California Artisan Cheese Festival

Be it cheddar, chevre or ricotta, the California Artisan Cheese Festival has it all. First begun in March 2007, the festival was the first-ever weekend-long celebration and exploration of handcrafted cheeses from California and beyond.

To date over 4,500 people have attended, and this March 26-29 marks year three. Attendees of the festival can participate in educational seminars and tastings lead by international award-winning cheesemakers and fromage experts from across the country.

In these interactive sessions, you’ll learn how to taste, buy and serve artisan cheeses from the experts. Not to mention how to pair that fresh Parmigiano cheese with a nice Pinot Noir.

The festival features a wide variety of artisan cheeses from California and beyond, together with their artisan bread, food, wine and beer complements. Some of the weekend highlights include:

Friday Night Barn Dance (Friday, March 26)

Held at Green String Farm in Petaluma, this toe-tapping evening includes live music from the Green String Farm Band, Texas barbecue with a Sonoma twist from Brandon Guenther of Valley Ford’s own Rocker Oysterfeller’s, local favorite Lagunitas beer and, of course, artisan cheeses and their creators. You’ll get the chance to kick up your heels while mingling with the festival’s signature speakers and honored cheesemakers.Tickets: $55 per person

Seminar Day Program (Saturday, March 27)
Seminar Day Pass ticket includes Opening General Session (9 – 10 a.m.) and choice of three additional seminar selections. All seminars include cheese tasting. Lunch included. Seminar Day Pass: $130

Curds, Cooks and Cuveés: A Moveable Feast (Saturday, March 27)
Chefs John Ash and Jacquelyn Buchanan lead this eight-course interactive tasting event that features top cheesemakers paired with a chef and a winemaker. Guests will spend the evening interacting and tasting these inspired cheese-centric creations paired with fine wines from Fortress Vineyards, Lange Twins Winery and Sonoma County Vintners. In addition to the eight chef/cheesemaker stations, there will be a full Cheese Tasting Buffet followed by a decadent Sweets Lounge serving sparkling and dessert wines to accompany dessert and cool jazz. Tickets: $85 per person

Artisan Cheese Marketplace (Sunday, March 28)

A vibrant marketplace under the festival tent featuring 60 participating cheese producers, artisan food purveyors, vintners and brewers from our own back yard. Two sessions will alleviate crowding and make it easy for you to meet the vendors and taste and purchase your favorite cheeses to take home.Tickets: $45 per person

California’s Artisan Cheese Festival
Sheraton Sonoma County – Petaluma
Friday, March 26 – Monday, March 29, 2010
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: www.artisancheesefestival.com.

Photo from Flicker by by Stepheye CC