C.V. gets hyper-local cheeses
- Sophie Hauville
- Apr 5
- 2 min read
Carmel Pine Cone
November 1, 2024
Elaine Hesser and Mary Schley
THE NEW Carmel Valley Creamery located in the old Rosie’s Cracker Barrel on Esquiline Road in the Village is now selling aged cheeses alongside the fresh ones released by owner and cheesemaker Sophie Hauville last summer.
Hauville and her partners, Kenneth Howe and Justin Saunders, opened the creamery in the landmark spot in July, and she’s been using milk from Schoch Family Farmstead in Salinas to craft the cheeses, blanc and chevre.
“We were incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to purchase all of our cheesemaking equipment from Marco Moramarco and Paul Vierra, who were retiring and closing down their gelato and cheese creamery in Mendocino County,” they explain.
Aged on cedar planks
Carmel Valley Creamery is accredited by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and produces small-batch artisan cheeses in a 52-gallon pasteurizer vat. Fresh, bloomy-rind, washed-rind and Alpine-style cheeses are crafted from California Grade A cow’s and goat’s milk, and those that require aging do so on cedar planks in a dedicated 220-square-foot room. The creamery also produces whey ricotta.
Hauville and her partners recently released some of their including River Day.
“These raclette-style wheels are made with Schoch Dairy grade A raw cow’s
milk, infused with coriander seeds, and washed with Other Brother Beer Ray Gun IPA during 60 days,” they announced. Obviously, it pairs well with beer.
Other cheeses in the works include Via Contenta, an Alpine-style, semi-soft cheese made from cow’s milk infused with black peppercorn tea and accented with crushed peppercorn, and Cowboy, a camembert-style cheese with a bloomy rind and a dust of ash.
The creamery is open Friday through Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and also offers espresso drinks, beer and wine, pastries and breads from Golden Pine Cone winner Ad Astra Bread Co., gourmet foods, ice cream and picnic provisions.
Find more information at carmelvalleycreameryco.com.
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