California’s premier cheese and wine event, California’s Artisan Cheese Festival, is back for its ninth year, March 20-22, 2015, in and around the Sheraton Sonoma County in Petaluma. Celebrating all things cheese, the Festival brings together artisan cheesemakers, cheesemongers, authors, chefs, brewers, winemakers and enthusiastic guests for three days of cheese tasting, education and celebration. Throughout the weekend, guests will have the opportunity to experience new, limited-production and rare artisan cheeses, and learn about the art of making cheese, while supporting California farmers and cheesemakers in their ongoing effort to advance sustainability. The weekend will include seminars, pairings, tastings, farm tours, hands-on cheese-making classes and cheese-focused demonstrations. Tickets are now on sale and available through www.artisancheesefestival.com. Additional details and events will be added in the coming weeks, so check back frequently for updates.
“California’s Artisan Cheese Festival has become a beloved yearly tradition for local foodies and cheese lovers,” said Festival Executive Director Judy Groverman Walker. “Over the course of the last nine years the Festival’s offerings have gotten better and better. From farm tours where guests can interact with the animals and hands-on cheese-making classes, to educational seminars led by world-class cheese experts, there truly is something for everyone.”
New elements this year include a “Cheesemonger’s Duel – The Best Bite” reception on Friday night and an additional off-site seminar at the new Cowgirl Creamery location in Petaluma.
The 2015 schedule includes the following events:
Friday, March 20:
Back by popular demand are six intimate farm tours where guests are guided on walking tours of various area farms to meet the cheesemakers, see how the cheeses are made and, of course, taste the fruits of their labor. The tours allow guests to observe every step of the cheesemaking process and interact with the cows, sheep and goats in their natural environment. Each tour includes round-trip transportation from the Sheraton Sonoma County, cheese tastings and lunch. Tours A through E include special sit-down, three-course lunches while Tour F includes a box lunch to be enjoyed on-site. Tours A and B feature lunch at Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company’s The Fork; Tour C stops for an adventurous farm-to-table lunch at Zazu Kitchen & Farm at The Barlow with chef-owners Duskie Esties and John Stewart; Tour D includes a cheese-inspired lunch with local beer pairings at Petaluma Taps with owner Eric LaFranchi, also of the Lafranchi cheese family; and Tour E includes lunch at Penngrove’s Scoggins Winery at the historic Denman Creamery by chef Rick Bruno of Bruno’s on Fourth. Cheese is available for purchase on the farmtours. See www.artisancheesefestival.com for more details about each Farm Tour and to purchase tickets; $135/Tours A-E; $85/Tour F; 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Cheesemonger’s Duel - The Best Bite
New this year, local cheesemongers will take center stage in a light-hearted competition to see who can create the best bite using local artisan cheese. This evening reception will take place under the big top in the Tasting Tent at the Sheraton Sonoma County with celebrity chef Ryan Scott joining in on the fun as judge and emcee. Guests are also encouraged to vote for their favorite bite while enjoying plenty of local wine, cider and beer. A “Fantasy Cheese Table” will also be on display, so guests may taste a wide variety of local and rare cheeses at this not-to-be-missed party to kick off the weekend. Tickets $50; Tasting Tent at the Sheraton Sonoma County, 6 – 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 21
Seminars, Cooking and Pairing Demonstrations
In collaboration with The Cheese School of San Francisco, the 2015 Artisan Cheese Festival boasts an impressive lineup of seminars led by industry experts on a variety of topics from cheesemaking and cooking with cheese, to pairing wine, cider and beer with cheese. Confirmed instructors include Peggy Smith and Sue Conley of Cowgirl Creamery; renowned cheese writer and author Janet Fletcher; author and cheese expert Laura Werlin; cheese expert and founding president of the California Artisan Cheese Guild Lynne Devereux; biochemist, dairy scientist and cheesemaker at Andante Dairy Soyoung Scanlan; co-owners of Culture: The Word on Cheese, Lassa Skinner and Stephanie Skinner; and the San Francisco Milk Maid, Louella Hill. During the lunch break and after the afternoon seminars authors will be available for book signings and books will be available for purchase by Copperfield’s Books. All seminars include a catered lunch by Petaluma Market between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the Tasting Tent. Tickets $65-95, Sheraton Sonoma County and Cowgirl Creamery, Seminars 9:30 -11:30 a.m. and 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Chefs vs. Chefs – The Best Bite
In the ultimate culinary challenge, guests taste their way around this evening celebration of cheese, sampling dishes from 25 of the Bay Area’s best chefs and caterers, each incorporating their favorite locally made cheese into a dish for attendees. Guests cast their vote for their favorite cheese-focused dish and the winner is announced on-site during this lively and festive competition. Artisan wines, beers and ciders will be on hand to complement each dish. Tickets $75, Sheraton Sonoma County, 6 – 9 p.m.
