U.S. cheeses grab record number of medals at World Cheese Awards

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1 2101 Wilson Boulevard Suite 400 Arlington, Virginia U.S.A. Tel Fax NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 2011 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Clemente Santiago U.S. Dairy Export Council U.S. cheeses grab record number of medals at World Cheese Awards United States cheese makers came away with 85 medals at last week s World Cheese Awards the most ever for U.S. entrants in this esteemed international competition. Globally, hundreds of cheese participated, sending more than 2,500 cheeses to Birmingham, England, where they were judged by a field of more than 200 expert tasters from around the world. Even more impressive was how the United States fared in the advanced judging rounds: American cheese makers sent four cheeses to the final round of 16. Limited Edition Cognac BellaVitano, from Sartori Foods, Plymouth, Wis., took third place overall from the final evaluation, also earning it a trophy for the Best U.S. Cow s Milk Cheese, an award sponsored by the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). This past 10 years has witnessed a phenomenal rise in U.S. cheeses on the world stage, says Bob Farrand, award chairman of the competition, which is organized by The Guild of Fine Food. To come third in the world is a tremendous achievement and the volume of awards amassed this year is a fitting testimony to a generation of U.S. cheese makers at the very top of their game. USDEC encourages stateside participation by sponsoring the Best U.S. Cow s Milk Cheese trophy each year. USDEC involvement with the World Cheese Awards, supported by U.S. dairy producers through their checkoff program, along with other USDEC market development programs and activities, help drive global demand for U.S. cheese and other dairy products by enhancing the quality image of U.S. supply in overseas markets. Managed by Dairy Management Inc.

2 When U.S. cheeses shine in a competition like this on a global stage, it reflects on the quality of all U.S. dairy products, says Angélique Hollister, director of cheese and manufactured products, USDEC. Sartori s Cognac BellaVitano is a perfect example of how U.S. cheese makers can stand toe to toe with the traditions of European cheese makers and add something unique to those cheese traditions. Cognac BellaVitano, introduced by Sartori just two years ago, is an 18-month cheese soaked for more than a week in Remy Martin Cognac. Company president Jeff Schwager says it is one of the latest in a line of treated cheeses spun from the original BellaVitano Gold. Our master cheese makers looked at Parmesan and Piave and took the best characteristics of both for this cheese, Schwager says of the base cheese for the BellaVitano line. The rich, creamy texture and the sweet and buttery flavor notes have made the cheese a gold-medal winner all by itself, but there is more to it. I would love to say it was intentional, but it was really a fortunate by-product that this cheese is great for taking on other flavors when hand-rubbed with spices (like espresso beans or crushed black peppercorns) or immersing them in cognac or merlot wine, Schwager says. Recognition at the World Cheese Awards and at other international competitions offers more than bragging rights, Schwager adds. As a family-held business, our mission is to try to make the best cheese in the word. That is what we challenge our people with every day and we use these contests as validation of the level of our success in working to meet that mission. Another Sartori entry Sartori Reserve Cinnamon-rubbed BellaVitano also made it to the final round of 16. It was joined by Cardona, from Carr Valley Cheese Co., Lavalle, Wis., and Bloomsdale, from Baetje Farms, Bloomsdale, Mo. In addition, two more U.S. cheeses Bandaged Wrapped Cheddar from Fiscalini Cheese, Modesto, Calif., and Spring Brook Farm Tarentaise from the Farms for City Kids Foundation, Reading, Vt. reached the intermediate round of 50 to earn coveted Super Gold medals. There were 46 U.S. entering a total of 383 U.S.-made cheeses in the World Cheese Awards this year. Carr Valley paced the field with 11 medals. Other multipleaward winning included internationally-affiliated like Sorrento Lactalis and Lactalis USA Group, and cheeses originating on small Vermont farmsteads, finished and entered by the Cellars of Jasper Hill. 2

