Winchester Cheese Company
Encyclopedia
Winchester Cheese Company is an artisan cheese
producer in the town of Winchester, California
, in Riverside County, Southern California
.
The company was started by Jules Wesselink, who was born in the Netherlands
and came to the United States
when he was in his 20s. He worked at his future in-laws
' dairy
before moving to Artesia
in the 1950s
to start his own dairy. He later moved to "a mountain rimmed valley situated in Winchester
, near Temecula, about two hours southeast of Los Angeles
and not far from San Diego." After a plunge in Dairy prices he visited his home town of Haarlem
in the Netherlands in 1995, to learn the craft of Gouda cheesemaking. Upon his return he started producing Gouda Boerenkaas
("farmer's cheese"), first from milk supplied by his own Holstein cows, a Dutch
breed, and after 2001 from other suppliers. Commercial production started in 1996 and by 2008 was up to about 100,000 pounds annually.
Winchester Cheese Company has expanded over the years and now includes a gift shop, tasting area, and tour center. "Winchester cheeses have won numerous awards in competitions around the world, and they're now available at cheese specialty shops, upscale restaurants and wineries throughout the Southland
," according to a write-up in Westways magazine as well as area farmer's markets. Flavors include a jalapeño
Gouda and cumin
Gouda, and Gouda cheeses of various ages. Jules Wesselink is now retired, but the operation remains a family business.
Artisan cheese
Artisan cheese is manufactured by hand using the traditional craftsmanship of skilled cheesemakers. As a result the cheeses are often more complex in taste and variety. Many are aged and ripened to achieve certain aesthetics...
producer in the town of Winchester, California
Winchester, California
Winchester is a census-designated place in Riverside County, California, USA. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 2,534, up from 2,155 at the 2000 census....
, in Riverside County, Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
.
The company was started by Jules Wesselink, who was born in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when he was in his 20s. He worked at his future in-laws
In-Laws
In-Laws is an American situation comedy that aired on NBC from September 2002 until January 2003. The series starred Bonnie Somerville, Jean Smart, Elon Gold, and Dennis Farina....
' dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
before moving to Artesia
Artesia, California
Artesia is a city in southeast Los Angeles County, California. Artesia was incorporated on May 29, 1959 and is one of Los Angeles County's Gateway Cities. The city has a 2010 census population of 16,522...
in the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
to start his own dairy. He later moved to "a mountain rimmed valley situated in Winchester
Winchester, California
Winchester is a census-designated place in Riverside County, California, USA. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 2,534, up from 2,155 at the 2000 census....
, near Temecula, about two hours southeast of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and not far from San Diego." After a plunge in Dairy prices he visited his home town of Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
in the Netherlands in 1995, to learn the craft of Gouda cheesemaking. Upon his return he started producing Gouda Boerenkaas
Gouda (cheese)
Gouda is an orange cheese made from cow's milk. The cheese is named after the city of Gouda in the Netherlands, but its name is not protected. However, the European Commission has confirmed that "Gouda Holland" is to be protected...
("farmer's cheese"), first from milk supplied by his own Holstein cows, a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
breed, and after 2001 from other suppliers. Commercial production started in 1996 and by 2008 was up to about 100,000 pounds annually.
Winchester Cheese Company has expanded over the years and now includes a gift shop, tasting area, and tour center. "Winchester cheeses have won numerous awards in competitions around the world, and they're now available at cheese specialty shops, upscale restaurants and wineries throughout the Southland
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
," according to a write-up in Westways magazine as well as area farmer's markets. Flavors include a jalapeño
Jalapeño
The jalapeño is a medium-sized chili pepper that has a warm, burning sensation when eaten. A mature jalapeño fruit is 2–3½ inches long and is commonly picked and consumed while still green, but occasionally it is allowed to fully ripen and turn crimson red...
Gouda and cumin
Cumin
Cumin is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to India. Its seeds are used in the cuisines of many different cultures, in both whole and ground form.-Etymology:...
Gouda, and Gouda cheeses of various ages. Jules Wesselink is now retired, but the operation remains a family business.