It was a weekend of excitement for California cheesemakers as the annual California Artisan Cheese Festival took place in Sonoma County. One producer that has participated in the show since it began is Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company, and I had a chance to hear all about its showcase at the event.
“This is THE cheese event of the year in California, and we were so excited to be back for our 17th year,” Jill Giacomini Basch, Co-Owner and Chief Marketing Officer, told me. “What made this year’s event extra special was our full three-day lineup of farm tours, tasting seminars, and the grand tasting Marketplace, plus we hosted a brand-new event: The Cheese Crawl at The Barlow in Sebastopol. The event gave folks the chance to sip, savor, and shop through the stores, bars, and restaurants—while still enjoying the experience of artisan cheese.”
Point Reyes brought its full lineup of award-winning cheeses including Toma, TomaRashi, TomaProvence, TomaTruffle, Gouda, Bay Blue, Original Blue, and Quinta. The event gave the cheesemaker an exclusive opportunity to sample and sell its products.
“Artisan Cheese Festival attendees love cheese! This fact alone is great for our community of cheesemakers, as the guests love to be introduced to new brands, new varieties, and learn how to pair and cook with all of our products, deepening their knowledge and passion for what we do,” Jill explained.
And, as Jill pointed out, although this event is consumer-facing, it is still extremely beneficial for the buy-side.
“We really hoped to introduce our cheeses to new potential customers who would go on to purchase our cheeses at retail in their own communities,” Jill stated. “This festival is fantastic for retailers because we’re cultivating new cheese consumers and sending them home with a need to keep their fridges stocked.”
I think Jill summed it up perfectly. Events like this are a unique opportunity to share knowledge about the California artisan cheese community with consumers. Check out our recap for more highlights from the event.
