Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. Earns Top Honors at Commercial Cheese Contest
May 4, 2026 | 3 min to read
POINT REYES STATION, CA – Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company announced that Quinta has been named Best of Show (Cow’s Milk) at the 2026 California State Fair Commercial Cheese Contest, one of the state’s premier showcases for dairy craftsmanship. Point Reyes cheeses bring bold, distinctive flavor to every moment, from a snack at the kitchen counter to the most elevated cheese board served to your most discerning dinner guests.
- 2026 Winning Highlights Point Reyes Quinta: Best of Show (Cow’s Milk)
- Point Reyes Quinta: Best of California (Semi-Soft Cheese, Cow)
- Point Reyes Toma: Best of California (Semi-Hard Cheese, Cow)
“These awards reflect the fundamentals we work on every day: milk quality, consistency in our cheesemaking, careful affinage, and the many small decisions that add up in the finished wheel,” said Kuba Hemmerling, VP of Operations at Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. “We’re honored to be recognized alongside so many talented California producers. Our team puts incredible care into every batch, and we’re proud that Quinta and Toma resonated with the judges in blind evaluation.”
Why Quinta Stands Out
- Farm-Harvested California Bay Laurel: Quinta features California Bay Laurel, a fragrant evergreen native to the region. Leaves are harvested on the company’s dairy, and the spruce bark wrapping is steeped in farm-brewed Bay Laurel tea, infusing herbaceous flavor as the cheese ages. Quinta is the only domestic cheese made with California Bay Laurel, offering savory, layered notes that complement its rich, creamy base. A Bay Laurel leaf crowns each wheel, making it a striking centerpiece for any cheese board.
- Spruce Bark Aging Influence: The spruce bark wrapping guides how the cheese ripens and expresses aromatics, contributing to Quinta’s balance of creaminess and structure.
- A True Sense-of-Place Cheese: Shaped by the coastal climate around Tomales Bay and exceptional California milk, Quinta is an authentic expression of Point Reyes: elegant, natural, and distinctly Californian.
“Quinta requires exceptional milk, patience, and precision throughout the process,” added Hemmerling. “The result reflects the distinctive character of Northern California. We’re grateful the judges experienced that sense of place.”
About the 2026 California State Fair Commercial Cheese Contest
The California State Fair’s Commercial Cheese Contest brings together cheesemakers statewide for rigorous, blind evaluation. In 2026, the contest included 107 entries and was judged by a 12-member panel representing expertise across the cheese industry. Cheeses were assessed on appearance, aroma, texture, and taste, with Best of Show distinctions awarded by milk type.
About Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company
100% women-owned, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company is an award-winning producer based on the Giacomini family’s dairy farm just north of San Francisco. The company crafts original, distinctive cheeses with a focus on responsible farming, exceptional milk, and hands-on cheesemaking.