First Class
Made in
Vermont
“Made in Vermont” is more than just another
marketing slogan. It’s a way of life in the Green
Mountain State, pursued by a stunning number of artisanal cheese makers,
farmers, craftsmen and two famous
hippie ice cream fanatics. Practically
shouting purity, local production
and old-fashioned Yankee ingenuity, the phrase evokes maple syrup,
cheddar cheese and an increasingly surprising array of specialty
products with one thing in
common—all are made with
love and dedication.
BUFALA DI VERMONT In Italy, where it was invented, mozzarella cheese is required by law to be made only from the milk
of water buffaloes, not cows’ milk. But there is just one dairy in this country going through the expense of crafting the famous
cheese in the authentic manner, and it is in South Woodstock, Vt. The cheeses and yogurts are available up and down the
East Coast, but visitors to Bufala di Vermont can meet the nation’s largest milking herd of water buffalo. bufaladivermont.com
STAVE PUZZLES
Aka “torture in a box,” these can
be mind-bogglingly difficult or
works of art. Norwich-based Stave
is the world’s premier producer of
hand-cut wooden jigsaw puzzles,
known for its Trick or Teaser ver-
sions, with wrinkles such as piec-
es that fit in more than one place.
Vermont’s own mythical serpent,
Lake Champlain’s Champ, has
44 pieces and can be assembled
32 ways—but only one is correct.
$125–$5,000; stavepuzzles.com
HARPOON BEER
Best known for its flagships UFO
and India Pale Ale, this Vermont
microbrewery also makes gourmet sodas and experiments with
small-batch specialties, such as its
extra-potent Leviathan Series and
the ever-changing, limited edition
100 Barrel Series, named for the
number of kegs manufactured.
The last 100 Barrel offering was
Catamount Maple Wheat, made
with maple syrup—from Vermont
of course. harpoonbrewery.com
CHARLES SHACKLETON
FURNITURE
In 1916, Irish explorer Ernest
Shackleton and his ship, Endur-
ance, accidentally became the
historical icon for Antarctic survi-
val. Sixty-five years later, Shackle-
ton’s cousin came to Vermont to
dedicate himself to a safer pursuit—
woodworking. Today, the younger
Shackleton has achieved fame, as
one of America’s leading makers
of exquisite custom, handmade
furniture. shackletonthomas.com
