For more info contact: Francis Plowman, 541-665-1155 ext. #123
Email: fplowman@roguecreamery.com or,
Emily Hurworth, 541-665-1155 ext. #142 Email: ehurworth@roguecreamery.com
www.roguecreamery.com or www.oregoncheeseguild.com
12th annual Oregon Cheese Festival
March 19th 2016 @ Rogue Creamery
311 North Front St (HWY. 99), Central Point, OR
Friday, March 18th – Dinner
Central Point, OR (
To commence the festival, a sumptuous meal introducing guests to participating guild cheesemakers will be held Friday night at the Inn at the Commons in Medford, OR on March 18th from 6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. The dinner is held for the benefit of the non-profit 501 (c) (6) Oregon Cheesemakers Guild. Each course will spotlight a cheese made by one of the festival’s artisans, paired with a local wine or beer.
We are excited to announce our two Special Guests for the dinner! Gordon Edgar is author of both Cheesemonger: a Life on the Wedge and his most recent book, Cheddar: A Journey into the Heart of America’s Most Iconic Cheese. Gordon is the Head Cheesemonger for the San Francisco Rainbow Grocery Cooperative, and has been a leader within the specialty cheese industry for more than 20 years. He is widely celebrated for his friendly, down-to-earth approach to the art and science of cheese.
Lassa Skinner is co-founder & owner of the highly regarded cheese magazine Culture, now in its 8th year. In 1999 she started a cheese program at Tra Vigne restaurant, opened the Oxbow Cheese Merchant in downtown Napa, co-authored Cheese For Dummies (2012) – and started Culture magazine. Lassa is passionate about spreading the love of cheese across the US and beyond, teaching at venues across the country and overseas as well as partnering with chefs, wineries, breweries and all things food-centric.
Saturday, March 19th – Festival
At the festival on Saturday March 19th from 10 A.M. – 5 P.M., thousands of visitors will sample cow, goat and sheep cheese from Oregon creameries, including Pholia Farm, Ancient Heritage Dairy, Oregon State University, Ochoa Creamery, Tillamook County Creamery, Willamette Valley Cheese Co., Fern’s Edge Goat Dairy, Oak Leaf Creamery, Rivers Edge Chevre, Briar Rose Creamery, Face Rock Creamery, Portland Creamery, Rogue Creamery, and many others.
The Oregon Cheese Festival will be open to the public Saturday, March 19th from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. at Rogue Creamery, 311 North Front St. (Hwy. 99), Central Point, OR. Held under 2 large tents, 15,000 sq. ft. of space, at Rogue Creamery’s Central Point facility, the twelfth annual festival will invite guests to shake hands with cheesemakers & other artisans. There will also be baby cows on site to showcase the beginnings of great milk producers! Activities will also be provided for children including games, activity sheets, coloring, face painting and more.
“The farmer’s market format will present an interactive experience between makers and visitors, giving everyone an opportunity to talk about the product, the process and learn each individual cheesemaker’s story,” says David Gremmels, President of Rogue Creamery. “It’s a way to truly be connected with the source of the cheese being presented.”
Southern Oregon & other local culinary artisans and beverage providers who are expected to participate include Lillie Belle Farms, Gary West Meats, Applegate Valley Artisan Breads, Ledger David Cellars, South Stage Cellars, Serra Vineyards, Caprice Vineyards, Willamette Valley Vineyards, David Hill Winery, La Brasseur Vineyard, 30 Brix Winery, Wandering Aengus Ciders, Hot Lips Soda, Clear Creek Distillery, Bend Distillery, Wild River Brewing, Sierra Nevada Brewing and Rogue Ales. Samples and /or sales will be offered at each booth.
A $15 entry fee includes tastings and demonstrations; tickets purchased at the door will be $20. Entry tickets can be purchased in advance at https://oregoncheeseguild.org/event/12th-annual-oregon-cheese-festival/ . In addition, a $10 wine, beer and spirit tasting fee is available and includes a commemorative glass with the Oregon Cheese Guild logo. For more information contact the Oregon Cheese Guild website @ www.oregoncheeseguild.org, Rogue Creamery at 866-396-4704, or www.roguecreamery.com.
The festival would not be possible without the generous support of the City of Central Point, the Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council, and, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Rogue Ales, Culture Magazine, Travel Medford, Cheese Connoisseur Magazine, Wandering Aengus Ciderworks, Umpqua Bank, Haggen Northwest, Face Rock Creamery, Rogue Credit Union, and the members of the Oregon Cheese Guild.
