Dolomites: Cheese Making Workshop with Local Dairy Master

Summary

Hands-on cheese making in the dolomites with local flavors and laughter

You’ll roll up your sleeves with a Dolomites cheesemaker—learning to shape burrata and primo sale from fresh milk, tasting as you go. Expect laughter, small surprises (like homemade tart), and time to savor what you’ve made together before heading home with your own handmade cheese—and maybe a new appreciation for quiet mountain mornings.

What’s the experience like?

We shuffled into the little dairy tucked between green slopes somewhere above Cortina — I think it was still morning, but the air already smelled like warm milk and hay. Our guide, Marta, waved us in with hands dusted in flour (or maybe it was cheese salt?), grinning like she’d been waiting for us all week. She started in Italian but switched to English when she saw my face — I nodded along anyway. There’s something about hearing “burrata” pronounced properly that makes you hungry on the spot.

I didn’t expect to actually get my hands so messy. We poured milk straight from these huge cans — still warm, honestly — and Marta showed us how to coax it into curds. The steam fogged up my glasses for a bit. Someone’s phone went off playing some pop song, which made everyone laugh (Marta just shrugged: “We have music too!”). The whole room smelled of sweet cream and something grassy. I kept sneaking tastes when nobody was looking — fresh primo sale is way softer than anything I’ve bought at home.

After we’d pressed and salted our cheeses (mine came out lopsided but hey), we sat down together for snacks — bread, more cheese, even a tart someone’s aunt had baked. There was this quiet moment where everyone just kind of stopped talking and listened to the cows outside. I still think about that silence sometimes; it felt like the mountains were breathing with us or something. When we left, Marta wrapped our little cheeses in wax paper and winked: “Now you are real casari.” Not sure about that, but it tasted like effort and new friends.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hands-on cheese making workshop

• Meet local cheesemaker
• Learn cheese making techniques
• Make your own cheese
• Taste fresh dairy products
• Take home handmade cheese

Top questions

How long does the Dolomites cheese making workshop last?

The workshop lasts around 3 hours from start to finish.

Is the cheese making class suitable for children or families?

Yes, families and children are welcome; infants can ride in a stroller during the activity.

Do I get to take home the cheese I make?

Yes, you’ll bring home your own handmade cheese after the workshop.

Are snacks or tastings included during the experience?

Yes, snacks—including fresh dairy products—are provided during the workshop.

Is the Dolomites cheese workshop wheelchair accessible?

The entire experience is wheelchair accessible, including all areas and surfaces.

What types of cheese will I learn to make?

You’ll learn traditional techniques for Italian cheeses like burrata and primo sale.

Is this activity recommended for pregnant travelers?

No, it’s not recommended for pregnant travelers due to safety reasons.

Can travelers with spinal injuries participate?

No, it’s not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries.

What’s included

Your day includes admission to the Dolomites cheese laboratory itself, hands-on guidance from a local dairy master throughout each step of making burrata and primo sale, plus plenty of fresh snacks along the way—and yes, you’ll leave with your own handmade cheese wrapped up to take home at the end.