A Sneak Peek at the 18th Annual California Artisan Cheese Festival

We admit it, we can’t wait for the annual California Artisan Cheese Festival which includes cheese tastings and pairings, farm and producer tours throughout the North Bay, a cheese crawl at The Barlow in Sebastopol, and the Artisan Cheese Tasting & Marketplace (in Santa Rosa) from March 22-24. This is the 18th year of the festival, and the second since a break due to COVID. 

 

New Additions to the Marketplace

Valerie Miller, executive director of the California Artisan Cheese Guild shared a few choice updates. New to the Guild, Oakdale Cheese will be at the Festival for the first time (we featured their must-have cumin gouda in a summer roundup). Central Coast Creamery is returning for the first time since COVID shutdown and longtime supporter Rumiano will be back as well. 

While it is a California focused event, a couple of our favorite out-of-state producers will be participating, notably Beecher’s from Washington State (the Oregon Cheese Guild and the Washington State Cheesemakers Association were both invited to participate) and Beehive from Utah. Read more about Beehive.

 

Speaking with producers at the Fancy Food Show a few weeks ago we learned that Pt Reyes Farmstead will have their latest cheese Quinta in the smaller new format at the Marketplace (last year they didn’t have it at all). Cypress Grove is celebrating Humboldt Fog with a yearlong promotion and will have a lot of fun swag.  There will also be an opportunity to try the petite Triple Crème Brie Garlic & Pepper from Marin French.

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Friday Cheese Crawl, Tours & Saturday Seminars

On Friday March 22nd there will be five different farm tours but just two still have space left, Tour B which takes you to Cowgirl Creamery co-founder Sue Conley’s Silver Penny Ranch, as well as Nicasio Valley Cheese, Achadinha Cheese Company, Goat Rock Cider Co. and Barber Lee Spirits. Tour E takes you on an adventure in Anderson Valley, to visit Handley Cellars, Pennyroyal Farm, Goldeneye and Alley 6. Did you know Pennyroyal Farm makes wine and cheese? 

 

On Saturday there will be cheese seminars. Back leading a program on cheese and wine pairing is Tracey Shepos Cenami, who shared with us how to put together a cheese and wine program. Other festival favorites coming back to lead sessions include Laura Werlin (read more about Laura Werlin) and Janet Fletcher who leads a Beer and Cheese tasting over at Moonlight Brewing, as well as Lady and the Larder co-founder, Sarah Simms who leads a new Aperitif and Cheese pairing seminar with Mommenpop. Read more about Lady & Larder.  

Simms, who is also president of the Guild shares some updates, “This year we have expanded our Cheese Crawl at The Barlow, there will be a new Beer Garden at the Sunday Tasting and Marketplace over at Grace Pavilion along with expanded food offerings.” Yes, there will be more to eat than just cheese.

 

If you’re navigating the festival for the first time, Simms says, “Come ready for a good time! The seminars are an amazing way to get a really in-depth tasting with some industry pros at really fun locations like Balletto Vineyards or Silver Penny Farm. The cheese crawl and marketplace events are great for walking around and meeting lots of new people while tasting delicious things – those two events are great for a group.” 

Early Entry for the Artisan Cheese Tasting & Marketplace typically sells out, so be sure to purchase your ticket ahead of time.