Uplands Cheese

Dodgeville, WI

Uplands Cheese Company, owned and operated by two families, Andy and Caitlin Hatch and Scott and Liana Mericka, follows the rhythms of their farm, which align perfectly with Alpine-style cheesemaking traditions. Cheese production occurs during the summer months when the cows graze on pasture. The farm's signature cheeses are Pleasant Ridge Reserve and Rush Creek Reserve.

An Apprenticeship at Uplands, situated atop Pleasant Ridge in the Driftless region of southwestern Wisconsin, entails working with the cows across the farm's numerous pastures, milking them, and collaborating with the team in the make room to produce and ship their award-winning signature cheeses.

Andy and Scott acquired the farm from its founders and original owners, Mike Gingrich and Dan Patenaude, in 2014. Uplands was initially established in 2000 by Mike and Carol Gingrich and Dan and Jeanne Patenaude on Pleasant Ridge in the Uplands region of southwestern Wisconsin. Both families joined forces, with the Patenaudes focusing on milk production and the Gingriches on cheese making. The Patenaudes were early adopters of rotational grazing principles, recognizing the quality of their milk due to the grass-based diet and superior breeding and genetics.

Inspired by southwestern Wisconsin's tradition of crafting fine Alpine-style cheeses, which originated from the area's Swiss immigrants, Mike and Carol embarked on crafting Pleasant Ridge Reserve. Following research trips to Europe to study traditional Alpine-style cheesemaking, they garnered immediate acclaim, with Pleasant Ridge Reserve winning 'Best in Show' at the American Cheese Society Conference three times in ten years - in 2001, 2005, and 2010.

Andy began working at Uplands as a cheesemaker in 2007 after studying cheesemaking at the University of Wisconsin, while Scott joined in 2010. Both spent years learning from the founders before Andy assumed cheesemaking responsibilities from Mike, and Scott took over the farming side of the business from Dan.