Crafting Swiss-inspired cxcellence at Stonetown Artisan Cheese

The Stonetown Artisan Cheese team stands with Wildwood, the Swiss-inspired cheese that earned top honours in its category at this year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. From left, Ramon Eberle (head cheese maker and part owner), Christine Stevens (customer service) and owner-cheesemaker Hans Weber.

By Gary West

Stonetown Artisan Cheese has become one of Perth County’s standout agricultural success stories – a farm-based operation where Swiss tradition, Canadian craftsmanship and premium Holstein milk come together to create some of the province’s most distinctive artisan cheeses.

Located just west of St. Marys near Rannoch, Hans and Yolanda Weber have built their business from the ground up since immigrating from Switzerland in 1996. With generations of dairying and cheese-making knowledge behind them, they brought both passion and purpose to their new life in Canada.

After purchasing their farm, the Webers established a modern free-stall barn and milking parlour and began producing high-quality milk from their purebred Holstein herd. But from the start, they held onto a bigger dream: crafting artisan cheeses on-farm using recipes and methods inspired by their Swiss roots.

In 2015, that vision became reality when they constructed their cheese plant and retail shop just steps from the barn – close enough for Grade A milk to be piped directly into production at peak freshness. They also recruited a Swiss cheese maker to help refine their techniques, setting the foundation for the handcrafted cheeses now synonymous with the Stonetown name.

The early years required grit, patience, and a belief in the product.

“If it was easy, everyone would want to do it,” Hans Weber says, reflecting on the determination it took to build a market for farm-made cheese.

That commitment is now unmistakably reflected in their products – including Wildwood, a signature Swiss-inspired cheese made entirely from milk produced right on the farm. And this year, Stonetown earned national attention when Wildwood received top honours in its category at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, a recognition that underscores the quality and craftsmanship behind the Weber family operation.

The Royal results were a proud moment, but Hans Weber emphasizes that the heart of their business remains the same: tradition, consistency and making cheese that customers love. The on-farm retail store has become a favourite stop for locals and visitors, especially during the holiday season when Stonetown assembles hundreds of gift baskets and boxes filled with artisan cheeses and local products. The Webers invite customers to visit, sample their cheeses and learn about the craft that has shaped their journey from Switzerland to Perth County – and continues to define their family-run business today.