{"id":232798,"date":"2026-06-03T12:14:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T16:14:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/?p=232798"},"modified":"2026-06-03T12:14:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T16:14:31","slug":"cheesetique-cheese-del-ray-northern-virginia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/cheesetique-cheese-del-ray-northern-virginia\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheesetique in Del Ray Is the Northern Virginia Cheese Destination to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"custom_featured_image\" style=\"display:none;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/jill-erber-cheesetique-1-800x533.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"jill erber cheesetique\" style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/jill-erber-cheesetique-1-800x533.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/jill-erber-cheesetique-1-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/jill-erber-cheesetique-1-585x390.png 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/jill-erber-cheesetique-1-263x175.png 263w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/jill-erber-cheesetique-1.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/div><div id=\"custom_category\" style=\"display:none;\">cheesy goodness <\/div><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Cheese Day is June 4th, but one Del Ray shop celebrates cheeses every day of the year. Cheesetique, located at 2411 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, opened in 2004 and has been a neighborhood go-to for wines, cheeses, brunch, and more since. Founder Jill Erber talked with <em>The Fairfax Gir<\/em>l about why wine and cheese are a timeless pairing, and how the team works to make tastings approachable. <\/span><b>Read on for more about Jill Erber + Cheesetique.&nbsp;<\/b><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-232807\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/jill-erber-cheesetique-1.png\" alt=\"jill erber cheesetique\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/jill-erber-cheesetique-1.png 1000w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/jill-erber-cheesetique-1-800x533.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/jill-erber-cheesetique-1-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/jill-erber-cheesetique-1-585x390.png 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/jill-erber-cheesetique-1-263x175.png 263w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>About Cheesetique<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jill Erber opened <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cheesetique.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cheesetique<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 2004 at 2403 Mt. Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray section of Alexandria. \u201cIt was just a cheese counter,\u201d she said. \u201cI was cutting wedges of cheese behind the counter.\u201d The store moved to its current location at 2411 Mt. Vernon Avenue in 2008 and grew into what was originally supposed to be a small cafe. \u201cIt grew organically,\u201d Jill said. \u201cAnd before we knew it we had a full-blown restaurant on our hands.\u201d <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Del Ray shop, with its iconic black-and-white striped awning, is half cheese + wine shop and half bar + restaurant. There\u2019s a private room in the back for events + wine tastings, and it\u2019s easy to see why this spot has become a neighborhood staple. The staff is knowledgeable and kind, making it easy to ask (seemingly endless) questions about cheeses, wines, and various pairings. Seasonal specials and menu updates mean that there\u2019s always something new to try.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-232801\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-exterior.png\" alt=\"cheesetique exterior\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-exterior.png 1080w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-exterior-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-exterior-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-exterior-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-exterior-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-exterior-585x585.png 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wine shop has everything a person could need for a picnic, an at-home charcuterie night, or just a regular shelf in the fridge for a cheese lover. This includes crackers, chocolates, dried fruits, and other accompaniments, many of which are labeled with the type of cheese they pair best with. There\u2019s a cheese club for those who want to learn more about cheese. There is online shopping, making it easy to order a picnic basket before a show at Wolf Trap, or set up local delivery for a gift basket. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At one point, there were four businesses, including the main Cheesetique and Corso Italian in Shirlington. \u201cThere have been years of growing and years of contracting, but the main constant has been this spot right here,\u201d she said, referring to the Del Ray shop. \u201cThe cheese is at the center of everything we do.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Read more:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/northern-virginia-summer-reading-2026-va\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Your Northern Virginia Summer Reading List<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe menus are fairly cheese-centric, but not to the degree where you couldn\u2019t get something without cheese. But we try to be mindful of our food being interesting and using cheese as much as we can,\u201d Jill said. \u201cThen our wine list is designed to be extremely food-friendly. Everything can be paired with delicious foods &#8211; nothing is too strong or overpowering.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Everyone is Welcome&nbsp;<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cheesetique is built around making cheese and wine approachable, not academic. The goal is for guests to taste, ask questions, experiment, and learn without feeling like they need to have the \u201cright\u201d answer. \u201cI would say wine can be intimidating, and cheese can be intimidating,\u201d Jill said. \u201cSo something that we\u2019ve always worked very hard to do is to make both of those things very approachable to people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Her advice is simple: if you like the cheese and you like the wine, chances are, you are going to like them together. \u201cIf you have good cheese, you have good wine, they\u2019re going to be good together,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can\u2019t screw it up, really.