Best Artisan Cheese Shops In Sacramento

From the hard cheeses to the soft and gooey stuff, tangy to stinky, there's much more to cheese than you may think. Give your taste buds a treat, and explore what the cheese world has to offer. The greater Sacramento area has many artisan cheese shops that are sure to have what you're looking for.

The Rind
1801 L St.
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 441-7463
www.therindsacramento.com

Not only are you able to get rather fine artisanal cheeses here, there's some old time favorites to pick from as well. The cheeses range from the very strong and stinky to more demure choices. Hard cheese or soft cheese, take your pick. Are you looking for those old time favorites? The Rind also offers mac and cheese like you've never dreamed of and a grilled cheese sandwich that will make you wonder what you've been doing wrong with them all these years.

Dedrick's Cheese
312 Main St.
Placerville, CA 95667
(530) 344-8282
www.facebook.com/dedrickscheese

Dedrick's is located in Historic Placerville, right in the heart of the downtown. They have a well earned reputation in the area as fine purveyers of quality cheese. This is your chance to step into a local shop that really knows their business. You'll find quality artisanal cheeses here, from the very soft to the more dense and hard types. If you don't know what you're looking for when you go in, the staff will step right in and help you make the choice, along with samples for you to try before you buy, just to make sure.

Corti Brothers
5810 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 736-3800
www.cortibrothers.com

Corti Brothers has been a Sacramento treasure since they first opened up. The reputation here is unequaled, and they always offer quality products that you will be proud of buying. The search for cheese here will be coupled with the deep knowledge the staff has of their products. You will also learn what it really means to perfectly pair cheese with wine and food. Corti Brothers offers the full experience, not just a shopping day for a bit of cheese.

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Taylor's Market
2900 Freeport Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 443-6881
www.taylorsmarket.com

Taylor's is a gourmet grocery store with an amazing selection of gourmet cheese choices. Looking for Drunken Goat cheese? How about Fromage d'Affinois? If you have never heard of these, it's time to go to Taylor's. You're likely to find quite a bit that's new to you. If you've been into cheese for quite a while, you will simply love the choices that are available. As always, the staff can guide you to the perfect cheese that you will need for your next paired food and wine venture.

Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op
1900 Alhambra Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 445-2667
www.sacfoodcoop.com

With a lot of cheese, many different varieties, along with descriptions of what they are, the Co-Op does a superb job of letting their customers understand the nuances of all the different cheeses. You'll find a staff that is more than willing to help you figure out what cheeses you need for your table. Not only are the cheeses of the finest quality, the variety is sure to have you looking to expand your choices. It's a wonderful spot to indulge your cheese needs.

Related: Best Grilled Cheeses In Sacramento

Charles Ferris is a freelance writer who has lived in the Sierra, halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, for the last 41 years. In 2010 he retired from teaching after 36 years . He and his wife hike, kayak, cross country ski, snow shoe, ride mountain bikes and road bikes, year round. His work can be found at Examiner.com.