A Gourmet Getaway to Oxford County for Big Cheese Days
Exciting new flavours, exclusive tastes and hands-on culinary experiences await this May in Oxford County. Each Saturday is our Big Cheese Days event where stops along the Oxford County Cheese Trail roll out the red carpet with offers you can only get during this event.
If you love food, this is a wonderful opportunity to get to know Oxford's unique terroir and delicious flavours. We've curated this itinerary just for you!
A Foodie Getaway for Big Cheese Days
Read on for how to make the most of Big Cheese Days in Oxford County or skip ahead by section.
- Tour a Gouda factory
- A sweet, local combination
- Chef Sean's Rotating Lunch
- A Taste of Wales & Rarebit Cheese Sandwiches
- Oxford's Newest Cheesemaker
- Fresh Fudge at Coyle's
- Tour a Swiss-inspired factory
- Prix fixe menu featuring award-winning cheeses
You may have to pick and choose a bit as this is a lot to squeeze into a day but we wanted you to know your options.
Stop 1: Tour a Gouda Factory
Where: Mountainoak Cheese, 3165 Huron Rd. New Hamburg, ON. (View Map)
When: 10 am - 11 am
To Note: Mountainoak is offering tours all day ($15 pp, $45 family rate) between 10 am and 5 pm. There is no need to book in advance. Tour the cheese factory or barn.
Start your day with award-winning (or should we say multi-award-winning) cheese at Mountainoak Cheese. Crafting almost 20 different varieties of Gouda using milk from their own dairy herd, your tour will bring you through the factory to learn about the cheesemaking process.
End your tour with a peek into the stunning aging room and of course, enjoy some cheese samples before doing some shopping so that you have some deliciousness to bring home with you! We also love their quark (similar to Greek yogurt but it's cheese!) and their curds, especially the ones with cracked black pepper in them.
Drive Time to Next Stop: 22 minutes
Stop 2: A Sweet Combination
Where: Thames River Melons Farm Market and Pick-Your-Own Patch, 775530 Blanford Rd. Innerkip, ON. (View Map)
When: 11:30 am - 12 pm
Open: 9 am - 5 pm
Next, you'll go for a drive along Oxford's beautiful back roads to Thames River Melons (make sure you go to their farm market and pick your own patch, not the home farm). For Big Cheese Days, Thames River Melons is making Strawberry Cheesecake Pretzel Bun featuring Golspie Dairy Crowdie and Thames River Melons Strawberry Jam. What a combination!
In addition, Thames River Melons will have experiences available to pre-book. Consider their Beekeeping Experience or Harvest Brunch - limited spaces available during May.
Drive Time to Next Stop: 20 mins
Stop 3: Chef Sean's Rotating Lunch
Where: The Wine Cellar and Cheese Shop, 188 Thames St. S. Ingersoll, ON. (View Map)
When: 12:30 pm - 12:45 pm
Open: 9 am - 5 pm
The Wine Cellar and Cheese Shop in downtown Ingersoll is a beautiful little cheese shop and on-premises wine-making facility you'll want to check out. If you're hoping to bring some things home from the Cheese Trail and beyond, this is a wonderful spot to check out.
For Big Cheese Days, the Wine Cellar and Cheese Shop is welcoming in Chef Sean for a rotating wood-fired lunch on Saturdays (Pre-order by calling the shop 519-425-4999. Pick-up after 12pm). Also available, Ontario cheese samples with chutney & accompaniments.(519) 425-4999
Drive Time to Next Stop: 4 mins
Nearby Stops: While you're in Ingersoll, you may also want to check out Patina's Gifts of Art & Craft
Stop 4: A Taste of Wales & Rarebit Sheep Cheese Sandwiches
Where: Red Dragon Dairy, 383723 Salford Rd. Salford, ON. (View Map)
When: 12:50 pm - 2 pm
Open: 10 am - 5:30 pm
Next up, visit Red Dragon Dairy, run by Ellis, Hazel and Sion Morris. This cheese factory brings a taste of Wales to Oxford County and specializes in sheep milk cheeses.
You can shop a variety of their cheeses from pecorino and gruyere to feta and manchego in their farm shop alongside fresh curds, baked goods and more.
For Big Cheese Days, grab a fresh, Welsh rarebit cheese sandwich made using their sheep cheese (free with purchase of $20 or more). Yum!
Drive Time to Next Stop: 10 mins
Stop 5: Oxford's Newest Cheesemaker
Where: New Galma Dairy, 284059 Daniel Rd. Mount Elgin ON. (View Map)
When: 2:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Next up, visit New Galma Dairy, Oxford's newest cheesemaker. Meet the family behind this dairy operation on a barn tour and sample the 'gouda' stuff (May 3rd, 17th, and 31st) and taste New Galma's Gouda cheese, deliciously melted on a baguette using the Arteflame (May 10th and 24th).
Drive Time to Next Stop: 10 mins
Stop 6: Fresh Fudge at Coyle's
Where: Coyle's Country Store, 244282 Airport Rd, Tillsonburg, ON. (View Map)
When: 2:55 pm - 3:35 pm
Open: 9 am - 5 pm
Discover a unique store in a lovely country setting and shop the freshly roasted nuts, fresh fudge, classic candies, delicious baking supplies and quality giftware. Pick up some of their 'Cheese Trail' Trail Mix for the road.
For Big Cheese Days, buy two squares of cheesecake fudge, get one free. This delicious fudge is made on-site at Coyle's Country Store.
Drive Time to Next Stop: 20 min
Stop 7: Discover a New Cheese
Where: Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese, 445172 Gunn's Hill Road, Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
When: 4 pm
Back towards Woodstock, you'll find Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese. This award-winning cheese factory specializes in delicious appenzeller-style cheeses inspired by the cheesemaker's time spent learning in the Swiss Alps.
Head into their farm store to shop a variety of their cheeses as well as some other local goodies like charcuterie, nuts, chocolate and more. Snap a photo at the photo opps and take a minute to appreciate the rural view under the pavillion.
Don't forget to snap your photo with their cheesy photo opps and use the hashtag #TryTheTrail so we can see!
Note: Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese is offering tours during Big Cheese Days at 10 am and 1 pm. If you'd like to join in on one, you can book your spot at gunnshillcheese.ca and rework this itinerary a bit to make the afternoon tour fit into your schedule!
Stop 8: Dinner at a FeastON Restaurant
Where: SixThirtyNine, 639 Peel St. Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
Open for dinner. Reserve your table.
Finally, wind down your day at SixThirtyNine in Woodstock.
For Big Cheese Days, SixThirtyNine has curated a Prix Fixe Menu (available all May long) with five mouthwatering courses of creations featuring Oxford County Cheese. This menu must be booked online or by calling (519)536-9602.
Make it an extra special evening by booking the Chef's Table Experience.
See You Soon
There you have it, a foodie-filled day stuffed to the brim with cheesy goodness! Have questions? Shoot us an email.
We want to stay the night. Where should we stay?
I'd like to check out another cheese factory. Are there any other tours happening?
We want MORE cheese. Where can we stock up?
I'm still overwhelmed by the info. Can you help me plan my trip?
Trip Ideas
