Sartori® Again Named America's Best Parmesan

GREEN BAY, Wis., March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sartori SarVecchio® Parmesan was awarded "Best Parmesan Cheese" and Sartori Classic Parmesan took second place at the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest.  This is the third consecutive gold medal for their SarVecchio Parmesan.  This year's competition was held March 8-10 at the Lambeau Field Atrium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with yet another record-setting number of cheese and butter entries submitted.  

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"It is a very thorough process," explains Jim Sartori, Sartori CEO.  "Judges evaluate each of the 1,604 products among 76 different classifications, and assign them a numerical evaluation from 1 to 100 with 100 being the highest.  Each of the 76 category winners is reviewed again, with the top 18 making it to the finals.  The judges then rate the final 18 and again assign a numerical evaluation to determine the 'Grand Champion' and runner-up."

Overall, Sartori was presented with six awards at this year's competition.  Along with taking both first and second place in the Parmesan category, Sartori's Dolcina® Gorgonzola won a silver medal in the Gorgonzola category. Sartori's newest edition, Sartori Reserve Salsa Asiago, launched earlier this year at the Winter Fancy Food Show, took a "Best of Class" in the flavored hard cheese category.  Mike Matucheski, Sartori Master Cheesemaker took home a second and a third place for the new Sartori sheep-cow mixed milk hard Romano cheese, and a mixed milk Romano hand rubbed with sun-dried tomato, garlic and extra virgin olive oil.

Sartori's SarVecchio Parmesan is the most decorated artisan cheese in the USA.  Cheesemaker John Griffiths created this year's winner, which was also awarded the "Grand Champion" award – 'the best of all the cheeses in the competition' at the last U.S. Cheese Championship (in 2009).  Along with the 'best of class and first place award' this year, SarVecchio was close to repeating as Grand champion, coming as first runner-up to this year's Grand Champion Leclare Farm's Evalon goat cheese.  SarVecchio was the Grand Champion at the 2010 World Dairy Expo Contest, and has won at the American Cheese Society and the World Cheese Awards in recent years among many.

"Being recognized as having the best Parmesan cheese in the U.S. for the third time in a row is a great testament to our team, our cheesemakers and our patron farmers who supply us the finest milk available," stated Jeff Schwager, Sartori President.  "Winning multiple times here, at the American Cheese Society and at the World Cheese Awards truly demonstrates that our Sartori cheese and Wisconsin-made cheese can compete with any around the globe."

About Sartori

Sartori has been producing artisan and premium cheese for seven decades for Specialty, Retail, Ingredient, Restaurant and Food Service markets.  Based in Plymouth, Wisconsin, Sartori has an impressive array of award winning cheese noted for innovative approaches and consistent top quality across their entire line.  For more information, please visit www.sartoricheese.com or call us directly at 800-558-5888.

SOURCE Sartori Foods