Diablo Magazine
Diablo Dish: Artisan Cheese Festival Led by Oakland Cheese Expert
Ethan Fletcher interviews the Guild’s executive director, Alyssa Gilbert for this story about the 20th Annual Artisan Cheese Festival.
“The holy grail for local cheese lovers is happening this weekend in Sonoma County with the 20th annual Artisan Cheese Festival. While several of the events are already sold out, there are still tickets available for Saturday seminars on cheese and charcuterie board making, as well as cheese and beer pairings, and the Artisan Cheese Tasting and Marketplace. The latter marquee event features more than 100 cheese and food producers, winemakers, brewers, distillers, cidermakers, and chefs; it takes place from noon to 4 p.m. at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds and Event Center in Santa Rosa….
‘There are so many small artisan cheese makers across U.S. doing great things with respect to how they manage their land and treat their animals, and they’re making fantastic cheese [says, Alyssa Gilbert]. … Especially in California, we have the best food in the country and cheesemaking is no exception: The community of cheese professionals here is amazing and strong, and the Guild and this festival does a great job of amplifying that.’ “
March 17, 2026