Two more first place awards has national cheese judges talking about local cheese maker
Salem, Ore.
– August 5, 2005 –
Willamette Valley Cheese Company, a
Salem cheese producer,
took home two blue ribbons from the prestigious American Cheese Society
competition, held in Louisville, Kentucky last week. The locally made Cumin
Gouda and Jalapeno Jack were both named number one in the country by judges at
the 22nd annual cheese competition, which had a record-breaking 749
entries submitted from around the nation this year.
"We were thrilled to have our cheese recognized by such an esteemed
organization," said dairyman and Willamette Valley Cheese Company owner/cheese
maker, Rod Volbeda. “We are helping put Oregon on the map as one of the finest
artisan and specialty cheese producers in the nation,” Volbeda added.
The only Oregon cheese maker to place in this year’s competition, Willamette
Valley Cheese Company also received a second place ribbon for their Dutch styled
Gouda. "We believe our milk is the prime ingredient for our award-winning
farmstead cheeses," said the dairyman and cheese maker. All Willamette Valley
Cheese Company products are made from their own herd of Jersey cows, pasture
fed, to produce rich, full-bodied milk, which translates into superb tasting,
award-winning cheese.
Willamette Valley Cheese Company is family-owned and operated, and produces a
variety of delicious farmstead cheeses, including Gouda, Havarti, Jack,
Mozzarella and Fontina. All are buttery smooth, mildly fragrant and all-natural.
Although the cheese company is relatively new, the Volbeda Family has been
caring for their cows and producing outstanding milk since 1962. For fresh,
natural products, focused on sustainability and hand-crafted the old-fashioned
way, look for the Willamette Valley Cheese Company label in your local market or
log onto www.wvcheeseco.com to find out where you can purchase the award winning
cheese.
Summary:
Havarti (97.00 out of 100 points) Ranked #10 among world entries for
Havarti.
Monterey Jack (96.35 out of 100 points) Ranked #7 among world entries for
Jack.
Gouda (91.45 out of 100 points) Ranked in top 50 for plain Gouda.
Flavored semi-soft cheese (96.60 out of 100 points) Ranked in top 50 for
Creamy Cumin Havarti.
Willamette Valley Cheese Company ranked above all other Oregon cheese makers
for every category they entered.
So if you think their cheese tastes good... you are not alone....even the
experts/world agrees !
http://www.wischeesemakersassn.org/
Third Place award 2004 http://www.cheesesociety.org/
NEW OREGON CHEESE TAKES FIRST PLACE IN NATIONAL COMPETITION
Willamette Valley Cheese Company's farmstead
Brindisi Fontina cheese takes highest honor in class
Salem, Ore. — March 29, 2005 — Willamette Valley Cheese Company's Italian-style
Brindisi Fontina was named "Best of Class" from entries across the United States
last week at the nation's largest cheese competition. The locally made Fontina
was ranked number one in the country by judges at the 2005 US Championship
Cheese Contest, held in Milwaukee, WI last week.
"This was a wonderful honor for us to receive for many reasons, but the primary
one being that our Brindisi Fontina is truly exemplary of what we're trying to
do in our family-owned dairy farm and farmstead cheese operation, and that is to
celebrate family," said dairyman and Willamette Valley Cheese Company owner/cheesemaker,
Rod Volbeda. "Brindisi is my mother's maiden name, so although Fontina is one of
Italy's great cheeses and has been made in the Alps since the 12th century, our
100 percent Jersey milk Fontina gets a little extra care and has a special
family flair," said Volbeda.
Willamette Valley Cheese Company's Brindisi Fontina is naturally flavored and
aged to perfection. The Brindisi Fontina has a warm, golden glow and complex
flavor, which develops over time from the lightly salted shelf-aged hard rind,
characteristic of the semi-soft cheese. "Our Fontina flavor blends the best of
old Italy with natural Oregon goodness tempered by our family touch," said
Volbeda. "We believe our milk is the prime ingredient for our award-winning
farmstead cheeses," said the dairyman and cheesemaker.
Willamette Valley Cheese Company is family-owned and operated, and produces a
variety of delicious farmstead cheeses, including Gouda, Havarti, Jack,
Mozzarella and Fontina. All are buttery smooth, mildly fragrant and all-natural.
Although the cheese company is relatively new, the Volbeda Family has been
caring for their cows and producing outstanding milk since 1962. For fresh,
natural products, focused on sustainability and hand-crafted the old-fashioned
way, look for the Willamette Valley Cheese Company label in your local market or
log onto www.wvcheeseco.com to find out where you can purchase the award winning
cheese.