We ran across this little cheese company on our way to visit the Cypress Tree Tunnel. It is the oldest cheese company in the United States. We were greeted immediately and offered help and samples. The samples we received were Breakfast, Prospector and Golden Gate. My favorite being the breakfast, it was like a smooth expensive cream cheese. The Golden Gate was too strong for me but my friend loved it. The Prospector is a middle of the road, like a Brie and was their newest. They have been in business since the 1800's. While they no longer give tours, they have a wonderful video. There is also a wine selection, a sandwich and coffee shop, along with local crafts and trinkets. The outside is beautiful mountains and tables for enjoying your lunch. Do not miss this treasure on your trip to the seashore or trees.

We were traveling between Novato and point Reyes station and this cozy cafe was right in between on our way! What an adorable outdoor picnic area to enjoy with pets or kids. The cheeses inside are absolutely divine- my favorite was the brand new black truffle cheese the prospector- the layers of depth and indulgent creaminess were unreal. Unfortunately it was only available as a 16 oz so I bought the petite triple cream truffle instead but I was seriously tempted. The cheese samples are hefty and generous and the staff are super nice! There is also a cafe on premises and we tried the lasagna soup which was incredibly comforting. You will not regret visiting this delectable cheese shop with interesting flavors and creamy Brie goodness.

The Marin French Cheese Company. Is a unique cheese shop, deli, and on-site cheese producer. The picnic tables and small pond nearby, combined with the shade trees make a picturesque destination for a picnic lunch. The gift shop has greatly expanded and contains an abundant selection of cheese and cheese related gifts. My fav is the truffle brie. I took my girl's Brownie Scouts here many years ago and they got to watch the cheese being made (no longer possible now, probably due to health regs). You can still look through a window into the cheese making area. It's just a mile to downtown Nicasio if you are looking for a cold beer or a full restaurant.

They had a beautiful place where to sell their products. there's a nice pond where you can have a picnic with your family. The lady was so awesome at customer service. It wasn't even funny. She was kind, gentle, generous, and as soon as she was done, providing you with samples, she would turn around and wait on other customers that needed to check out. You can buy wine, cheese, and other delightful product.

Marin French Cheese Company is an outstanding cheese maker and has a fabulous shop between Petaluma and Novato. I've been coming here since I moved to CA in 1994. It used to be Rouge et Noir, but I like their new image and name. All of their cheeses are great! If you come to the shop, there are samples of every variety and always some specials that make it worth the drive. (The drive would be worth it anyway because it's beautiful; rolling hills with gorgeous rock outcroppings and gnarly oak trees. ) There is a lovely pond and picnic area where you can eat cheeses or food that you purchased or BYO picnic. We got a fantastic deal of 8 wheels of cheese for $40! Now, we head home to eat our cheese haul. Bon Appetit!

If you love handmade cheese in the heart of the country, MFC co. If you're jam! Not only is this spot have amazing views, cute, quaint, peaceful, part of it is on the water, it's a gem in the North Bay. You are in the Petaluma countryside upon visiting here, also minutes from amazing view points as well. And yes, it's a lovely date spot to celebrate anything big or small. We tried two cheeses; the Triple cream Brie and the havarti . The Brie was my favorite and it's a triple cream, so it's super fresh and filling. We made our own picnic, brought the pup and enjoyed our chill vibes! Ohh.. and on your way out be sure to get a handmade waffle cone with fresh Straus Ice Cream!

This is a super cute spot that's a bit of a drive out into the countryside from the city center. You'll find a sizable gravel parking lot & building by a pond with picnic tables. Inside you'll discover a large variety of items to browse--cheese (of course), wine, crackers, honey, spreads, olives, sweet confections, artisan & local products, housewares, picnic baskets, books, merchandise, apparel, postcards, dry pasta, & more! You can order food & beverages from their Deli-Cafe menu, which includes items like sandwiches, salads, pastries, soft-serve, & espresso. There is a small nook area detailing the history & accolades of "The Country's Oldest Cheese Company". A short video plays on loop. The staff we interacted with were friendly & informative. We were able to sample a few cheeses, which were enjoyable. The pond picnic area was peaceful, though a little buggy. We didn't see any ducks or geese while we were there.

Enjoying their delectable Brie varieties next to a bucolic lake surrounded by lush, rolling green hills - you'd be forgiven for mistaking this gorgeous California countryside for French cow country lol! Their cheeses here are just lovely - and not surprisingly, since they've been making them for 155 years or so. The triple cream bries from Marin French are my absolute fave Brie varieties in the world. Mild, delicate, and luscious hot OR cold - can't go wrong on any of their flavors. The Breakfast & Jalapeño minis are my go-to choices. And luckily I don't have to travel far to find them! They've started popping up at some of my local stores here in SoCal! But I do so love visiting their flagship store in central California - the setting is just beautiful and their Brie en Croute is some of the best I've ever had (even versus the ones I've had in France)! Their staff at the main store have always been welcoming and helpful and the prices for this quality cheese are justified- but still very reasonable. They've been making cheese at their home-store since 1865 and were locally owned most of that time. The current owners are a long-established, French cheese-making family (the Laiteries H. Triballat family) - so it's still "family owned" and they pride themselves on sourcing all their dairy from local farmers! I always make sure to stop by when I'm in the area - and when I'm not, I pick up my fave cheeses from local stores when I find it - most often at Howie's Market in San Gabriel - they have the most varieties. Highly recommend any of their Brie flavors!

Cheese is golden. We decided to spend the day on the cheese trail. Our first stop landed us at Marin French Cheese Co. for a picnic. We found it to be a charming spot for a quick stop-cute pond and lovely views. The shop had a nice selection of cheeses available for purchase, and we enjoyed the sample tasting offered. However, I was hoping for more of an interactive experience or a place to relax and enjoy the scenery while tasting cheese. Overall, it was a pleasant visit, but more emphasis on the tasting experience would have enhanced the atmosphere visit.

Super cute cheese company on the backroads where you would least expect it. They have a vast selection of wines, cheeses, pastries, coffees, and sandwiches. I even saw some desserts and candy scattered around the store. I loved all the options and was sad I couldn't buy it all. They have somebody behind the counter giving out cheese tastings and explaining what they pair with. In the corner of the cheese coolers, there is a bunch of different types that you can buy 6 of for $40. We got two hot sandwiches, the veggie grilled cheese and the turkey. Both were good and the side salads were delish! The property itself is pet friendly and we brought our dog. We kept her on leash and ran around with her in the empty field. The drive to this place is GORGEOUS and I would come here again for the drive alone. 4 stars because the staff kept complaining about being short staffed (which I would have never known otherwise) and I wish they had half splits of wine bottles. The only variety in a can was Chardonnay which leaves you with very little choice. I would have LOVED to have a glass of wine outside while I enjoyed my cheese and baguette.