Carr Valley’s passion for cheesemaking excellence runs deep

We are dedicated to crafting the highest quality artisan and specialty cheeses. Enjoy our specialty cheeses and butters made with fresh cow, goat, and sheep milk. Our skilled cheesemakers produce over 80 award-winning cheeses that range from traditional classics to American Originals.

We utilize several affinage techniques to finish our unique varieties that range from waxing, smearing, drycuring and open-air cave aging.

In the past 20 years alone, Carr Valley Cheese® has won more than 850 top awards in U.S. and international competitions. Many of these have been won by Carr Valley’s one-of-akind American Originals – artisan cheeses you won’t find made anywhere else in the world.

For more than 125 years, our family has built the business on a unique blend of old-world craftsmanship and cheesemaking innovation. We think it’s a delicious combination that you’re going to love!

Discover the flavor of Award Winning Cheeses from the heart of America’s Dairyland.

1883: Ed Lepley started making cheese at the Spring Dale cheese factory north of Viola, WI.

1887: Ed’s brother Simon had three children, Lee, Sarah and Alice, that were cheese makers. Sarah, Sid’s grandmother and her husband Frank made cheese south of West Lima, WI.

to 1960

1944: Sam and Merna, Sid’s Parents, purchased the Irish Valley cheese factory near Plain, WI, where Sid grew up making cheese alongside his dad. Sam and Merna worked with her brothers for 2 years to learn the cheese business.

1968: Sid passed his cheese makers test and received a Wisconsin Cheese Makers License.

1977: Sid purchased the Irish Valley cheese factory with his brother Monte and they made cheese there for nine years.

1986: Sid began his solo venture into the business with the purchase of Carr Valley Cheese.

1988: The Portage, WI warehouse was purchased for distribution.

1991: The Mauston, WI plant was purchased and renovated, and the store was opened.

1993: The first cheese to be made in the renovated Mauston plant was Gouda, and Sid started his quest in making American Originals.

1996: The Sauk City store opened.

2002: Sid entered his first cheese competition, American Cheese Society in Washington D.C., and was successful in winning twelve awards, the most single awards by a competitor.

2005: The cheese factory in Fennimore, WI joined the Carr Valley lineup, and the Fennimore store reopened as a Carr Valley store.

2006: The Middelton, WI and Wisconsin Dells, WI stores opened.

2007: The Mauston II store opened.

2011: A blue cheese factory in Linden, WI was purchased to round out the production capabilities of Carr Valley.

2012: The Mazomanie, WI store opened.

2022: The Mauston plant received a new addition to increase brine capacity.

NOW: Carr Valley is still creating new cheeses and continuing on with our award winning products and passion for cheesemaking excellence.