MADISON, Wis. – Award-winning author and national cheese expert Laura Werlin will join a group of renowned speakers to present a wide array of tasting and educational seminars at this fall’s Fifth Annual Wisconsin Cheese Originals Festival.
On Saturday, Nov. 2, Werlin will kick-off a day devoted to tasting and discussing “The Arrival of American Artisanal Cheese.” Attendees may purchase an all-day pass to the event at Monona Terrace in Madison. The all-day pass grants admission to the morning keynote, luncheon with dessert cheese and chocolate pairing, afternoon tasting session discussing Wisconsin original cheeses vs. European traditional cheeses, and choice of afternoon cheese pairing seminars with beer or brandy. Tickets to individual seminars may also be purchased separately.
Saturday’s seminars are just one piece of the two-day event, which draws 1,000 cheese lovers from across the country. The weekend features all-day Friday creamery tours, followed by the popular Friday Night Meet the Cheesemaker Gala, as well as Saturday cheesemaker dinners at several Madison restaurants.
The 2013 line-up of seminars & speakers includes:
• The Arrival of American Artisan Cheese. For the first time, the festival welcomes Laura Werlin, author and American cheese expert for a morning keynote session. Werlin will give a lively and thought-provoking talk on the past, present, and future of American artisanal cheese.
• Wisconsin Artisan Cheese & Chocolate Dessert Pairing: All luncheon and all-day pass attendees will enjoy this dessert pairing session, with chocolate from Chocolatier Gail Ambrosius, and Wisconsin artisan cheese selected by Sara Hill, of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. Taste three different chocolate and cheese pairings and learn the stories of each.
• European Traditional Cheeses vs. Wisconsin Original Cheeses: Taste and learn about some of the finest artisan cheeses coming from Wisconsin, as well as small-batch, rare European cheeses crafted in the Old World tradition of transhumance, the seasonal movement of people with their animals. Led by Wisconsin cheese educator Jeanne Carpenter and Columbia Cheese’s Jonathan Richardson, an importer of single-dairy cheeses from Switzerland, Bavaria, Denmark and Italy.
• American Artisanal Cheese with Craft Beer: Discover six new American artisanal cheese and craft beer pairings with James Beard Award-winning author Janet Fletcher. Her new book, Cheese and Beer, is a richly photographed reference that will help cheese enthusiasts dive more deeply into beer, and beer fans to learn more about fine cheese.
• Adventures with Cheese and Brandy: While wine and beer have long been heralded as the perfect pairings with cheese, spirits are also popular. Taste four different brandy and cheese pairings in this session led by Barrie Lynn, The Cheese Impresario.
Tickets for all events go on sale to members of Wisconsin Cheese Originals on Sept. 9, with remaining tickets available to the public starting Sept. 16. Visit www.wicheesefest.com to learn more.
Wisconsin Cheese Originals wishes to thank all sponsors of the Fifth Annual Wisconsin Original Cheese Festival, including marquee sponsor Emmi Roth USA; platinum sponsor Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board; gold sponsors Sartori Foods and World Import Distributors; silver sponsors BelGioioso Cheese, Klondike Cheese and Organic Valley; bronze sponsors Arla Foods, Carr Valley Cheese, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Fromagination, Roelli Cheese, Saputo Specialty Cheese and Sugar Brook Farms; and supporting sponsors Hook’s Cheese Company and Widmer’s Cheese Cellars.
About Wisconsin Cheese Originals
Have Fun. Do Good. Eat Cheese. Wisconsin Cheese Originals shares information about Wisconsin artisan cheeses through a variety of educational and entertaining events, all in the spirit of celebrating Wisconsin cheesemakers. An annual $2,500 scholarship is available to a beginning cheesemaker to help launch new artisanal cheeses. www.wisconsincheeseoriginals.com
Source: Wisconsin Cheese Originals
