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Detours: Rogue Creamery
Oregon’s Cult Cheesemakers
Rogue Creamery has close ties to another cheesemaker in Northern California’s Wine Country. Ig Vella, of Vella Cheese in Sonoma, owned the creamery until recently. Vella’s family has been in the cheesemaking business since the 1920’s and have become known for their craftsmanship of fine artisan cheese in the United States. Ig mentors young cheesemakers around the country, and is affectionately known as the “Godfather of Artisan Cheese.”
Vella sold the creamery to Cary Bryant and David Gremmels in 2000, but still spends about a week each month in Oregon , overseeing the operation as head cheesemaker. |
Like lucky lotto winners, long-time customers come into the Rogue River creamery on their allotted day each year for a wedge or two of what’s been called the best cheese in the world. Most have waited months for the call. “My girlfriend is coming up for the weekend and we’re just going to pig out,” says one customer, nearly ecstatic over the hefty hunk of Rogue River Blue in her hands.
The marbled blue cheese, wrapped in grape leaves and soaked in pear brandy, is made just once each year and set aside for an ever-growing list of devotees who wait patiently for their number to come up. Recently named Best Blue Cheese in the World as well as Best New Product in the World, it’s gone head to head with cheese from around the world, and come out on top. Not bad for a bit of ripe cheese from Central Point, Oregon.
Though the 70-year-old creamery is little more than a cinderblock building with a small, tile-floored tasting room and glass cheese case in an adjoining room, it attracts thousands of eager cheese-lovers each year, including a recent visit by Rachel Ray of the Food Network. And, there are plenty of samples—from chewy cheese curds to the creamery’s Gorganzola-style Oregonzola, cheddar, Oregon blue vein and smoky blue—an award-winning cheese smoked over hazelnut shells. The creamery also has fresh dairy products like milk and butter and imported crackers and jams, as well as reusable ice packs and coolers, should you arrive unprepared to cart home so much creamy goodness.
Just don’t get too disappointed if they’re out of Rogue River Blue. A visit to the creamery is a perfect opportunity to put your name on the waiting list for next year, and start dreaming of the day when you get the call for your own slice.
- The creamery is located at 311 N. Front St. in Central Point, OR.
Hours are from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday and 12 to 5pm Saturday and Sunday. For directions, click here.
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