Tickets On Sale For Fifth Annual Wisconsin Cheese Originals Festival

MADISON, Wis. – Tickets to the Fifth Annual Wisconsin Cheese Originals Festival are now on sale, offering attendees the chance to meet more than 40 artisan cheesemakers through two days of tours, seminars, dinners, and the popular Meet the Cheesemaker Gala at Monona Terrace.

Hosted by Wisconsin Cheese Originals, the theme of the Nov. 1-2 festival is “The Arrival of American Artisan Cheese.” Cheesemakers and national speakers from across the country will help the festival celebrate its fifth year. More than 1,000 people are expected to trek to Madison for the event. Tickets are available online at www.wicheesefest.com.

On Friday morning, Nov. 1, three all-day tours kick off the event and motor to nine different cheese factories and dairy farms, giving attendees a backstage pass to Wisconsin’s growing dairy artisan community and food culture.

Then on Friday night, the Meet the Cheesemaker Gala moves into the ballroom at Monona Terrace and is ticketed in two time slots, from 6 to 8 p.m., and 8 to 10 p.m. Each session is limited to 300 attendees, allowing everyone to personally meet and greet cheesemakers in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. Attendees should come ready to taste and then purchase their favorite cheeses at the expanded Metcalfe’s Marketplace inside the Gala. More than 40 cheesemakers and food artisans from four states will sample 200 different cheeses and foods.

On Saturday, the festival switches into educational mode with an all-day seminar track, kicking off with a 10:30 a.m. keynote by national cheese expert Laura Werlin. Following lunch with a cheese and chocolate pairing in the Grand Terrace, attendees will enjoy an afternoon seminar and tasting session of Wisconsin original cheeses vs. European traditional cheeses. Attendees may also choose from two different afternoon sessions pairing cheese with craft beer and fine brandy.

On Saturday night, the festival concludes with the festival’s signature cheesemaker dinners at three different Madison restaurants, where each chef prepares an exclusive three-course dinner featuring Wisconsin cheese. Attendees join the featured cheesemaker in a private room set for 30.

Wisconsin Cheese Originals wishes to thank all sponsors of the Fifth Annual Wisconsin Cheese Originals 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, Dairy Connection Inc., Fromagination, Roelli Cheese, Saputo Specialty Cheese, Sugar Brook Farms and Uplands Cheese; 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