Grate Cheesery

Nestled in the vibrant Pandosy neighbourhood in Kelowna BC, you will find Grate Cheesery, a specialty cheese shop and licensed café.

And let me tell you, this place is truly heaven for a cheese and wine lover. I heard angels sing when I tasted a few of their delicious cheeses paired with some outstanding BC wines.

Bring your fur baby along and relax on their dog-friendly patio while savoring a cheese panini paired with a glass of BC wine. With summer in full swing, you can also beat the heat by unwinding in their airconditioned indoor seating. Do they have Happy Hour? Yes, every Tuesday-Thursday from 2:30pm-4:30pm! Are you already on your way?

I had the pleasure of speaking with Mirjana, one of the owners of Grate Cheesery, who lights up the space with her presence and passion for cheese, fine foods and wine.

Q: What inspired you to start pouring BC wine alongside your cheeses?  

A: When we opened Grate Cheesery in August 2023, as a cheese shop with a licensed café, we knew we would only serve BC wines, beers and ciders. How could we not? We are so blessed to be located in Kelowna within reach of the Okanagan Valley.

Q: Are there any standout or customer-favourite cheeses people have to try? 

A: Our top selling cheese is definitely Dauphin, (aka D’affinois). A double cream bloomy rind cheese (brie style), a true crowd pleaser. This particular cheese maker, uses a patented process where they ultra filter the milk before making cheese, which removes  some water resulting in a truly decadent final product.  

Q: Wine and cheese flights sound like a dream combo. How do you curate the pairings?   

A: We work closely with the customer to learn first about any allergies or sensitivities, and then about their palates and cheese favourites, (and not so favourites), so we know how to best curate their custom wine and cheese flight. As a cheese shop with a licensed café and patio, we offer something very unique in the Okanagan because we have over 50 cheeses to choose from (cow, goat and sheep!) and a rotating selection of BC wines. No two flights have to be the same, and some customers come several times per month, because each experience is truly different! Our flights take them through the Okanagan and around the world for cheese! A dream combo indeed!

Q: Your cheese selection includes varieties from different countries. If you had to pick one cheese’s country of origin to visit, where would you go (and why) and what bottle of BC wine would you bring along to enjoy?

A: We love Canadian cheese! I would definitely head straight to Québec, where there are over 60 artisan cheesemakers making some very special cheese. Small batch, high quality with a unique terroir is why we are such huge fans of cheese made in Québec. My current favourite BC wine is from Hester Creek, I would definitely bring a bottle of the 2022 GSM, an exceptional vintage!

Q: What kind of experience do you hope customers walk away with after visiting you?

A: Connection. When customers come into our shop, we take the time to speak with each one to learn about them, show them around our shop and answer all of their questions. Our shop has become a place where people gather, neighbours bump into each other and friends meet for lunch. We love sharing our passion for cheese, fine foods and wine. But more importantly, we love community. So Grate Cheesery is a place for people to stop by to say hello, hang out on our dog-friendly patio, see what’s new in our cases, and to buy cheese!

Q: Have you ever surprised a guest with a pairing they didn’t expect to love? 

A: Yes, always blue cheese! If I had to guess, only 1 in 10 customers like blue cheese. However, customers who typically don’t like blue cheese but are willing to try some during a wine and cheese flight, are always pleasantly surprised! Blue cheese paired with a bold red and a piece of dark chocolate can be life changing!

Q: What are some other customer favourites that pair well with a glass of BC wine?

A: BC Pinot Gris pairs well with soft french cheese, always. Rosé is gorgeous with goat cheese and a bold alpine cheese is absolutely perfect with a Cabernet Franc.

Q: How important is supporting local producers – whether cheese, wine, or other goods – in your business philosophy?

A: It is the backbone of our purchasing philosophy and we’ve built our shop on that business model. We always source from BC first, then Canada wide, and then overseas to Europe. In fact, we have always had an entire cheese case dedicated to Canadian cheese. Our drink list is comprised of BC wines, beer, cider and fruit sodas and our retail shop is bursting with gorgeous crackers, preserves, tapenades, chocolate, charcuterie, paté and even pies from BC and Canada.

Q: Are there any collaborations with local artisans, farms, or wineries that you’re especially proud of?

A: We are so proud of all the relationships we have built in the community over the past 2 years. Especially with our local wineries and breweries, who take the time with us to explain their offerings, educate us on their processes, offer us tours, share tastings with us so we know what to bring into our shop each month and with the change of seasons. We are always looking to curate the perfect experience for our clients. We change our wine list every 4-6 weeks and our beer list every season so we are always tasting and researching.  

Grate Cheesery also offers fondue nights in the fall and winter. They will resume their fondue nights in October 2025 and release their fondue dates only 30 days in advance. Don’t miss out on this ‘grate’ experience!

Website: https://www.gratecheesery.com/