Pictured: Artisan Cheese Company celebrates all things cheese through in store events, classes and even a cafe. Photo courtesy of Artisan Cheese Company.

Dairy delights abound at Artisan Cheese Company, located in Sarasota’s Rosemary District. Opened in 2012 by owner and cheesemonger Louise Converse, Artisan Cheese supplies Sarasotans with a massive variety of domestically and internationally produced cheeses. The shop also has a small cafe with cheese-based items for customers to enjoy. It has become a staple for cheese enthusiasts eager to expand their palettes and branch out into trying new varieties. This March, Wine Enthusiast named the store as one of the top 10 most iconic cheese shops in the U.S. The store’s stock changes on a seasonal basis, allowing customers to sample different flavors all year round. “We have classics from all around the world,” says Converse, “and our focus is about 60 percent U.S. artisanal and then we pick from across the Atlantic. We rotate out 400-500 cheeses throughout the year.”

Whether customers are avid cheesemongers or are getting their first taste of unique types of the product, Converse and her team help them find a cheese to fit their taste. “We want to take the intimidation away from cheese because it can get scary with lots of different shapes, colors, sizes, name, categories and regions. It can get really daunting, so we gauge customers’ levels and try not to get too didactic. We want them to know that there’s a right cheese for everyone.”

For customers eager to go beyond the basics, the shop offers exciting classes at the beginner, or 101 level, and advanced, or masterclass, level. In Cheese 101, students learn the essentials, while the Cheese Masterclass delves into the myriad categories of the product. The June masterclass will focus on cheddar cheese. Aside from the formal courses, Monger Mondays provide a more interactive and informal approach. Other fun food-based events are springing up this summer, including a talk with a local author and Tellings Stories, an event that brings people together through their experiences with food.

For Converse, Artisan Cheese Company is more than just a shop. It provides her and her team with an opportunity to tell stories through the medium of cheese. “The cheesemaker can’t be here to tell customers the backstory of the product, so we work to share that story with the customers.”

Artisan Cheese Company, 550 Central Ave., Sarasota, artisancheesecompany.com.

Pictured: Artisan Cheese Company celebrates all things cheese through in store events, classes and even a cafe. Photo courtesy of Artisan Cheese Company.

Artisan Cheese Company