In an effort to celebrate Missouri cheesemakers and align with local artisans, McKelvey Vineyards will be hosting the second annual Missouri Artisan Cheese Festival. Cheesemaker, Tom Blathford, from Cool Cow Cheese and McKelvey Vineyards have partnered for this event with a desire to highlight the quality flavors and variety that the state has to offer in handcrafted cheeses.
Two days of Cheese, Music, Food, Fun, Shopping, Wine, & Spirits.
Friday: Cheese Cave to Table Dinner Saturday: Cheese Tastings, Open Air Market, Cheese and Spirit Walk, Live Music, VIP Grazing Tent
Friday, June 2nd, Cheese Cave-to-Table Dinner 6:30pm
A cave to table dinner on Friday evening will kick off the festival with small dishes that each feature a cheese from a Missouri creamery. Ingredients in the dishes will be curated from local farmers and businesses.
This year we are going to be enjoying the meal near the manor house, Steeple View Manor, starting with appetizers on the patio. Each dish will be accompanied with the romantic country views that the family who built the house in 1871 would have enjoyed. Pairing the historic stone farmhouse with this exclusive dinner experience, will transport the guests back to a time when skilled makers and the use of local ingredients were the cultural norm.
Here’s what Marcia Hamilton from Warsaw, MO who was our guest at last year’s Cave to Table Dinner had to say about this unique event…
“Attending the cave to table dinner at the Missouri Artisan cheese festival was the highlight of our spring. The dishes were a gastronomic and visual feast and a rare opportunity to sample some of the best wines and cheeses that Missouri has to offer. Dining under the pavilion at the lovely McKelvey Vineyards is a “don’t miss” event.”
This is a unique experience to learn about cheese, local creameries, and the pairing of wine and cheese as you eat! Tom Blatchford, who owns Cool Cow Cheese, will be giving you insight into the cheese highlighted on each plate and where it’s from. He will help you understand the fuller flavor profiles that can be found when pairing cheese and wine.
Come enjoy an intimate dinner setting where our number one goal is to celebrate local artisans while creating a beautiful memorable evening for you. We love to host here at McKelvey Vineyards and cannot wait to see you!
A ticket is needed for entry to the dinner.
Saturday, June 3rd, Artisan Cheese Festival 11am-9pm
Saturday morning and into the evening the cheesemakers will be sampling their cheese. We’ve curated five Missouri creameries that each showcase a different milk. Cool Cow Cheese of M&T Farms & Homestead Dairy will be representing cow milk cheese, the samples of sheep milk cheese are from Green Dirt Farm, and there will be goat milk cheese from Terrell Creek Farm and Baetje Farms. Festival participants will be able to taste over twenty varieties of Missouri handcrafted cheese and buy on site! McKelvey Vineyards also offers Baetje Farms, Hemme Brothers, and Cool Cow Cheese on their main bar menu. McKelvey Vineyards is also offering curated Wine Flights that will pair with cheese from the various booths. This is a great way to enhance the cheese tasting experience and learn how to get bolder flavors on your palete when pairing wine and cheese together. Cheese Row will be open with creamery samples from 11a-9p (with a 30 minute break from 4p-4:30p)
From 11am-4pm on Saturday local artisans and farmers will sell their goods in an Open Air Market on the front lawn of the historic, stone farmhouse, Steeple View Manor. The Wayward Mountaineers, a fantastic family band, will be playing from 11a-2p. Beautifully blending with the historic sights and feel of McKelvey, The Wayward Mountaineers play an acoustic mix of old-time, bluegrass and American folk music. We are excited to welcome these vendors to the market: Blue Hive Honey, Pat’s Weaving & Chair Caning, Honey Locust Hills (artisan condiments and body products), Sarah Macheska with bread and baked goods, Mast Farms Yogurt and Butter, and Tanglewood Creek Laser (cutting boards and laser cut metal).
Local distilleries and a meadery will arrive for an evening Cheese and Spirits Walk from 5p-9p, giving guests the chance to taste local liquor and cheese pairings. Here's who will be joining us:
Fernweh Distilling, Ozark Viking Meadery, and Nobletons Distilling House.
Live music will be playing all day at various locations around the estate. The band schedule is as follows: The Wayward Mountainers 11a-2p at the Open Air Market, The Widowmakers 2p-5p on the Barn Stage, and Donneresa 5p-8p under the pavilion.
Food: McKelvey Vineyards will be serving their regular menu at our main bar all day...local cheese/sausage charcuterie boards, pizza, small eats, etc. The main bar will be selling tickets for a Wagyu beef burger from 4Health Farms...with your choice of a MO cheese. Grazing Tent Lunch (11:30a-1:30p) and Grazing Tent Dinner (5:30p-7:30p) options are available under the ticket page under Add-Ons. There will also be a food truck option for grilled cheese sandwiches and sides.
Entry is free for the Saturday Festival. There are add on tickets for the Lunch Grazing Tent between 11:30a & 1:30p and the Dinner Grazing Tent between 5:30p-7:30p as well as the McKelvey Vineyards Wine Flight to enhance your cheese tasting experience. Sunday, May 22nd, Artisan Cheese Festival
This is a rain or shine event. The pavilion offers cover for guests and creameries/vendors will be under tents. There are no refunds for inclement weather.
