Wisconsin Cheesemaker Gets National Spotlight on Netflix Marieke Gouda, a farmstead creamery in Thorp, Wisconsin, is featured in episode four of Netflix's new food and travel series On the Road, hosted by America's Test Kitchen chef Bryan Roof. The episode explores Wisconsin's cheesemaking heritage and the farmers and artisans preserving traditional techniques that have made the state's cheese famous globally. During filming, Roof visited the Marieke Gouda operation, toured the creamery, and met with founder and Master Cheesemaker Marieke Penterman to learn about traditional Dutch Gouda production methods.
From Netherlands to Wisconsin Penterman grew up on her family's dairy farm in the Netherlands, where she developed expertise in traditional Gouda cheesemaking. After relocating to Wisconsin, she pursued formal training by returning to the Netherlands to learn cheesemaking techniques from experienced Dutch artisans before establishing her operation. Today, Marieke Gouda produces handcrafted Gouda using those traditional methods and milk sourced from its own farm. The company's cheeses have earned numerous national and international awards. "Cheese has always been a connection to home for me," Penterman said. "When I came to Wisconsin from the Netherlands, I missed the Gouda I grew up with. I wanted to bring that tradition with me but also make it my own here in Wisconsin. It's incredibly meaningful to have that story shared with viewers across the country, and now around the world through Netflix." Penterman added: "Wisconsin has such an incredible cheesemaking story to tell, and we're proud to be part of it. We've always believed that making great cheese starts with great milk, great cows and a respect for tradition. This feature gives people a chance to see that story for themselves."
Why It Matters
For artisan cheesemakers and dairy operators, Netflix's platform offers significant visibility for premium, heritage-focused producers. The feature underscores sustained consumer interest in farmstead cheese, traditional production methods, and origin stories—categories that command price premiums and loyalty in specialty retail and foodservice channels.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
