Saturday, Day 1

Your luxury cheese coach will carry you from Zurich to the Appenzell region, home to Switzerland’s beloved Appenzeller cheese, a recipe that dates back more than 700 years. Prepare to witness life on a small farm, alongside a picnic lunch of traditional foods. It’s a scenic splurge of green pastures dotted with dairy cows and colorful villages that look like drawings on tea towels. Close to the border of Austria and Germany, Appenzell is known for its Germanic culinary traditions, from sausages and beer, to rustic breads and “Biberfladen” – a local gingerbread made with honey.

Today, you’ll meet our host, Roland Sahli of Gourmino Cheese, who grew up on a Swiss dairy and now represents Switzerland’s top cheese artisans, including several World-Cheese-Award winners. He’ll offer an overview and maybe even give you some insights into curling, his favorite sport. You’ll also take a walking tour around the town of Appenzell, with free time to shop, sip a beer, set off on a hike, or explore a local museum featuring artist Theres Tobler who is renowned for her renderings of Swiss farm life in paintings and on puzzles. Tonight’s dinner kicks off with an aperitif, followed by a sumptuous meal selected by our host. Get to know your travel companions, including Anna Juhl, Roland Sahli, Tenaya Darlington, and several professional cheese retailers from our Curd-to-Counter mentorship program who have just spent a few days learning from local artisans.

Sunday, Day 2

After a hearty breakfast, you’ll head to Reichenbach, the site of Gourmino’s cheese-aging cave located deep within a mountain. What was once a military fort in the Bernese Oberland region, is now a sophisticated cheese-ripening facility (a high-tech humidor, no less)! First, you’ll enjoy a restaurant lunch near Lake Thun, then you’ll suit up in a lab coat and don some fashionable shoe coverings to enter areas where only cave professionals are permitted. Did you know you’d be receiving a cheese badge of honor?! Prepare to inspect some giant wheels and maybe even taste some core samples to see how Gourmino checks cheese flavors. Today, you’ll discover how cheese wheels mature and how “affineurs” (professional cheese agers) care for world-class cheeses over time. You’ll also be treated to an extensive Gourmino cheese tasting. Later, you’ll set off for Gstaad to check into your 4-star hotel. An aperitif awaits you in the garden, then a special meal. Prepare to be swept away by mountain views, cable cars, and charming chalets in this scenic playground -- a favorite destination for Alpine for skiers and celebrities.

Monday Day 3

Grab your Cheese Journeys apron for a cooking class, or pick up your walking stick and head to the medieval village of Gruyères for a daytrip – it’s your choice. Roadtrippers will be rewarded with a stop at Maison Cailler, Switzerland’s oldest chocolate brand! The storybook village of Gruyères, as you might guess, is named after Switzerland’s most popular cheese. When it’s young, Gruyère is used in cooking – for gratins and grilled cheese sandwiches – while more aged versions often appear on cheese boards. You can try all forms of Gruyère cheese in its namesake village. Seek out a cheese plate lunch or fondue, then visit the local castle, shop for a Swiss watch, or go for a stroll. In the afternoon, both groups will meet up for a workshop with Roland Sahli and Tenaya Darlington to explore the subject of “Raw Milk vs. Pasteurized.” Put your tastebuds to the test and see if you can observe the difference in a series of raw vs. pasteurized cheeses. Later, stop by the garden for a glass of wine before tonight’s dinner.

Tuesday Day 4

You’re about to step back in time, so put on your warm socks and get ready to head up into the mountains to an “alpage,” a traditional cheesemaking hut. Just after sunrise, you’ll witness traditional cheesemaking, where fresh milk is hand-stirred in a copper vat over a wood fire to make cheese – something few non-Europeans ever see. You’ll meet the cows, the cheesemaking family, probably even the herding dogs and a few barn cats. You’ll also be treated to tasting L’Étivaz -- one of Switzerland’s rarest cheeses -- right at the source. You could say that L’Étivaz is to cheese lovers what Grand Cru Burgundy wines are to wine connoisseurs. Only a handful of L’Étivaz producers still exist, and you’ll meet one of them to learn all about the history of transhumance, the seasonal tradition of pasturing cows at high elevation for the best feed. For lunch, you’ll sit down with the local cooperative to learn about the traditional-cheese business, then tour a nearby aging cave. After a shopping trip to the local Alpine village, kick back for a cozy Raclette dinner with one of Gourmino’s all-star Raclette makers!

Wednesday Day 5

Today is all about Swiss wine, which is known for its quality and also its rarity (only about 2% ever leaves Switzerland, which is half the size of Vermont). Tenaya Darlington will introduce you to its wine regions and invite you to enjoy some sips over a discussion of terroir – how does “place” impact the flavors found in Swiss wines and also Swiss cheeses? After lunch, you’ll head to a beautiful winery on the edge of Lake Geneva to keep learning and savoring. The winemaker will offer a private tour and tasting, then enjoy a scenic fondue supper overlooking the water. Relax, unwind, and try not to lose your crusty bread in the creamy sauce (it’s a Swiss custom to kiss the person who fishes it out for you).

Thursday Day 6

Everyone knows Emmentaler, Switzerland’s enormous cheese with cherry-sized holes, but few people ever taste the good stuff. (It’s been replicated in the U.S. for deli slices, but that’s not how the Swiss sell this prized cheese.) You’ll visit a maker of real Emmentaler and learn about the history of this unusual cheese over a special tasting, complete with live musicians. Then, it’s off to learn about “sennensettlerai,” the art of Alpine leatherwork. Discover how Swiss leatherworkers hone their craft and develop their own style of engraving. You’ll have lunch in the area, along with time to shop for classic Swiss gifts before returning to Gstaad for a free evening and dinner on your own.

Friday, Day 7

Take the morning slow, then join us for a special cheesemakers’ brunch, featuring cheesemakers from the region and their cheeses. Grab a coffee, and take a seat next to a local to ask any unanswered questions – about dairying, cheesemaking, or favorite pairings. After brunch, you’ve got free time to pick up any last-minute souvenirs in Gstaad. This afternoon, you’ve got a personal invitation to join a cheesemaking family as they prepare for tomorrow’s parade. Bring your camera – you may want to capture the colorful flower wreaths, traditional costumes, and general merriment that infuses this festive scene. Tonight, settle in for a delicious farewell dinner, and prepare to clink glasses with your new cheese-loving friends from the trip!

Saturday Day 8

Time to cap off the week with the long-awaited cow parade! Expect to see streets brimming with bell ringers to welcome cheesemaking families home from the mountains, along with their herds. It’s the ultimate welcome parade, full of farm animals, Swiss music, and colorful streamers. Roam at your leisure, join the singing and dancing, and pick up some street food for lunch. The festival ends mid-afternoon, just in time to hop back on the cheese chariot for the Zurch airport. Have a safe trip, and get ready to share your fondue recipes and favorite cheeses with friends back home!

Tour Price Includes:

Lodging for 7 nights, 7 breakfasts, 7 noon meals, 6 evening meals, and alcoholic beverages served with meals. All transportation during the tour, all classes, and/or day tours provided by local hosts, cheese educators, and chefs.

Tour Price Does Not Include:

Round trip airfare to and from Zurich, hotel accommodations before or after the tour, for  any personal shopping, additional food, and beverage during walking tour and free time.

Disclosure:

To the best of our ability, this itinerary is final. However, if due to unexpected changes in weather, or emergency with our hosts, Cheese Journeys reserves the right to substitute an event if needed. During the tour, you have the option of declining a particular excursion or tour, but please note that we are unable to make refunds for any missed meals, classes, or events. Please see Terms and Conditions for additional details.