OSLO, Norway, April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sartori Cheese Company was named "Best Cheese" at the European hosted 2012 Dairy Innovation Awards in Oslo, Norway. Sartori's Espresso BellaVitano® was the event's Grand Champion Cheese, selected as the "Best Cheese" in a global competition encompassing entries from 25 countries. Bert Sartori, fourth generation family member was on hand to accept the award. Sartori's Limited Edition Cognac BellaVitano was named as a finalist in the competitive and highly acclaimed cheese competition.

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The recognition at the Global Dairy Congress is one of several high profile International awards bestowed upon Sartori in the past few years. The company's Raspberry BellaVitano was named "Best American Cheese" and "Best New Cheese" at the Dublin hosted World Cheese Awards in 2008. Sartori SarVecchio® Parmesan was named Grand Champion at the World Dairy Expo in 2010. And in 2011 Sartori Limited Edition Cognac BellaVitano finished third overall out of over 2,500 entries at the World Cheese Awards; the highest ever finish for an American cheesemaker. "It is wonderful to see U.S. cheesemakers being recognized and winning best of class awards in these very competitive and prestigious competitions," said Jeff Schwager, Sartori President. "Wisconsin and U.S. cheese companies are making some of the best cheese in the world – and the experts are acknowledging that fact with these recent results."

The 2012 Dairy Innovation Awards were hosted in conjunction with the annual Global Dairy Congress, a gathering of the world's leaders in dairy trends and development. The winners of the Dairy Innovation Awards are judged not just by the flavor profiles of their products, but also by the uniqueness and potentially revolutionary impact the product could have on the industry.

Sartori Company is no stranger to ingenuity. Since their inception in 1939, the company has made many contributions to the industry ranging from revolutionary Italian cheese making patents in the 1940s, to packaging innovations in the 1960s, to all natural grated cheese shelf life extensions in the 1980s, to the creation of the award winning Sartori Original - BellaVitano Cheese in the 2000s.

Continuing with this commitment to innovation and leadership, having won three awards in 2011, Espresso BellaVitano is one of Sartori's newest and most exciting editions to the Sartori Reserve line. The cheese itself has a unique flavor profile starting with a subtle fruity note and ending with a tangy bite. The hand-rubbed coating of ground roast Espresso bean adds a subtle and unique roast coffee compliment.

"What an honor and a true validation of the efforts of our cheesemakers, our R&D department, and really the entire Sartori Team," says CEO, Jim Sartori. "While the Team Members at Sartori, myself included, believe we make some great products, we've always preferred to let others judge for themselves. Recognition from a prestigious international panel of judges like this is really something special, and we are very appreciative."

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 Cheese Company