Wine gets all the attention. Wine gets all the romance. But in the hands of California’s artisan producers, the cheese really does stand alone.

Marin French Cheese Co.

Triple Creme Brie

Location: 7500 Red Hill Road, Petaluma. Open daily 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours available. Also sold through specialty retailers nationwide.

Contact: (800) 292-6001; www.marinfrenchcheese.com

Pair With: 2003 Stony Hill Napa Valley Chardonnay

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Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.

Original Blue

Location: The dairy is off-limits to visitors, but its cheese is sold at the Cowgirl Creamery (inside Tomales Bay Foods), 80 Fourth St., Point Reyes Station. Also available through its website and at specialty retailers nationwide.

Contact: (800) 591-6878; www.pointreyescheese.com

Pair With: 2004 Joseph Phelps Eisrebe Napa Valley Scheurebe

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Joe Matos Cheese Factory

St. George

(Portuguese-style aged cow’s milk cheese)

Location: 3669 Llano Road, Santa Rosa. Open 9 to 5 daily; tours available. Also sold at Tomales Bay Foods, 80 Fourth St., Point Reyes Station, and specialty retailers nationwide.

Contact: (707) 584-5283

Pair With: 2003 Pride Mountain Vineyards Sonoma County Cabernet Franc

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Fiscalini Cheese Co.

30-Month Bandage-Wrapped Cheddar

Location: 7206 Kiernan Ave., Modesto. Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; no tours. Also sold locally at O’Brien’s Market, Raley’s and Save Mart, and at specialty retailers nationwide.

Contact: (800) 610-3276; www.fiscalinicheese.com

Pair With: 2004 Turley Wine Cellars Petit Syrah, Hayne Vineyard, Napa Valley

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Andante Dairy

Acapella soft-ripened goat cheese

Location: The Petaluma dairy is off-limits, but its cheeses are sold at the Cheese Shop, 423 Center St., Healdsburg; Oliver’s Market, 560 Montecito Center, Santa Rosa, and specialty retailers statewide.

Contact: (707) 769-1379; www.andantedairy.com

Pair With: 2005 Selene Sauvignon Blanc, Hyde Vineyards, Carneros

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Cowgirl Creamery

Red Hawk

Location: Made and sold at the creamery (inside Tomales Bay Foods), 80 Fourth St., Point Reyes Station; open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; tours available (reservations recommended) on Fridays at 11:30 a.m. Also sold through its website and specialty retailers nationwide.

Contact: (415) 663-9335; www.cowgirlcreamery.com

Pair With: 2004 Londer Vineyards Paraboll Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley

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Winchester Cheese Co.

Boere Kaas Gouda (either sharp aged or super-aged)

Location: 32605 Holland Road, Winchester; open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; tours available (reservations recommended). Also sold through specialty retailers and its website.

Contact: (951) 926-4239; www.winchestercheese.com

Pair With: 2003 Piedrasassi California Syrah

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Bellwether Farms

San Andreas sheep’s milk cheese

Location: The Petaluma creamery is off-limits to visitors, but its cheese is sold locally at the Petaluma Market, 210 Western Ave., and through its website and specialty retailers nationwide.

Contact: (888) 527-8606; www.bellwetherfarms.com

Pair With: 2003 Kamen Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon