Valley Ford Cheese Co.

The tiny town of Valley Ford in Sonoma County is home to big flavor when it comes to cheese. If you don't believe us, you've never tried the cheese at Valley Ford Cheese Co. Run by Karen Bianchi-Moreda and her sons, it is a multigenerational dairy that makes Swiss-Italian-style cheese from the milk of their Jersey herd.

The Bianchi family has owned and operated their 640-acre ranch for nearly 100 years, and Karen began making the family's award-winning cheeses in 2008. Her goal was simple: to produce cheeses that pay homage to the family's Swiss-Italian roots while showcasing their fantastic Jersey milk. Today they concentrate on their Estero Gold cheese, which is a subtle, creamy and buttery cheese that melts well into pastas or pizza, and their Highway One cheese, which is a fontina-like cheese that has an almost nutty flavor to it. Both have been won gold medals from the American Cheese Society.

Working alongside Karen are her sons Joe and Jim, who both bring fresh perspectives to this multigenerational farm. Jim works with the animals and dairy, and Joe works on the cheese—and together with their mom, all look to carry on their family's rich tradition in agriculture and build a new legacy in the world of artisan cheese.

For more information about Valley Ford Cheese Co., visit www.valleyfordcheese.com.

For a related story from the archives of California Bountiful magazine, visit www.californiabountiful.com.