5 Reasons Why Cheese Lovers are Choosing Stepladder Creamery
Discover the Unique Taste of Local Gourmet Cheese
Experience the rich flavors and exceptional quality of Stepladder Creamery cheese. Crafted with passion on our historic farm in Cambria, California, our cheeses are more than just food—they’re a celebration of tradition, sustainability, and culinary excellence. Here are five compelling reasons why Stepladder Creamery cheese should be at the top of your list.
1. Handcrafted Quality
People Working with Incredible Ingredients, Doing Things the Right Way.
At the core of our cheesemaking are two essentials: premium ingredients and a meticulous process. We noticed that everytime we made the goats happier, the cheese came out more flavorful. So we made it our mission to make our animals the happiest and carefully pick every single ingredient in the cheese.
Leveraging traditional methods with innovative tweaks, our small batch production allows precise control over every aspect of cheesemaking. This meticulous attention enables us to experiment with distinctive recipes, techniques, and aging processes, crafting unique and complex flavors. We stand firm in our natural practices, removing additives and using low-temperature pasteurization to preserve the natural health benefits and authentic tastes of our cheese.
2. Sustainably Produced
Good for the Planet, Good for You
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.
In addition to environmental sustainability, there's a human element of sustainability that's crucial. So we try our best to treat all of our employees with the most respect, give them some level of flexibility which is non-existent in farm work, and also pay them beyond a living wage.
"One aspect of sustainability that’s really important to us is the sustainability of the business for our staff. We try to employ people that are smarter than us and are better at what they do.". - Jack and Michelle
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.
3. Happy Animals, Superior Milk
The Secret to Our Exceptional Cheese
We noticed that everytime we made the goats happier, the cheese came out more flavorful.
Our goats enjoy the finest living conditions imaginable in the scenic wine country of Cambria, CA. They thrive on a historic 150-year-old ranch, grazing freely over five lush acres amid 200+ varieties of subtropical fruits and citrus, and breathing the fresh Pacific air.
We form deep emotional connections with each goat, naming them and assisting in their births. We even have a dedicated herbalist for our animals. Our care extends to taking them on hikes and singing to them during milking. This ensures our animals are not just happy, but also healthy and thriving.
4. Award-Winning Flavors
Recognized Excellence in Every Bite
Stepladder Creamery’s cheeses are not only loved by our customers but also recognized by the experts. Our products have won numerous awards, including accolades from the American Cheese Society. Enjoy the same artisanal cheese served in Michelin-starred restaurants and delight your palate with flavors that are celebrated by top chefs and food critics alike.
5. A True Farm-to-Table Experience
From Our Farm to Your Table
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.
BLACK FRIDAY SALE
Join Stepladder Cheese Club & Get $40 in Free Cheese
Embark on a culinary expedition with our unique Stepladder Creamery Cheese Club. Every three months, our expert cheese selectors become your personal guides, curating extraordinary farmstead goat's & cow's milk cheeses in 4 delectable flavors, including one limited edition club-exclusive variety & curated Pairings like Stepladder Honey, artisanal jams & salamis.
Here’s what’s included in your quarterly Cheese Club Subscription:
One Exclusive Cheese for Members Only
Plus 1.5 Pounds of Cheese - 4 flavors
A cheese pairing item. Previously our famous Avocado Blossom Honey, cured meat and marmalade.
Rustic Bakery Artisan Crackers - 1/4 Pound
$25 Off Per Person - Stepladder Farm & Creamery Tours
10% off all other orders & discount/exclusive add ons
What You Get...
1.5 Pounds of Cheese in 4 Flavors - Every 3 Months
Our expert cheesemakers become your personal guides, curating 1.5 pounds of extraordinary farmstead cheeses in 4 flavors, including one club-exclusive variety.
Specialty Artisan Pairing & Rustic Bakery Crackers
Each shipment is complemented with specially chosen pairings—think artisanal Stepladder honey, local jam, premium salami, and Rustic Bakery Crackers.
Discount Creamery Tours For You & up to 20 Friends
Delight in an exclusive $25 discount person on your Creamery Tour, welcoming up to 20 guests to share in the experience.
Member Only Add-On's & 10% OFF all Orders
Have the chance to buy more cheeses and special add-ons at exclusive member prices. If our stock permits, you can increase your share of member-exclusive cheeses.
1 Cheese Club
5 Exclusive Benefits
Every Membership = 1 Exclusive Cheese Each Shipment
In each of these special deliveries, you'll discover a cheese marvel available only to our incredible members. Imagine indulging in some of our past Cheese Club ONLY creations like triple crème cheeses adorned with fresh truffle, or cherry-smoked jack, direct from the depths of our cheese caves.
This Shipment it's BOB ROSS
Bob Ross is a Raclette-inspired, semi-hard cheese known for its bold aroma and creamy melt, perfect for a cozy fondue night or topping just about anything. Washed with a unique blend of salt brine, apple cider, and B. linens culture, it offers a complex, layered flavor with hints of mushroom, honey, and fruit, and yes—a pleasantly funky aroma. Crafted exclusively for Cheese Club members, this labor-intensive cheese is a true artisanal treat, lovingly “painted” over time in tribute to the joyfully creative spirit of the iconic painter, Bob Ross.
Here's How it Works
The Stepladder Cheese Club box is incredibly easy to buy and use. All you have to do is order it online and it will arrive at your doorstep.
STEP 1
Join The Club & Receive Your First Box Immediately
STEP 2
Receive Following Boxes Every 3 Months
STEP 3
Enjoy With Family & Friends
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Stepladder Cheese Club
Here’s what’s included in your quarterly Cheese Club Subscription:
One Exclusive Cheese for Members Only
Plus 1.5 Pounds of Cheese - 4 flavors
A cheese pairing item. Previously our famous Avocado Blossom Honey, cured meat and marmalade.
Rustic Bakery Artisan Crackers - 1/4 Pound
$25 Off Per Person - Stepladder Farm & Creamery Tours
10% off all other orders & discount/exclusive add ons
NEW CUSTOMER OFFER
Get $40 Dollars in FREE Cheese with your first shipment.
Receive a FREE Lumberjack, Big Sur and Marinated Fromage Blanc when you checkout now.
Free Shipping* | Delivered Cold | Made in California
*to select states: CA, ID, NV, OR, UT, and WA
Our passion for cheese is matched only by our promise to you: love it or get a full refund. Nine years of happy customers and Michelin Star restaurants can't be wrong.
Past Cheese Club Exclusives
Burning Love
Burning Love is a large-format cow's milk triple crème dusted with a blend of Hungarian Sweet Paprika, Sweet Calabrian Chili Powder and Pasilla Negro Chili Powder.
Super Bloom
Super Bloom is a large format cow's milk bloomy rind triple crème molded in the shape of a heart with the addition of rose, cornflower and marigold petals.
Gorda
Gorda is a funky flavored, semi-soft goat's milk and cow's milk cheese.
Cabrillo Grande Reserve
Cabrillo Grande Reserve is the extra-aged version of our year-round, top-selling cheese, Cabrillo, aging for over 2 years.
Labnah
Labneh is Mediterranean style yogurt cheese that dates back over 2,000 years. It's a light, refreshing and a versatile cheese. It's is a fresh cow's milk yogurt strained to the consistency of a soft spreadable cheese and lightly salted to accentuate that tart zip a fresh yogurt has.
Clothbound Goat Cheddar
Clothbound Goat Cheddar is made in the traditional English cheddar style with 100% farmstead goat's milk. We love the tart acidity and herbaceous notes of the goat's milk, and the sweet milk aroma. It pairs great with dry cider, hoppy beers, and acidic white wines.