Cabrillo
Cabrillo is a Manchego/Spanish style hard cheese created from a blend of goat and cow milk. It's named after the iconic Highway 1 (or Cabrillo Highway) that runs along the rugged California coastline minutes from our farmstead.
Ingredients:
- Blend of goat's and cow's milk
- Vegetarian rennet
- Salt and cultures
Tasting Notes:
- Aged for 5 months
- Buttery, creamy and nutty flavor
- Hard consistency with gritty texture from crystals
Serving Suggestions:
- Cut into wedges (rind is edible) or cubes on a cheeseboard
- Shaved or thinly sliced in salads
- Pairs best with crisp white wines, Spanish red wines and light beers
- Fun fact: This is Michelle's favorite cheese
- Store cheese in the fridge, bring to room temp for optimal eating; re-wrap in air-tight container or plastic wrap in the fridge for later consumption
Availability:
- Year-round
- 4 and 8oz wedge sizes
We received a Silver at the 2023 California State Fair cheese competition for this cheese! Cabrillo Reserve, the extra-aged version of this cheese won Gold AND Best of California!
All Natural Practices
Sustainable Farming
Meet the Creamery
Owners
MICHELLE & JACK RUDOLPH
Stepladder Creamery isn't simply another cheese company—it represents the heartfelt journey of Jack and Michelle Rudolph, who took a huge risk to transition from careers in tech and event planning to pursue a love of cheesemaking that began in the confines of Jack’s apartment.
Their shared enthusiasm for cheesemaking and sustainable agriculture has revitalized Jack's grandfather's 150-year-old historic ranch, turning it into a stronghold for handcrafted quality and environmentally responsible farming.
Jack and Michelle stand for embracing a narrative of love, commitment, and innovation. By treating their goats like family and enhancing the land through increased biodiversity, Jack and Michelle invite you to join a movement where artisanal craftmanship prevails.
More than just cheesemakers, the Rudolphs are profoundly committed to the well-being of their team, their animals, and the support of similar small businesses and makers. Each piece of Stepladder cheese embodies the Rudolphs' unwavering dedication to perfecting their craft.
Meet the Creamery Owners
Michelle & Jack Rudolph
Jack and Michelle stand for embracing a narrative of love, commitment, and innovation. By treating their goats like family and enhancing the land through increased biodiversity, Jack and Michelle invite you to join a movement where artisanal craftmanship prevails.
More than just cheesemakers, the Rudolphs are profoundly committed to the well-being of their team, their animals, and the support of similar small businesses and makers. Each piece of Stepladder cheese embodies the Rudolphs' unwavering dedication to perfecting their craft.
Stepladder Creamery isn't simply another cheese company—it represents the heartfelt journey of Jack and Michelle Rudolph, who took a huge risk to transition from careers in tech and event planning to pursue a love of cheesemaking that began in the confines of Jack’s apartment.
Their shared enthusiasm for cheesemaking and sustainable agriculture has revitalized Jack's grandfather's 150-year-old historic ranch, turning it into a stronghold for handcrafted quality and environmentally responsible farming.
Sustainable from Start to End
STEPLADDER CREAMERY
Being a sustainable ranch and creamery is non-negotiable for us. We love where we live and work, and want to keep it just as beautiful as when we got here.
How do we stay sustainable?
Solar-Power
A 50KW solar array on the farm produces roughly 90 percent of the energy we use
Water Catchments
We rely on spring water and a large rain catchment refreshed by the annual rain as our main source
Circular Waste-Reduction
We utilize the manure from the goats to fertilize our orchards, and free-roaming Stepladder piggies receive the spent whey from the creamery and get to eat any unsellable harvested fruit and veg.
The Happiest Goats in the USA
As a farmstead creamery, we raise our goats on the farm and make cheese from their milk, which allows us to manage every aspect of the Stepladder cheese production.
With every passing season, our herd has grown, as has the variety of both goat and cow’s milk cheeses we now produce in our creamery.
Our herd of 40 goats consists of registered LaManchas (the only breed of goats developed in the United States), and they happily graze on three acres of open pasture!
Experience award winning small batch cheese from farmstead goats and local cow milk
Every bite is a testament to our cared-for animals and state-of-the-art techniques that delivers exceptional quality and freshness to your palate.
Small batch cheese from
farmstead goat and local cow milk
Every bite is a testament to our cared-for animals and state-of-the-art techniques that delivers exceptional quality and freshness to your palate.