Ramini Mozzarella in Tomales, CA proudly serves as California’s only source of authentic, artisan buffalo mozzarella and ricotta. Founded in 2009, Ramini Mozzarella is the brainchild of Craig Ramini and Audrey Hitchcock, a married couple with a dream of raising Italian water buffalo and becoming the only Americans to produce this delicious cheese. The couple swiftly fell in love with these affectionate, loving animals and knew they had to spend their days with these amazing creatures. 

With a shoe-string budget and a big dream, Craig & Audrey began with just 5 water buffalo and rented a small farm and pasture. By 2012, they were successfully selling out of all the cheese they could produce. Devastatingly, Craig was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2014 and passed away just three months later. 

At the request and with the support of their customers, Audrey reopened the creamery and has kept the dream alive ever since. Audrey aspires to teach adults and children about water buffalo and her husbandry practices, and to show how farm animals can love to provide for us and interact with us if nurtured.

Ramini Mozzarella of Tomales, CA was founded in 2009 by my husband Craig and myself (Audrey), with a dream of raising Italian water buffalo and becoming the only Americans currently making authentic, artisan buffalo mozzarella. We love animals and wanted to spend our days with these amazing, exotic creatures. We’d learned they could be as loving as dogs if treated with affection and care. 