California Cheese & European Ancestors
California is a melting pot, and that is doubly true when it comes to cheese. We have dairies making Basque-, Dutch-, and Swiss-inspired cheeses. Come, meet these cheesemakers, and hear how they adapted age old European recipes. Taste Old World cheeses next to their New World equivalents in an attempt to find a terroir that could be called distinctively Californian.

What’s Age Got to Do with It?
Plenty, when it comes to cheese. In this seminar you will experience the changes wrought by time as you sample under-ripe, perfectly ripe and even over-the-hill versions of selected cheeses. Learn how to recognize signs of ripeness and signs of decay in washed rind, bloomy rind and other styles of cheese. You’ll improve your shopping prowess and your understanding of the dynamics of cheese maturation.

Eating Across America
What is happening in American artisan cheese? Founders of Culture Magazine lead a cross-country survey and tasting of artisan cheeses washed down with American wines.

Cheese Essentials
If you’ve ever been overwhelmed by the number of cheeses at the cheese store, then Cheese Essentials is the seminar for you. Laura Werlin will guide you through her Eight Basic Styles of Cheese and a cheese and wine pairing (yes, there will be wine too!).

Cheesemaking Demo: Fresh Ricotta
Yes, you can make cheese at home. In this demonstration you’ll learn from the professionals how to make fresh Ricotta and how to use it in recipes.

Spirited Cheese
The art of pairing spirits with cheese is rarely given the attention it deserves. Explore handcrafted artisan cheeses paired with sake, whiskey, grappa and other fermented libations. Whether it's a peaty Scotch paired with an earthy cheddar or a bright citrusy sake paired with an aged goat cheese, the fun will be in the exploration.

Demystifying Raw and Pasteurized Cheeses
What is the difference between raw and pasteurized milk? Is raw milk cheese safe? How does one pasteurize milk anyway? If you've asked or thought about any of these questions and still don't have an answer these experienced cheesemakers will help you sort it all out and taste the differences for yourself.

The Blue Course
Blue cheese for breakfast? Lunch? How about dinner and dessert? The co-creators of Point Reyes Original Blue Cheese will show you how this flavor-filled cheese fits into all meals, all seasons and all types of entertaining.

What’s New with the Cowgirls?
Cowgirls Sue Conley and Peg Smith are the two titans of California artisanal cheese. As such, they've earned the right to keep the topic of their seminar a surprise. The curious would be wise to register early, though, because the Cowgirls always sell out their session.

Creamery Tour: Cowgirl Creamery and Marin French Cheese Company
You’ll be kept busy for the afternoon with visits to two local Petaluma creameries. Choose this tour for both of the afternoon options, because you’ll be off-site to learn the soup to nuts of cheesemaking at it’s finest and get your hands in the vat at Marin French. You’ll arrive back at the Sheraton by 3:30. Round trip shuttle bus provided by Pure Luxury Transportation.

Meet the New Wave
As big as the artisan food movement is becoming, no one is experiencing the kind of explosion in growth that artisan cheesemakers are experiencing right now. Meet the founders of four new California companies whose first cheeses debuted just last year. Learn how they made their cheesemaking dreams a reality and taste their latest creations.

Curds and Suds
Cheese pairs just as well--and some argue better--with beer as it does with wine. Learn how and why with Chef Andy Wild, who will share with you his personal passion for brews and cheese, and why he named his new son Porter.

Presenting the Perfect Cheese Platter SOLD OUT
Learn to create a beautiful cheese tray for everyday entertaining or a special occasion. We'll cover such topics as selecting the right assortment of cheeses and accompaniments, handling and care, presentation and service, and end with a hands-on workshop.

Traveling the Washington Cheese Trail
It may be called the Evergreen State, but Washington is home to more than just trees. It is also the place where some of America's most exciting new cheeses are being made. Join Seattle-based Beecher’s Handmade Cheese company founder (and entertainer extraordinaire) Kurt Dammeier and American cheese flag-waver Laura Werlin as they take you through a tasting of Washington state cheeses paired with the equally extraordinary Washington wines for this sure to be fun and educational seminar.

Cheesemaking Demo: Fromage Blanc
In this cheesemaking demonstration you’ll learn the secret to making Fromage Blanc at home just like Cowgirl Creamery makes it, with recipes and ideas for enjoying it.

Curds, Cooks and Cuvées: A Moveable Feast of Eight Courses Featuring Great Cheese, Food and Wine.
Saturday night is the reason we relish living in Northern California: eight chefs, eight cheesemakers, and eight vintners collide in a runaway gustatory chain reaction! Chefs John Ash and Jacquelyn Buchanan have lined up some big names:

• Mark Stark of Willi’s Wine Bar & Stark’s Steak House, Healdsburg with Cowgirl Creamery
• Josh Silvers of Syrah and Jackson's, Santa Rosa with Marin French Cheese
• Percy Whatley of The Ahwahnee, Yosemite with Fiscalini Farms
• Lars Kronmark of CIA Greystone with Mary Keehn of Cypress Grove Chevre
• Christian Caiazzo of Osteria Stellina, Pt. Reyes Station with Liam Callahan of Bellwether Farms
• Chris Jones of Estate and The Girl & the Fig, Sonoma with Laura Chenel’s Chèvre
• Jesse Llapitan of the Palace Hotel, San Francisco with Pt. Reyes Farmstead
• Duskie Estes & John Stewart of Zazu & Bovolo, Santa Rosa with Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery

Dinner tickets are available for 6 , 7 , and 8 p.m. to spread out arrivals and avoid crowding. The Sweets Lounge is open from 7 until 10 p.m., and admission is included with your ticket.

Artisan Cheese Marketplace
A vibrant marketplace under the festival tent, featuring 60 participating cheese producers, artisan food purveyors, vintners and brewers from our own backyard. Two sessions will alleviate crowding and make it easy for you to meet the vendors, taste and purchase your favorite cheeses to take home.

Also on Sunday ---
Home Cheesemaking with Mary Karlin
Author and cheesemaking expert Mary Karlin will demonstrate easy techniques for home cheesemaking, with a preview of recipes from her upcoming book.

Home cheesemaking supplies will be available for you to purchase from The Beverage People of Santa Rosa.

• One session, Artisan Cheese Marketplace
• Cheesemaking and Chef demos
• Author book signings
• Insulated Cheese Tote Bag and Festival Wine Glass
• Shopping at i Leoni’s gift table