IZKI Highland Cheese Dairy, Izky

The IZKI cheese dairy is the culinary highlight of the eco-resort of the same name in the village of Izky, Zakarpattia. It sits among the mountains and meadows of the Repynka valley, right next to the resort's own eco-farm, so the milk reaches the cheesemaker almost straight from the barn next door. For travellers it is a handy chance to see how Carpathian cheese is made, taste it in the cheese cellar and even make bryndza with your own hands.

What to expect

The resort farm keeps goats, sheep, cows and other animals, and their milk goes into more than eight kinds of cheese, from delicate young ones to rich aged varieties, including cheeses made from mixed milk. During a visit you can:

• walk around the eco-farm and meet its residents, usually the children's favourite part;
• go down into the cheese cellar, where the wheels ripen, and hear how care and time change the flavour;
• join a tasting, either with a glass of Transcarpathian wine or with coffee or tea;
• take a bryndza masterclass: the cheesemakers walk you through every step from preparing the milk to shaping the cheese, explain how to store it, and you can take the cheese you made home.

At the end you can buy the cheeses you liked, young and aged, as well as Transcarpathian homemade wine and honey.

Cheesemaking in the Mizhhiria highlands

The Mizhhiria area has always lived off livestock: sheep and cattle grazed on summer mountain pastures, and shepherds made budz, bryndza and vurda from recipes handed down through generations. The IZKI dairy carries this tradition on in a modern format, combining local methods with European ageing techniques. A tasting here is therefore not just about flavour but also a short story about mountain farming in Zakarpattia.

Practical information

• Where: Izky village, on the grounds of the IZKI eco-resort, Khust district, Zakarpattia region.
• Bryndza masterclass + tasting + tour: 450 UAH per person, 60–90 minutes.
• Farm tour: 200 UAH adults, 100 UAH children, free for under-fives.
• Cheese cellar and tasting: with wine 350 UAH, with coffee or tea 300 UAH (30–40 minutes).
• Booking: +380 67 310 46 04, +380 97 88 33 333.

Prices come from the resort's website and may change, and the masterclass schedule depends on the season and demand, so call ahead to confirm. A tasting fits nicely with a stay at the resort; if you only plan to drop in for the tour, check in advance whether non-resident visitors are welcome on your chosen day.

How to get there

Izky lies in the Repynka river valley, close to Pylypets and about 22 km from Mizhhiria. Drivers from Lviv usually go via Stryi and Nyzhni Vorota or over the Veretskyi Pass and Volovets, then on to Pylypets; from Khust and Mukachevo the route runs through Mizhhiria. Buses link Mizhhiria with Khust, Mukachevo and Uzhhorod, and from there you can reach Izky by local transport or taxi.

Website and social media: izki.ua · facebook.com · instagram.com · youtube.com

Photos: izki.ua.