3 This year s winners speak volumes about how far U.S. specialty cheese making has come, says Hollister. We saw Vermont-made traditional clothbound Cheddars that held their own against British rivals, farmstead cheeses that ran neck-and-neck with those from France, Spain and Italy, and American originals. Judging and the awards presentation took place at the BBC Good Food Show, one of the top consumer food events in Europe, which draws more than 80,000 visitors each year. Cheese makers sent winning entries from across Europe, Oceania, North America, South Africa and other places around the globe. The overall top award this year went to a 10-month Ossau Iraty from French farmhouse producer Fromagerie Agou. The runnerup was Cornish Blue by Britain s Cornish Blue Co. Sponsorship of the World Cheese Awards is one of many export marketing activities conducted each year by the dairy checkoff-funded USDEC. In 2011, for example, the organization has held numerous trade missions and seminars that brought together U.S. suppliers and overseas buyers to continually expand markets for U.S. cheese and ingredients. -END- World Cheese Awards winners from the United States Class 5001 (Soft goats milk cheese plain - fresh) - Ms. Natural 4-oz. disk, Cypress Grove Chèvre Inc., Arcata, Calif., Gold - Coeur de la Crème Plain, Baetje Farms, Bloomsdale, Mo., Bronze Class 5002 (Soft goats milk cheese plain - mould-ripened) - Bloomsdale, Baetje Farms, Bloomsdale, Mo., Super Gold - Bonne Bouche, Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery, Websterville, Vt., Gold - Coupole, Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery, Websterville, Vt., Silver - Mayor of Nye Beach, Rivers Edge Chevre, Logsdon, Ore., Silver - Sainte Genevieve, Baetje Farms, Bloomsdale, Mo., Silver Class 5003 (Semi-hard goats milk cheese plain) - Cardona, Carr Valley Cheese Co., Lavalle, Wis., Super Gold Class 5005 (Goats milk cheese with additives) - Sunset Bay, Rivers Edge Chevre, Logsdon, Ore., Silver - Coeur de la Crème Three Pepper, Baetje Farms, Bloomsdale, Mo., Silver - Coeur de la Crème Herb de Provence, Baetje Farms, Bloomsdale, Mo., Silver - Coeur de la Crème Bavarian Lemon Creme, Baetje Farms, Bloomsdale, Mo., Silver - Creamy Goat Cheese with Roasted Red Peppers, Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery, Websterville, Vt., Bronze 3

4 Class 5006 (Goats milk cheese blue) - Billy Blue, Carr Valley Cheese Co., Lavalle, Wis., Gold Class 5007 (Ewes milk cheese smoked) - Up in Smoke, Rivers Edge Chevre, Logsdon, Ore., Gold - Smoked Billy Blue, Carr Valley Cheese Co., Lavalle, Wis., Bronze Class 5101 (Soft ewes milk cheese plain) - Kinderhook Creek, Old Chatham Sheepherding Co., Old Chatham, N.Y., Gold Class 5102 (Semi-hard ewes milk cheese plain) - Lamb Chopper, Cypress Grove Chèvre Inc., Arcata, Calif., Silver Class 5107 (Ewes milk cheese smoked) - Smoked Marisa, Carr Valley Cheese Co., Lavalle, Wis., Bronze Class 5108 (Ewes milk cheese with additives) - Truffled Bismark, Grafton Village Cheese Co., Brattleboro,Vt., Bronze Class 5202 (Medium traditional Cheddar made between 1/31/11 and 7/31/11) - Vermont Clothbound Cheddar, Grafton Village Cheese Co., Brattleboro,Vt., Gold Class 5205 (Mature traditional Cheddar made between 10/1/10 and 1/30/11) - Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, Cabot Creamery/Cellars at Jasper Hill, Greensboro, Vt., Bronze Class 5209 (Extra Mature traditional Cheddar made between 6/1/10 and 9/30/10) - Bandage Wrapped Cheddar, Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, Calif., Super Gold Class 5213 (Any creamery Cheddar made on or before 5/31/10) - Deer Creek Vat 17, The Artisan Cheese Exchange, Sheboygan, Wis., Gold - Deer Creek Reserve, The Artisan Cheese Exchange, Sheboygan, Wis., Bronze Class 5224 (Provolone, mild) - Sorrento Provolone Block, Sorrento Lactalis, Nampa, Idaho, Gold - Sorrento Provolone String, Sorrento Lactalis, Nampa, Idaho, Silver Class 5234 (Any semi-hard cheese not in any other class) - Sartori Limited Edition Cognac BellaVitano, Sartori Food Corp., Plymouth, Wis., Super Gold - Lionza, Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, Calif., Gold - Butternut, Willow Hill Farm, Milton, Vt., Gold Class 5236 (Any very hard cheese not in any other class) - Cello Riserva Copper Kettle Parmesan, Arthur Schuman Inc., Fairfield, N.J., Bronze - Cello Riserva Traditional Romano, Arthur Schuman Inc., Fairfield, N.J., Bronze - Sartori Reserve SarVecchio Parmesan, Sartori Food Corp., Plymouth, Wis., Bronze Class 5237 (Smoked Cheddar) - Promontory Apple Walnut Smoked, Beehive Cheese Co., Uintah, Utah, Bronze 4

