVER!!! Omar (the owner) and the cheesemonger (my apologies, she is so skilled and fun, I don't remember her name) guided me to 4 purchases on my first visit: Lorelei from Briar Rose Creamery, OR; Estero Gold Reserve from Valley Ford Creamery; Casatica di Bufala (made from water bufalo milk); and Willoughby from Jasper Hill Ceamery in VT. They also carry gourmet meats, olive oils, vinegars, honey, crackers and other delicacies. The shop is a little hard to find, its on the same side as the Wild Flower bakery and is located about 75 feet from Bohemian Hwy at the intersection of Freestone Street. http://www.freestoneartisan.com/ 707-874-1030 read more