Wisconsin trumps California in cheese contest

California made a strong case for the quality of its cheese, but Wisconsin emerged as the dominant market force at the inaugural American Cheesemaker Awards at the Fairmont Newport Beach.

Wisconsin took home eight of 13 awards presented Friday at a ceremony within the four-day celebration of artisan cheese making in America, including the People’s Choice Cheesemaker to Satori Artisan Foods, which also won for Best Blue Cheese and Best Uniquely American Cheese.

California cheese makers grabbed three awards for Best Fresh Cow’s Milk to Cantare Foods, and Best Firm Cow’s Milk Cheese and Best Hard Cow’s Milk Cheese to Fiscalini Farmstead Cheese.

The 19 judges were made up of industry professionals from various restaurants, organizations, aficionados and publications, judging more than 75 artisan cheeses in a blind tasting process.

— Daniel Tedford