Cheese Club
Health/Wellness·Community Service/Nonprofit·Environmental/Sustainability
Cheese Club gathers UC Berkeley students for regular outdoor picnics and tastings of artisan and international cheeses, all donated by local dairies and cheesemongers. Members explore cheeses from cultures across the globe, hear from guest experts like professional cheesemongers and importers, and take field trips to working farms. The vibe is relaxed and communal: bring yourself, some crackers or fruit to share, and an appetite for good cheese and good company.
3
Years active (founded fall 2023)
50
Typical meeting attendance (Golden Bears, based on one April meeting)
25
Fondue night cap (first RSVPs prioritized)
20
Farm tour cap
Events They Host
SF Cheese Festival attendance
Club members attended the annual SF Cheese Fest and brought back a selection of cheeses from family-owned creameries for the first campus meeting of fall semester.
Market Hall Crucolo Parade
Annual event in Rockridge where a 300-pound wheel of Italian Crucolo cheese is paraded down the street. The club attended Market Hall's 10th annual parade on Halloween 2025 and brought back a wedge to share at a campus meeting.
Market Hall Cheese Fest (Rockridge)
A free local cheese festival at Rockridge Market Hall featuring cheeses from Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium; club members met outside at 12pm.
French Chamber of Commerce Gastronomy Festival volunteering
Members were invited to volunteer at the French Chamber of Commerce's annual Gastronomy Festival in San Francisco on March 30th.
Member Experiences
Regular campus cheese picnics
Outdoor evening gatherings (typically 6-7pm) on campus at locations including the lawn between Wellman and VLSB, or picnic tables beside Dwinelle. Members taste donated artisan cheeses and bring their own fruit and crackers to share.
Farm tour and tasting at Toluma Farms
Field trip to Toluma Farms and Tomales Farmstead Creamery in Tomales Bay. Members watched goats being milked, toured the farm, and tasted cheese on site. Limited spots; first trip was November 12, 2023.
Guest expert tasting: Sigfried 'Ziggy' von Frankenberg-Leu
A professional cheese importer and monger led the club through a tasting of Alpine cheeses including OG Kristal, 1655 Gruyere, Hornkase, and Alp Blossom, sharing knowledge about raw milk co-ops and cattle-horn farming.
'Cheddar and Chips' tasting with Debra Dickerson and Sean McKee
Structured evening tasting led by Debra Dickerson, recipient of the American Cheese Society Lifetime Achievement Award, and cheese expert Sean McKee from Tomales Bay Foods. Members learned to taste cheese and heard the story behind each farm and maker.
Kelley from Marin French and Laura Chenel guided tasting
A Marin French and Laura Chenel representative led an on-campus tasting of their cheeses, including a mango habanero chèvre.
Unwine and Cheese fondue night
End-of-semester collaborative event with UC Berkeley's fiber arts club. Featured fondue from a Point Reyes cheese donation, yarn, and a shareable beverage. Off-campus location, capped at first 25 RSVPs. December 10, 2025.
'Kompté Kidz' Dead Week Cheese Party Cheese Festival
Special member-bring-your-own-cheese picnic where every attendee brought their favorite cheese to share for the first time, held on the field facing VLSB.