Sunday, March 22
Sunday Bubbles and Brunch with Surprise Local Chef
Join a surprise celebrity guest chef for Sunday brunch celebrating cheese at every course along with a live cooking demonstration. Tickets include brunch, sparkling wine and coveted early entry into the Artisan Cheese Tasting & Marketplace at 11 a.m. before it opens to the public at 12 p.m. Tickets $115, Sheraton Sonoma County, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Artisan Cheese Tasting & Marketplace
The grand finale of the Festival, the Marketplace brings together more than 90 artisan cheesemakers, winemakers, brewers and chefs to sample and sell their products directly to attendees in this feast for the senses. Guests can discover the next wave of local, hand-crafted cheeses, boutique wines and artisan-brewed beers as well as interesting cheese products, books and recipes. Each ticket includes entry to the Marketplace, an insulated cheese tote bag and a signature wine glass. Tickets $45 for adults; $20 for children 12 and under, Tasting Tent at the Sheraton Sonoma County, 12 – 4 p.m.
Complimentary Cooking Demonstrations
In between tasting and buying cheeses at the Marketplace, guests are invited to watch several cooking demonstrations conducted by local chefs and cheese experts. Admission is free with a Marketplace ticket; Sheraton Sonoma County, 12 – 4 p.m.
Those interested can also follow updates by “liking” the Artisan Cheese Festival on Facebookand following the event on Twitter. All events are priced separately and the Sheraton Sonoma County – Petaluma is offering special discounted rates on rooms for festival-goers.
Generous sponsors of the Artisan Cheese Festival include All American Printing, American AgCredit, Beehive Cheese Company, Central Coast Creamery, Clover Stornetta Farms, Cowgirl Creamery, Culture magazine, Cypress Grove Chevre, Donald & Maureen Green Foundation, Exchange Bank, Ellipses Public Relations, Fiscalini Farmstead Cheese, John Boos, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Laura Chenel Chevre, Marin French Cheese Company, Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, Oliver's Markets, Orland Farmstead Creamery, Pennyroyal Farm, Petaluma Market, Petaluma Post, Pisenti & Brinker, Pt. Reyes Farmstead, Redwood Hill Farm, Relish Culinary Adventures, Redwood Hill Farm, Rustic Bakery, Sheraton Sonoma County, The Cheese School of San Francisco, Valley Ford Cheese Company, and Willapa Hills Cheese.
About California’s Artisan Cheese Festival
A 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, California’s Artisan Cheese Festival strives to increase cheese appreciation, educate consumers about artisan cheeses, support the cheesemaking community and its sustainability and celebrate the creations of California’s many farmers and cheesemakers. The festival began in March 2007 as the first-ever, weekend-long celebration and exploration of handcrafted cheeses, foods, wines and beers from California and beyond. In keeping with its dedication to the community, the Artisan Cheese Festival donates 10% of all ticket proceeds to Sonoma Land Trust, Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Petaluma Future Farmers of America, California Artisan Cheese Guild and Redwood Empire Food Bank. To date the Artisan Cheese Festival has contributed more than $70,000 to these non-profit organizations that work to support the artisan cheesemaking community and its infrastructure in California. For more information, visit www.artisancheesefestival.com.