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-232800\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-brunch.png\" alt=\"cheesetique brunch\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-brunch.png 1080w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-brunch-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-brunch-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-brunch-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-brunch-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-brunch-585x585.png 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That spirit carries into the shop experience, too. Guests are encouraged to taste cheeses before buying them, and the cheesemongers are trained to help people feel comfortable at the case. Instead of expecting shoppers to arrive as experts, the team helps guide them through textures, flavors, pairings, and preferences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe best way to know if you like something is to taste it in the store,\u201d Jill said. Jill\u2019s approach is that she does not think every guest has to like every cheese. In fact, that is part of the point. \u201cSometimes we\u2019ll have people that are like, \u2018Yeah, I don\u2019t like that,\u2019\u201d Jill said. \u201cAnd no one cares if you don\u2019t like it. It\u2019s a safe space to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">like that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tastings at Cheesetique are about trying something, noticing what happens, and figuring out what works for you. \u201cYou\u2019ve also learned something even if you don\u2019t like something,\u201d Jill said.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>The Cheesetique Experience<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of Cheesetique\u2019s signature event formats is its \u201cMeet the Winemaker\u201d series. For these events, the shop brings in someone directly connected to a winery, whether that is the winemaker, owner, export lead, or another wine expert. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guests taste five wines, each paired with a small bite. Each person gets a tasting plate, wine glasses, and a handout with details about the wines, cheeses, grape compositions, milk types, and other educational notes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>See more:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/chiboo-bakery-macarons-reston-va\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">From Pandemic Hobby to Reston Bakery: Inside Chiboo Bakery at Lake Anne Plaza<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cheesetique also hosts deep dives into specific grapes and wine regions through events like \u201cMeet the Grape,\u201d where guests can learn about varietals in a relaxed setting. Past topics have included grapes like Nebbiolo, Sauvignon Blanc, and others, with each tasting built around education, food, and conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those who still love a cozy night at home, Cheesetique also continues to host online classes, which started during the pandemic. Guests pick up a kit, bring it home, and tune in for a guided tasting.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-232802\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-private-events.png\" alt=\"cheesetique private events\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-private-events.png 1080w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-private-events-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-private-events-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-private-events-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-private-events-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/cheesetique-private-events-585x585.png 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nBeyond public classes, Cheesetique\u2019s Del Ray space is also used for private events like birthdays, baby showers, bridal showers, dinners, and custom tastings. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The team can build private tasting experiences around a specific theme, region, or preference. That could mean a Burgundy-focused event, a Greek-inspired tasting, a wine-and-cheese bridal shower, or something else entirely. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe\u2019ve absolutely done stuff like that before,\u201d Jill said. \u201cPeople can be as specific as they want.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The private room, lined with wine bottles, can be set up for seated tastings, presentations, or community-style gathering, making it a good fit for anyone who wants an event that feels a little more intentional than a standard dinner reservation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cheesetique.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cheesetique<\/a> is located at 2411 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, and is open Monday through Friday from 11:30AM to 9PM, and Saturday + Sunday from 10AM to 9PM.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Follow @thefairfaxgirl on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thefairfaxgirl\/\"><span class=\"s2\">Instagram <\/span><\/a>+&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thefairfaxgirl\"><span class=\"s2\">TikTok<\/span><\/a> for the latest Northern Virginia updates, and check out our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/events\/\"><span class=\"s2\">events calendar<\/span><\/a>, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse. Sign up for our newsletter <a href=\"https:\/\/thefairfaxgirl.myflodesk.com\/launch2025\"><span class=\"s3\">here<\/span><\/a><\/span><span class=\"s4\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"categories\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/thefairfaxgirl.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stories<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>cheesy goodness National Cheese Day is June 4th, but one Del Ray shop celebrates cheeses every day of the year. Cheesetique, located&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":362,"featured_media":232807,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[8833,764,7997,9593,9728,9294],"tags":[9794,9686,9761,9822,9748,9845,9731,9735],"class_list":["post-232798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-food-drink","category-lifestyle","category-local-girl-rss-feed","category-virginia","category-women-owned","tag-alexandria","tag-family-fun","tag-food","tag-food-and-drinks","tag-small-business","tag-tlg","tag-virginia","tag-women-owned"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cheesetique in Del Ray Is the Northern Virginia Cheese Destination to Know - 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