Rogue Creamery

Rogue Creamery is one of the best-known artisan cheesemakers in the United States, and its home in Central Point is a pleasant stop for anyone who likes to eat. The company began in the 1930s and became known for blue cheeses that have won national and international awards, including its Rogue River Blue. The creamery sells cheese at a shop, offers tastings and has long been a favorite stop on the Rogue Valley food trail, drawing both cheese lovers and travelers who just want a snack with a story. The visit is casual and delicious. You can taste a range of cheeses, learn about the techniques and the regional dairies that supply the milk, and pick up gifts and picnic supplies, including crackers, preserves and local wine. A small counter or kitchen serves grilled cheese sandwiches and other dishes when open, which makes a nice lunch. It is a short drive from Ashland and from Jacksonville, so it fits easily into a day that includes wine tasting or a river trip.

Check what is open before you go. Hours, tasting arrangements and food service can change by season and day, and some programs, such as production tours, may be limited. The creamery website lists what is available. Weekdays are usually calmer than weekends. If you have dietary needs, ask the staff about options, since the shop carries many cheeses but the menu is based around dairy.

Treat the stop as part of a larger tasting day. The Rogue Valley is known for wine, pears, chocolate and cheese, and many visitors design a day around local food. Start with a morning in Jacksonville, have lunch at the creamery, and continue to a winery in the afternoon. Remember to bring a cooler bag or ask about shipping if you buy cheese in warm weather, because the Rogue Valley can be hot in summer and cheese should not sit in a car.

Make the most of the tasting. Ask the staff which cheeses are seasonal or limited, taste in the order they recommend from mild to strong, and ask about pairings. Blue cheese lovers should try the flagship blues, while visitors who think they dislike blue cheese often find a mild version they enjoy. Children are welcome in the shop and tend to enjoy the grilled cheese. If you are flying home, check airline and customs rules before packing cheese, or ask the shop about shipping options so you can enjoy it later.

A final tip is to keep the shop in mind for gifts. Cheese, local preserves and crackers pack well in a cooler and are easy to carry back to a hotel for a picnic dinner.

The shop is also a handy place to assemble a picnic for the day ahead. Add a loaf from a local bakery, some fruit from a roadside stand and a bottle of Rogue Valley wine, and you have lunch for a river bank, a park bench or a hotel balcony. Children usually enjoy picking out their own cheese, and the staff are patient with questions.

Cheese is one of the simplest ways to taste the region without a car-heavy schedule, since the tasting counter is in one place and the whole visit can take as little as an hour. That makes it a handy fallback on days when the weather or the schedule changes your plans.