11th Annual Oregon Cheese Festival

The 11^th Annual Oregon Cheese Festival will be held March 14 at Rogue Creamery in Central Point, Oregon. The festival is filled with Oregon-inspired culinary events, including a farmer’s market-style artisan food and wine festival.

To commence the festival, a sumptuous meal introducing guests to participating artisans will be held Friday night at the Inn at the Commons in Medford, OR on March 13^th from 6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. The dinner is held for the benefit of the non profit 501 (c) (6) Oregon Cheesemaker Guild. Each course will spotlight a cheese made by one of the festival's artisans paired with a local wine or beer. We are proud to announce that our Master of Ceremonies for the dinner will be John Greeley.

Saturday, March 14^th - Festival

At the festival on Saturday March 14^th from 10 A.M. - 5 P.M., thousands of visitors will sample cow, sheep, and goat cheese from Oregon creameries, including Pholia Farm, La Mariposa Creamery, Ochoa Creamery, Tillamook County Creamery, Willamette Valley Cheese Co., Fern’s Edge Goat Dairy, Oak Leaf Creamery, Rivers Edge Chevre, Briar Rose Creamery, Face Rock Creamery, Portland Creamery, Rogue Creamery, and many others.

The Oregon Cheese Festival will be open to the public Saturday, March 14th from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. at Rogue Creamery, 311 North Front St. (Hwy. 99), Central Point, OR.

Held under 2 large heated tents, 15,000 sq. ft. of space, at Rogue Creamery's Central Point facility, the eleventh annual festival will invite guests to shake hands with cheesemakers & other artisans. Activities will be provided for children including games, activity sheets, coloring, face painting and more.

"The farmer's market format will present an interactive experience between makers and visitors, giving everyone an opportunity to talk about the product, the process and learn each individual cheesemaker's story," says David Gremmels, co-owner with Cary Bryant of Rogue Creamery. "It's a way to truly be connected with the source of the cheese being presented."

Southern Oregon & other local culinary artisans and beverage providers who are expected to participate include Lillie Belle Farms, Gary West Meats, Applegate Valley Artisan Breads, Cupcake Daily, Slagle Creek Vineyards, Ledger David Cellars, South Stage Cellars, Serra Vineyards, Caprice Vineyards, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Crater Lake Cellars, Hot Lips Soda, Clear Creek Distillery, Bend Distillery, Oakshire Brewing, and Rogue Ales. Samples and /or sales will be offered at each booth.

  A $15 entry fee includes tastings and demonstrations. A $10 wine, beer and spirit tasting fee includes a commemorative glass with the Oregon Cheese Guild logo.

For more information contact the Oregon Cheese Guild website @ www.oregoncheeseguild.org , Rogue Creamery at 866-396-4704, or www.roguecreamery.com.

Our Master of Ceremonies for the dinner and special guest for the festival this year will be John Greeley, American Cheese Society (ACS) Life Time Achievement Award Recipient (2010). John has over 30 years of experience in the cheese profession. He has been an ACS Board of Directors member for 12 years and has been the chairman of the Cheese Competition Committee for 15 years. John’s proudest achievement is the 26 year evolution of the competition and judging event where he expanded the cheese categories from 8 to 102; he continually redefines categories for Competition Committee. John continues to champion American Specialty cheese and participates in many educational events to share his vast knowledge of this industry. John’s passion for cheese and vast knowledge of the trade will help make this a unique experience for the guests.

The festival would not be possible without the generous support of the City of Central Point, Travel Medford, and the Dairy Farmers of Oregon, Oregon Department of Agriculture, the Oregon Economic & Community Development Department, USA Pear Bureau, Rogue Ales, Wandering Aengus Ciderworks, Culture Magazine, Cheese Connoisseur Magazine, and the members of the Oregon Cheese Guild.

For more info contact: Francis Plowman, 541-665-1155 ext. # 123

E-Mail: fplowman@roguecreamery.com or,

Amanda Kinney, 541-665-1155 ext. # 142 E-Mail: akinney@roguecreamery.com

www.roguecreamery.com or www.oregoncheeseguild.org