Original Blue, Young Gouda, and TomaRashi take top honors; Brie, TomaProvence, and TomaTruffle earn second place.
Point Reyes, California (July 14, 2026) – Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. is proud to announce six wins at the 2026 American Cheese Society (ACS) Judging & Competition, held July 7-10 in Louisville, Kentucky. The results span three categories and mark the creamery's strongest showing at the competition to date.
2026 Winning Highlights
• Original Blue: 1st Place, Rindless Blue Veined
• Young Gouda: 1st Place, Dutch Style Aged up to Nine Months
• TomaRashi: 1st Place, American Original with Flavor Added
• Brie: 2nd Place, Soft Ripened Bloomy Rind
• TomaProvence: 2nd Place, American Originals with Flavor Added
• TomaTruffle: 2nd Place (tie), American Originals with Flavor Added
The ACS Judging & Competition is a blind tasting recognized as one of the most rigorous in the country. Judges are drawn from academia, the dairy sciences industry, culture manufacturing, food retail, distribution, and food media, and each entry is evaluated anonymously by two judges: Technical and Aesthetic. Products are judged on flavor, aroma, texture, and appearance.
"We are incredibly honored and deeply grateful to receive six awards from the American Cheese Society." said Kuba Hemmerling, VP of Operations at Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. "The medals reflect the craftsmanship, dedication, and hard work of our entire team, from the farm and creamery to every person who helps bring our cheeses to life. We never take accolades like these for granted, and we're humbled to be recognized alongside so many talented cheesemakers across the country. Most of all, we're thankful to our cows, our team, our partners, and our loyal customers whose support inspires us every day. We're excited to celebrate the achievements together and remain committed to making the very best cheese possible."
Point Reyes Cheese's six wins this year span the full range of what the creamery produces: Original Blue, the raw milk rindless blue veined cheese the company was founded on; Brie, a soft ripened, bloomy rind cheese that reflects the freshness and quality of California milk; the Dutch-style Young Gouda full of butterscotch creaminess; and the flavor-forward Toma family. TomaRashi's 1st place finish is especially notable, marking a return to the podium as well as reflecting the team's ongoing work refining its flavor-added originals. And because ACS judging is conducted entirely blind, the results speak to the cheeses themselves, hand crafted for over 25 years.
National Sales Director Inducted into International Guilde des Fromagers
Point Reyes Farmstead is also celebrating National Sales Director Connie Concon, who was inducted into the New World Chapter of the International Guilde des Fromagers during a ceremony at Capriole Farms, held in conjunction with the ACS Annual Conference in Louisville.
"Connie's induction into the Guilde des Fromagers is about so much more than her accomplishments, though there are many." said Lynn Giacomini Stray, Co-Owner and COO of Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. "It's a reflection of the relationships she's built, the passion she brings to our industry, and the respect she's earned from cheesemakers, retailers, mongers, and colleagues across the country. At Point Reyes Cheese, we know Connie as a tireless advocate for our cheese and one of the biggest champions of our business. She leads with heart, generosity, and genuine enthusiasm, and makes everyone around her better. There is no one more deserving of this honor."
The Guilde des Fromagers brings together some of the most respected and well-connected figures across the global cheese trade, from cheesemakers and affineurs to mongers and distributors, united by a shared mission to pass on knowledge and strengthen relationships across the industry.