12th Annual California Artisan Cheese Festival Announces Participants

The wait is over for those wanting more details on this year’s California Artisan Cheese Festival. The 12th annual festival announced participants in its final events: Bubbles & Brunch and the Artisan Cheese Tasting and Marketplace on Sunday, March 25^th.

Those attending the events will enjoy a variety of courses, including a cheese-centric cooking demonstration by Chef Sergio Monleón of La Marcha, hailing from the critically-acclaimed Berkley-based Spanish tapas bar; bubbles from Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards; and early admission into the Artisan Cheese Tasting & Marketplace, revered as the main event of the day.

Santa Rosa, California-based Sonoma County Fairgrounds and Event Center will host both events for the first time this year, offering a new and bigger location for the festival. The weekend-long event, taking place March 23-25, offers seminars, tours, and tastings, with over 2,500 guests expected to attend.

Those wanting to attend can look into tickets at www.artisancheesefestival.com.

Bubbles and Brunch with Chef Sergio Monleón
Sunday, March 25
9:30 to 11 a.m.
Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Saralee & Richard’s Barn
Tickets: $125

• Three-course brunch
• Culinary entertainment
• Advanced entry into Artisan Cheese Tasting and Marketplace
• Sunday feast with cheese in every course to celebrate cheese
• Live cooking demos by Chef Sergio Monleón
• Sparlking wine

Artisan Cheese Tasting and Marketplace
Sunday, March 25
12 to 4 p.m.
Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Hall of Flowers
Tickets: $50 per person, $25 for kids 12 and under

• Offers tastes from over 100 artisan cheese and specialty food producers, winemakers, brewers, and cider makers
• Offers tastes of handcrafted cheeses, delicious products that complement with cheese, boutique wines, artisan-brewed craft beers, handcrafted ciders
• Offers samples and opportunities to purchase
• Offers an Artisan Cheese Festival insulated tote bag with a festive wine glass
• Offers live entertainment from folk band Late for the Train

For a full schedule of the weekend's goings-on, click here.

The following companies will be in attendance at the event, according to the festival's press release:

• Achadinha Cheese Company
• Beehive Cheese Company
• Bellwether Farms
• Central Coast Creamery
• Chevoo
• Cowgirl Creamery
• Cypress Grove
• Fiscalini Cheese Co.
• Laura Chenel's
• Marin French Cheese Co.
• Nicasio Valley Cheese Co.
• Nicolau Farms
• Orland Farmstead Creamery
• Pedrozo Dairy and Cheese Co.
• Pennyroyal Farm
• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company
• Schoch Family Farmstead
• Shamrock Artisan Goat Cheese
• Sierra Nevada Cheese Co.
• Stuyt Dairy Farmstead Cheese Co.
• Two Rock Valley Goat Cheese
• Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery
• Vintage Cheese Company
• Willapa Hills Cheese
• Wm. Cofield Cheesemakers

A long list of breweries, wineries, meaderies, and cideries will be pouring their tasty concoctions, including Bear Republic, Gordian Knot Winery, Heidrun Meadery, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Lassen Traditional Cider, Merriam Vineyards, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Sonoma Portworks, and many more.

And there will be many a food artisan showcasing at the events, including Chef Josef's Seasoning Blends, DRY Soda Company, Food Crafters Alliance, Golden State Pickle Works, Humboldt Hot Sauce, Rustic Bakery, Whole Foods Market, and many more.

Just a heads up to those wanting to attend with your tiny tots, baby strollers are not allowed inside the Marketplace, and all ticket sales are final. The event will take place come rain or come shine, and parking is complimentary.

Sponsors include the following list of companies: American AgCredit, Beehive Cheese Company, Bellwether Farms, Central Coast Creamery, City of Santa Rosa, Clover Sonoma, Cowgirl Creamery, Culture Magazine, Cypress Grove, Donald and Maureen Green Foundation, DRY Soda Company, EcoTensil, Edible East Bay, Edible Marin & Wine Country, Ellipses PR, Exchange Bank, Fiscalini Cheese Co., Flamingo Resort Hotel & Conference Center, Formaticum, Hotel Petaluma, John Boos/Boos Boards, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Mike Hudson Distributing, Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, Oliver’s Markets, Pennyroyal Farm, Pisenti & Brinker LLP, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company, Pure Luxury Transportation, Real California Milk, Rustic Bakery, Seismic Brewing, Sheraton Sonoma County – Petaluma, Sierra Nevada Cheese Co., Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District, Sonoma County Tourism, Tahoe Kitchen Co., Tony’s Fine Foods, Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery, Visit Santa Rosa, Whole Foods Market, Willapa Hills Cheese, and Wm. Cofield Cheesemakers.

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