To all of the talented cheese makers, chefs, presenters, dedicated volunteers, wonderful sponsors and all that attended the 6th Annual California’s Artisan Cheese Festival we wish to extend a big thank you! California’s Artisan Cheese festival was a huge success and we could not have done it without the support and participation of the cheese community and beyond.

The weekend kicked off with visits to local farms and creameries on Friday afternoon. Friday evening Tolay’s Chef Danny Mai created a six-course dinner pairing Artisan Cheese inspired dishes with Lagunitas beer.

Each year the festival continues to grow as we add more seminars such as, “Notable Newbies” and who can resist the “Grilled Cheese, Please!” seminar with Laura Werlin. Clark Wolf and his team of Artisan Cheese Makers really wowed us with their Cheese Pairing Seminar. Saturday night’s Grand Cheese Tasting Gala was a huge hit as we welcomed chefs and wineries from Sonoma, Napa and Marin Counties and beyond. Congratulations to Chef Peter Smith of The Lodge at Sonoma for the winning cheese dish. We look forward to welcoming him back next year to defend his title.

Duskie Estes of zazu Restaurant entertained the sold out crowd at Sunday’s Bacon, Bubbles & Brunch. The pinnacle of the weekend was the Sunday Marketplace - more than 1,500 people tasted cheese from more than 20 artisan cheesemakers. They sampled artisan foods and tried beverages that complement. It was a great opportunity to experience all of that under one roof plus author signings, cheese sculpting, cooking demos and more.

Mark your calendars now to attend next year as we celebrate the 7th Annual California’s Artisan Cheese Festival, March 22-24, 2013. Join us on Facebook and sign up below to receive updates and the latest information on ticket availability.