Whitestone Cheese Factory Tour: Guided tasting with wine pairing

Watch cheese being made from the factory floor, then taste three matched wines with the cheeses you just saw produced

A 90-minute guided tour of Whitestone Cheese Co Factory in North Otago lets you watch artisan cheese production from specially designed viewing platforms, learn the story behind the operation, and finish with a tasting platter of soft white, semi-soft and blue cheeses paired with three glasses of boutique local wines. The tour includes a goodie bag to take home. Minimum age is 18 for wine service.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cheese factory tour and tasting

• Enter Whitestone Cheese factory
• View cheese making from platforms
• Learn about cheese history and geography
• Taste cheeses with local wines

The experience

The tour starts with access to viewing platforms built into the working factory itself. You're watching production happen in real time, not looking at displays. A guide walks you through how the cheeses are made and explains why North Otago's geography matters to the final product, then moves through the different stages of the operation. The whole experience runs 90 minutes, which keeps the pace unhurried without dragging.

At the end, you move to the tasting area for a generous platter holding a range of the cheeses you just watched being made: soft white varieties, semi-soft, and blue. Three glasses of local wine come paired to the cheeses, matched by someone who knows both the wines and what Whitestone produces. The goodie bag rounds out the visit with something to take back.

What’s included

• Guided tour of the working cheese factory with viewing platform access.
• tasting platter of soft white, semi-soft and blue cheeses.
• three glasses of boutique local wine paired to the cheeses.
• goodie bag to take home.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guided Factory Tour10:00Includes a cheese tasting

Factory tour with a guide10:00Paired with wine

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to FridayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Whitestone Cheese Co Factory

Is this one for you?The fixed 90-minute format with a guide means you move through the factory at a steady pace and don't have to plan what to look at. The guide handles the route and the timing. If you want to understand how the cheeses are actually made rather than just taste them, the viewing platforms and the explanation are what set this apart.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What exactly will I see on the factory floor?

The viewing platforms let you watch the working production line where Whitestone makes its cheeses. You'll see the process unfold with a guide explaining each stage, rather than walking through a static display or a closed-off area.

How many different cheeses will I taste?

The tasting platter includes a variety of soft white, semi-soft and blue cheeses produced at the factory. The exact number of individual cheeses varies, but the platter is generous and designed to show the range Whitestone makes.

Are the wines included in the tour price?

Yes. Three tasting glasses of boutique local wines come paired with your cheese platter as part of the tour. Wine is only served to guests 18 and older.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The only note is that the factory involves climbing and descending steps, so it's not recommended for travelers who have difficulty with stairs. Wear flat shoes: high heels and stilettos aren't permitted on the factory floor.

Can I take photos during the tour?

Photography is not allowed during the factory tour itself. You're welcome to photograph the tasting platter and your experience in the tasting area afterward.