5 Class 5238 (Smoked cheese, semi-hard) - Smoked Garlic Cheddar, Carr Valley Cheese Co., Lavalle, Wis., Bronze Class 5303 (Fresh/cream cheese, cows milk plain) - Rouge et Noir Breakfast Cheese, Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, Calif., Gold Class 5304 (Ricotta) - Ricotta con Latte, BelGioioso Cheese, Green Bay, Wis., Bronze Class 5305 (Mascarpone) - Mascarpone, Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery, Websterville, Vt., Gold - Cello Traditional Italian Style Mascarpone, Arthur Schuman Inc., Fairfield, N.J., Gold - Cello Thick and Smooth Mascarpone, Arthur Schuman Inc., Fairfield, N.J., Silver - Sorrento Mascarpone, Sorrento Lactalis, Nampa, Idaho, Bronze - Mascarpone, BelGioioso Cheese, Green Bay, Wis., Bronze Class 5306 (Quark plain or with additives) - Rouge et Noir Quark Strawberry, Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, Calif., Bronze Class 5307 (Mozzarella, fresh, cows milk in balls (large or small)) - Galbani 8-oz Ball H 2 0 pack, Lactalis American Group, Tipton, Calif., Gold - Sorrento Fresh Mozzarella, Sorrento Lactalis, Nampa, Idaho, Silver - Fior di Latte Fresh Mozzarella Ball, Belfiore Cheese Co., Berkeley, Calif., Silver - Burrata, BelGioioso Cheese Inc., Green Bay, Wis., Silver - Precious 8-oz Ball vacuum pack, Lactalis American Group, Tipton, Calif., Silver - Mozzarella Fresca Medallion H 2 0 pack, Lactalis American Group, Tipton, Calif., Bronze Class 5308 (Mozzarella, block, slices or string) - Galbani whole milk, low moisture bulk, Sorrento Lactalis, Buffalo, N.Y., Bronze - Whole milk Mozzarella, Saputo Cheese USA, Lincolnshire, Ill., Bronze Class 5311 (Brie made from pasteurised milk) - Brie President, Lactalis American Cheese, Belmont, Wis., Silver - Moses Sleeper, Jasper Hill Farms/Cellars at Jasper Hill, Greensboro, Vt., Silver - Rouge et Noir Triple Créme Brie 8-oz, Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, Calif., Silver - Rouge et Noir Classic Brie 1-lb., Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, Calif., Bronze Class 5314 (Any other mould ripened, soft or unpressed cows milk cheese - plain) - Weybridge, Scholten Family Farm/Cellars at Jasper Hill, Greensboro, Vt., Bronze Class 5317 (Rind washed cheese not in any other class) - Rouge et Noir Schlosskranz-Herz, Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, Calif., Bronze Class 5318 (Smoked cheese - soft/semi soft) - Naturally Smoked Mozzarella Loaf, Belfiore Cheese Co., Berkeley, Calif., Bronze Class 5403 (Gorgonzola) - Sartori Reserve Dolcina, Sartori Food Corp., Plymouth, Wis., Gold - CreamyGorg, BelGioioso Cheese, Green Bay, Wis., Silver - Gorgonzola, Saputo Cheese USA, Lincolnshire, Ill., Bronze 5

