Denver, CO – Rogue River Blue from Rogue Creamery in Central Point, OR was named ³Best of Show² at the 27th Annual American Cheese Society (ACS) Judging & Competition on August 5. The results were announced in a ceremony at the 28th Annual ACS Conference, held at the Palais des congrès in Montréal, Québec, Canada from August 3-6.
Finica Food Specialties Limited in Ontario and Carr Valley Cheese Co. in Wisconsin tied for 2nd Place for Finica¹s Lindsay Bandaged Goat Cheddar, produced by Mariposa Dairy, and Carr Valley¹s Cage Aged Marisa. Québec¹s Fromagerie Du Presbytère took 3rd place for its Louis d¹Or. See attached for a photo of this year¹s Best of Show winners.
This is the second Best of Show win for Rogue River Blue. It previously won in 2009 at the ACS Conference & Competition in Austin, TX. Rogue River Blue is handmade using autumnal equinox milk from Brown Swiss and Holstein cows¹ milk. The cows graze in 1,650 foot elevation pastures along the Rogue River, where they eat a variety of grasses, wild herbs, and wild flowers supplemented with grass hay, alfalfa and grain grown on the ranch. The five pound wheels are made by hand and aged in specially-constructed caves. The cheese ripens from naturally occurring molds found in the Rogue River Valley. After maturation, the cheese is wrapped in Syrah grape leaves from Carpenter Hill Vineyard which have been macerated in Clear Creek pear brandy and tied to the wheel with raffia. The cheese is released annually starting in September.
Cary Bryant, Co-owner and Cheese Maker at Rogue Creamery, says of the company¹s second Best of Show win: ³We are honored by this recognition of Rogue River Blue, an American blue that represents the flavors of our region. We enter the ACS Competition and Judging annually for the score sheets. Both technical and aesthetic cheese judges from around the world participate in this competition and provide us with invaluable feedback on the cheeses they score. The Best of Show for us not only celebrates Rogue River Blue as the finest cheese in North America, but it showcases our teams¹ dedication to quality from the dairy, to the make room, aging caves and packaging. It takes a team of talented and passionate people dedicated to making the world¹s finest handmade cheese to make this happen. ³
The annual ACS Conference & Competition a gathering of cheesemakers, merchandisers, retailers, distributors, academicians, food writers, and enthusiasts from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe celebrates American artisan, farmstead, and specialty cheese. The 2011 Competition saw a record number of entries: 1,676 cheeses and cultured milk products from 258 companies in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. See attached for a detailed spreadsheet with 2011 competition entry and award statistics. For a full list of winners, visit http://www.cheesesociety.org/competition/2011-acs-judging-competition-winners/
For additional and/or higher resolution photographs of the 2011 Best of Show winners and the 2011 Conference & Competition, please contact Rebecca Sherman Orozco at rorozco@cheesesociety.org.
The 29th Annual ACS Conference and 28th Annual ACS Judging & Competition will take place in Raleigh, North Carolina from August 1-3, 2012.
About the American Cheese Society
The American Cheese Society (ACS) is the leading organization supporting the understanding, appreciation, and promotion of farmstead, artisan and specialty cheeses produced in the Americas. Over 1,400 members strong, ACS
provides advocacy, education, business development, and networking opportunities for cheesemakers, retailers, enthusiasts, and extended industry. ACS strives to continually raise the quality and availability of cheese in the Americas.
Since its founding in 1983, ACS proudly hosts North America¹s foremost annual educational conference and world-renowned cheese judging and competition. For more information, visit www.cheesesociety.org.
Source: American Cheese Sociey