California State Fair announces commercial cheese winners

Winners have been announced for the 2016 California State Fair Commercial Cheese Competition. A panel of twelve qualified judges tasted and evaluated 169 California cheeses at Cal Expo on May 11, 2016.

The 34 California cheese companies who entered the competition range from small artisan producers, to international distributors with large-scale production, but for this competition, it’s all about the product.

“We are trying to judge the cheese on its own merit,” says Les Wood, Retired CDFA Dairy Foods Specialist and State Dairy Inspector, and CA State Fair Commercial Cheese Judge since 1994. “The main feature for the cheese is the flavor. If you don’t have good flavor, even if you have a lot of other good characteristics, it’s not a very good product.” Cheese Judges are selected from respected cheese merchants, writers, promoters, and educators. The cheeses are each evaluated for Appearance, Aroma, Texture and Taste.

“This is the first competition I’ve been part of that I am leaving wanting more cheese!” says Orietta Gionjorio, Sommelier and Sensory Analysis Expert of wine, olive oil, chocolate, honey, vegetables, and first-time Cheese Judge.

“I love cheese, I love it. I’ve been working on the competition ever since the [California] State Fair started it,” says Angie Beard, Chief Entry Coordinator of the California State Fair Commercial Cheese Competition. “There were about 50 cheeses the first year and it was run by just a few people. Now we are up to a small team and 169 entries.” Another fun fact? Beard says, “Diet Coke is the preferred palette cleanser for judges.”

Here are this year’s winners:

BEST OF SHOW COW’S MILK CHEESE
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company, Bay Blue

BEST OF CALIFORNIA COW’S MILK CULTURED CHEESE
Cultured Classics Organic Crème Fraiche

BEST OF CALIFORNIA COW’S MILK SOFT CHEESE
California Dairies, Inc., Real Cream Cheese

BEST OF CALIFORNIA SEMI-SOFT COW’S MILK CHEESE
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company, Bay Blue

BEST OF CALIFORNIA SEMI-HARD COW’S MILK CHEESE
Fiscalini Cheese Company, Bandage Wrapped Cheddar

BEST OF CALIFORNIA COW’S MILK HARD CHEESE
Valley Ford Cheese, Montasio

BEST OF CALIFORNIA COW’S MILK ORIGINAL CHEESE
Fiscalini Cheese Company, Lionza

BEST OF SHOW OTHER MILK TYPE CHEESE
1250 Bleating Heart Cheese, Funky Bleats

BEST OF CALIFORNIA SOFT GOAT CHEESE
Cypress Grove, Fromage Blanc

BEST OF CALIFORNIA SEMI-SOFT GOAT CHEESE
Cypress Grove, Truffle Tremor

BEST OF CALIFORNIA SEMI-HARD SHEEP CHEESE
Bleating Heart Cheese, Fat Bottom Girl

BEST OF CALIFORNIA MIXED MILK ORIGINAL CHEESE
Bleating Heart Cheese, Funky Bleats

The California State Fair will recognize Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company and Bleating Heart Cheese at a special press event on the steps of the State Capitol on June 23, along with the Best of Show winners from the Fair’s other well-respected commercial wine, craft brew and olive oil competitions. The Best of California award-winners are invited to sample their cheese at a special tasting reception at the annual California State Fair Gala on June 23 at 5:30 p.m.

During the California State Fair a special “Cheese Shop” sampling center and exhibit will include a display of the award-winning cheese, and best of all, host a variety of California Cheese producers who will be sampling their cheeses, free to California State Fair visitors. The Cheese Shop will be located in the Save Mart Supermarkets California’s Kitchen exhibit in Building B.

The 2016 California State Fair runs July 8-24. For a full list of competition results, visit the California State Fair website at www.CAStateFair.org.

—California State Fair