6 Class 5405 (Blue vein cheese any variety, uncut, foil wrapped) - Montforte Gorgonzola, Arthur Schuman Inc., Fairfield, N.J., Bronze - Crumbly Gorgonzola, BelGioioso Cheese, Green Bay, Wis., Bronze Class 5501 (Cheese made with the milk of more than one animal) - Double Cream Cremont, Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery, Websterville, Vt., Gold - Casa Bolo Mellage, Carr Valley Cheese Co., Lavalle, Wis., Gold - Mobay, Carr Valley Cheese Co., Lavalle, Wis., Silver - Cave Aged Mellage, Carr Valley Cheese Co., Lavalle, Wis., Silver - Canaria, Carr Valley Cheese Co., Lavalle, Wis., Silver - Crumbly Gorgonzola with Sheeps Milk, BelGioioso Cheese, Green Bay, Wis., Silver - Menage, Carr Valley Cheese Co., Lavalle, Wis., Bronze - Barndance, Grafton Village Cheese Co., Brattleboro,Vt., Bronze - Shepsog, Grafton Village Cheese Co., Brattleboro,Vt., Bronze Class 5503 (Semi-hard cheese produced on farm or dairy with a total output not exceeding a weekly average of 2 tons) - Spring Brook Farm Tarentaise, Farms for City Kids Foundation, Reading, Vt., Super Gold - Full Moon, Beehive Cheese Co., Uintah, Utah, Silver Class 5504 (Hard cheese produced on farm or dairy with a total output not exceeding a weekly average of 2 tons) - Aged Raclette, Leelanau Cheese Co., Suttons Bay, Mich., Silver Class 5509 (New Cheese - hard or semi-hard. Open to any new cheese first marketed after 11/1/10) - Sartori Reserve Extra Aged Fontina, Sartori Food Corp., Plymouth, Wis., Gold - Spring Brook Farm Reading, Farms for City Kids Foundation, Reading, Vt., Silver - Red Vask, Grafton Village Cheese Co., Brattleboro,Vt., Bronze Class 5510 (New Cheese - blue. Open to any new cheese first marketed after 11/1/10) - Flora Nelle, The Rogue Creamery, Central Point, Ore., Gold Class 5512 (All other new cheeses. Open to any new cheese first marketed after 11/1/10) - Sartori Limited Edition Canella BellaVitano, Sartori Food Corp., Plymouth, Wis., Gold - Harbison, Jasper Hill Farm/Cellars at Jasper Hill, Greensboro, Vt., Gold - Big Mutton Button, Carr Valley Cheese Co., Lavalle, Wis., Bronze Class 5607 (Hard pressed or repressed cows milk cheese with sweet-style additives) - Sartori Reserve Cinnamon-rubbed BellaVitano, Sartori Food Corp., Plymouth, Wis., Super Gold Class 5609 (Soft or unpressed cows milk cheese with savoury additives) - Mozzarella Fresca 1/3-oz. Ball, Marinade, Lactalis American Group, Tipton, Calif., Silver Class 5614 (Shredded or grated cheese, plain) - Sorrento Low-moisture-part-skim Shred in a Cup, Sorrento Lactalis, Nampa, Idaho, Bronze 6

7 Sponsor Award U.S. Dairy Export Council Trophy for Best USA Cheese - Sartori Limited Edition Cognac BellaVitano, Sartori Food Corp., Plymouth, Wis. U.S. performance at the World Cheese Awards Total U.S. Entries Winning Companies Total U.S. Medals Gold Silver Bronze , from , from (including 6 Super Gold) (including 2 Super Gold) , from , from , from , from , from , from The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) is a non-profit, independent membership organization that represents the global trade interests of U.S. dairy producers, proprietary processors and cooperatives, ingredient suppliers and export traders. Funded primarily by the dairy checkoff program through Dairy Management Inc., USDEC aims to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and assist the U.S. industry to increase its global dairy ingredient sales and exports of U.S. dairy products. USDEC accomplishes this through programs in market development that build global demand for U.S. dairy products, resolve market access barriers and advance industry trade policy goals. USDEC is supported by staff across the United States and overseas in Mexico, South America, Asia, Middle East and Europe. The U.S. Dairy Export Council prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, political beliefs, marital status, military status, and arrest or conviction record. 7