According to Wade, the California State Fair “Best of California” Cheese Judging has been running for 170 years! California cheesemakers can enter their best cheeses to be judged, with winner recognition offering not only bragging rights, but direct judge feedback and  great marketing exposure, too!

We all love cheese, so we might wonder exactly what a cheese judge does? How many cheeses do they taste each day? Wade provided the scoop: “The judging took place March 19^th. It was an entire day of rapid-fire cheese tasting for about eight hours straight! It was a whirlwind adventure fueled by butterfat and passion.”

“For this judging, there were four panels of three judges each. Each panel would discuss each cheese as we tasted and come up with a score together as a team”, Wade explained. “The experts ranged from people involved in media, wholesale, retail, restaurants and education. The hundreds of competing cheeses were divided into a range of categories separated by age, texture, style, and milk type. There was no limit to how many cheeses could win double gold, that all came down to the quality of each entry. At the end of the judging all double gold and gold cheeses in each category were tasted against each other to decide which would win best in class for the category. After we decided on the best in class cheeses, we placed them all next to each other to decide which cheese would take home best in show.”

How does one analyze cheese so quickly and avoid palate fatigue? “Analyzing cheese is a key part of what we do as cheesemongers at Oliver’s,” Wade explained. “I felt right at home judging these amazing California cheeses with fellow industry leaders. There was one thing all judges shared in common and that was passion and respect for quality cheese. The process itself was fair and efficient, and each cheese presented had equal opportunity to be awarded recognition.”

Wade estimates that there were over 300 entries. Of those, 18 cheeses took Double Gold, and 12 took Best in Class, or in the competition’s terminology “Best of California”.  For scoring, the medals went in the traditional order of Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Double Gold. Gold and Double gold were then tasted next to each other in each category to decide the best in category or “Best of California” award. All 12 of the “Best of California” winners were then placed against each other to decide what the “Best in Show” cheese was. The winner was the Marin French Cheese Golden Gate. Wade noted that this locally made cheese has been tasting great lately and he was happy to see it receive some well-deserved recognition.

Reflecting on the Experience

Wade had a fantastic time judging cheese on the California State Fair panel. “Meeting a room full of like-minded cheese loving individuals all gathered together to share a common goal was fantastic! To celebrate and honor the incredible cheeses made in this very special place we get to call home was a very rewarding experience.”

With Oliver’s Gourmet Cheese Department’s commitment to staying current and active with local and regional cheeses, Wade was able to recognize just about everything he tasted blind! For him, the opportunity reinforced his belief that the diverse land and people in California are what make our cheese so outstanding. “We have access to so many biomes that bring different sensory qualities to all the delicious cheese made here,” Wade explains. “What makes us special is having access to so many varieties of cheese inspired by cultures from around the world.”

Wade is passionate about participating in industry events like the California State Fair Cheese Competition for many reasons. “Being involved in industry events, competitions, and training helps Oliver’s Market stay in tune with what’s going on in the artisan cheese industry. Staying connected with other industry leaders, and being involved in the cheese community ultimately leads to us doing everything we can to bring the best possible cheese experience to our customers.”

Along with the benefits of offering our customers true gourmet cheese expertise, our local and state economies also benefit. “Supporting California artisan cheesemakers helps to sustain local agriculture, preserve traditional techniques, and foster innovation in the dairy industry,” Wade said.

Be sure to check out our amazing line up of California State Fair winning artisan cheeses all month long at Oliver’s, and don’t hesitate to ask questions or request a sample of something from our knowledgeable team.

Wine & Winning Cheese Match-Ups

To add a little more sparkle to this week’s featured cheese selections, Wade worked with our Wine & Liquor Coordinator, Josh Kirchhoff, on the following suggested pairings, so give one or all of them a try if you are so inclined:

2024 Hendry Napa Valley Albariño/Cowgirl Creamery Wagon Wheel

“This pairing is rich and vibrant. The Albariño brings bright, citrusy flavors and a touch of saltiness that lift the smooth, buttery texture of the cheese. Together, they create a refreshing and satisfying contrast. A delightful combination!”

2024 Highway 12 California Sauvignon Blanc/Marin French Golden Gate

“This duo is fresh and lively. The wine’s crisp citrus flavors balance out the rich, creamy cheese, while also bringing out earthy, garden-like notes from the cheese’s rind. You might even catch a hint of savory mushroom in the mix. A fun and flavorful pairing!”

2022 Martin Ray Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon/Point Reyes Aged Gouda

“A bold and tasty match. The rich, fruity Cabernet stands up well to the deep, nutty flavor of the aged Gouda. The wine highlights the little crunchy bits (tyrosine crystals) in the cheese and brings out its sweeter, caramel-like notes. Get ready for a delicious burst of flavor!”