It was a bang-up year for Oregon dairy at this year’s American Cheese Society competition in July: we took home 15 medals in total (matching last year’s all-time high), with two first place wins for Tillamook’s 3 Year Vintage Extra Sharp White Cheddar and Facerock Creamery’s Clothbound Cheddar. 

On Saturday, October 6, those winners, plus 19 other local cheesemakers—including ACS medalists Rogue, Ochoa’s Queseria Panela, and Briar Rose Creamery—will gather for Oregon Cheese Guild’s The Wedge festival (noon–6 p.m. at Alder Block, 100 SE Alder St).

Aside from enough dairy to send the lactose-intolerant to the hills, The Wedge brings in dozens of local food artisans (Jacobsen Salt, Raft Cocktails, Bliss Nut Butters, etc.) and wine/beer/cider makers, from Wayfinder to Chateau Bianca. It’s a great way to start hunting for holiday stocking-stuffers, too.

The nitty gritty: $15 ($20 at the door) for general admission. Kids 12 and under get in free. All tickets come with a $5 voucher to purchase a favorite cheese. A $25 ticket gets you beer, wine, and cider tastings and a commemorative glass. Proceeds go to the Oregon Cheese Guild, a collaborative effort to increase awareness of Oregon’s artisanal cheeses.