Rogue Creamery 75th Anniversary Ale

OoohWeee what I would have given to go to last weekend's SAVOR event in Washington D.C.! SAVOR is a unique American craft beer and food tasting experience.They just so happened to be be premiering our 75th Anniversary Ale (am i showing my age here?) along with Freedom Farms Hopyard Cheddar
in collaboration with rogue ales & spirits. This amazing sounding combination of beer and cheese has me hankering for a wedge and bottle right now!

The 75th Anniversary Ale was designed by Rogue Creamery co-owner David Gremmels and Rogue Ales brewmaster John Maier to pair perfectly with the unique terroir of the rogue grown hops used to make the Rogue Farms Cheddar and Touvelle cheeses.


The ale and cheese will be available in limited quantities at the Rogue Creamery Cheese Shop and Rogue Ales later this year!! This event was a great success! The Ale was listed as top 25 don't miss beers in the huge group of 141 contenders. In fact they ran out of the specialty ale, and people were trying to get dribbles out of the empty bottles!! That's some kind of interest in our collaboration :)

A Tribute to Ig Vella

Hello Friends,

It is my regret to inform you that Ignazio ‘Ig’ Vella, Master Cheesemaker for Rogue Creamery and owner of Vella Cheese Co., passed away last night. He was surrounded by family and died peacefully at his home in Sonoma, California.  Our team would like to express our condolences to the Vella family & Vella Cheese.

His last few weeks were filled with thoughtful conversations, joy, and laughter with the many visitors who came to his home. Ig expressed hope for the economy and Rogue Creamery’s continued success.

Everyone within the cheese community and the Rogue Valley will be affected by this sad news, including the town of Central Point, the Rogue Creamery team, the international community of cheesemongers, cheese shops and cheese lovers everywhere. He was an inspiration to us all, and his spirited personality, knowledge, and guidance will impact generations to come.


Ig was affectionately known as “The Godfather of American Artisan Cheese” for his dedication to artisan cheese and for his efforts over the years on behalf of the industry. He left a lasting legacy of service to country and community, serving as an Air Force Intelligence Office during the Korean War and as Sonoma County Supervisor. To read more about Ig's awards and lifetime achievements please click on this Vella Cheese Company link: http://www.vellacheese.com/pages/awards.html


The knowledge he passed on from his father Tom Vella, founder of Rogue Creamery, and the leadership and camaraderie he had with co-owners David and Cary will forever be imprinted within the Creamery.

His funeral will take place in Sonoma, California. Rogue Creamery will dedicate today’s two cheese makes, Oregon Blue and Echo Mountain Blue to Mr. Vella.

Here’s to you Ig! You will be missed…

-Over and Out (Ig’s signature parting)

Ig Vella
1929 - 2011

What is Rogue Creamery?

Stars above!! I was settling down in the pasture yester eve, and it occurred to me that some of you might not be familiar with Rogue Creamery and what we do...my sincere apologies!

My boys David Gremmels and Cary Bryant purchased Rogue Creamery in 2002 with a handshake on the porch of a cottage from the very Godfather of Cheese himself, Ig Vella! The idea was that the plant would stay open and Rogue Creamery would remain a contributing partner in the community as it was currently.

Rogue Creamery's mission is: "An artisan cheese company, with people dedicated to service, sustainability and the art and tradition of making the world's finest handmade cheese." A very fine statement if I do say so myself! With over 9 varieties of Blues and multiple cheddar's and American classic TouVelle's the cheese lover can find nearly anything they desire at our Cheese Shop on N. Front St.

What's most exciting to me about Rogue Creamery, is the presence we have in the world market, not to mention sustainability initiatives (something unheard of in my younger days!). Last winter we started shipping our pasteurized Flora Nelle Blue to Australia, and in the fall of 2011 we will start distributing to some Asian cities. Also in December 2010 we installed a solar array system the LARGEST in Central Point!! I can only imagine where we will be in 10 years! Course then I'll be even older and wiser ;)

If you have any questions about Rogue Creamery or wish to hear more fun facts please just ask! I would love to answer them! That's the purpose of my blog after all!

Angell Organic Candy Bars

Every week I would be keen on posting about one of my favorite flavors, organizations, or much loved beverages. You can see the links to the left of my page! This week is all about Angell Bars, an organic Fair Trade Certified candy bar. I ADORE these bars and they come in so many flavors, I’m afraid if I don’t stop eating them they will go straight to my hips! They come in such a variety of flavors it fair sets my head to spinnin thinking about all the heavenly choices I have whenever I stop in at Rogue Creamery’s Cheese Shop just down the road.

They have dark chocolate with almond centers, milk chocolate with creamy chocolate centers, and white chocolate with coconut in the middle. SIGH* I’m drooling now just thinking about it…

The company was founded in 2008 and what’s nice is they don’t have any corn syrup or artificial flavors in them! I think we are such kindred spirits because Christopher and Suzanne love candy bars almost certainly as much as I, but they have a care about the nutritional value and impact it has on the planet, just like we do at Rogue Creamery. If I have piqued your interest about this divine snack, please visit their website at: http://www.angellbar.com/ Try one, it might just brighten your entire day!!

Update!

Welcome! I'm so glad to be here and for the opportunity to meet you all! My blog is still under construction, so stop by again soon!

~ Nellie