3 Get the blues at Rogue Creamery
As you mosey south toward Medford, Ashland and Grants Pass, keep an eye out for stops along the Rogue Valley Food Trail, which includes more than 50 farm stands, farmers markets and other farm-to-table temptations. There are lavender farms, chocolate makers and distilleries — and the Rogue Creamery, which is an absolute must-stop. Legendary Sonoma cheesemaker Tom Vella, of Vella Cheese Co. fame, ran Rogue Creamery, too, for more than 60 of its 85 years.
Today, Rogue Creamery is best known for its blue cheeses — eight of them, including Crater Lake Blue, Caveman Blue and its celebrated, seasonal Rogue River Blue. There is a waiting list for this cheese, people. It's wrapped in pear liqueur-soaked syrah grape leaves and released each year on the vernal equinox — and was named the best cheese in the world at the 2019 World Cheese Awards in Bergamo, Italy.
Both the dairy and farm stand in Grants Pass and the shop in Central Point stock the creamery's cheddars and blue cheeses and tasty things to go with them — crackers, honey, jams. And they do … wait for it … grilled cheese sandwiches. Order at the counter, then enjoy that sandwich ($6-$7) and some creamy tomato soup ($4) at a picnic table outside. (Tips: That soup is even better with a sprinkling of Oregonzola cheese curds — $1 more — melting on top.)
DON'T MISS >> Time your dairy visit right — 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday — and you can tour the farm, meet the moos and check out Charlie and Matilda, the milking robots, which allow the cows to milk on demand.
DETAILS >> The Rogue Creamery Dairy and Farm Stand are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday at 6531 Lower River Road in Grants Pass. The Cheese Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 311 N. Front St. in Central Point, just north of Medford; roguecreamery.com.