With an ever-growing assortment of flavors, Sartori Master Cheesemakers are tasked every day with thinking outside of the box. And from bold Espresso BellaVitano® to spicy Sriracha Cheddar, there’s a flavor for everyone within the expansive cheese library our Cheesemakers have dreamed up.

When snacking on your favorite flavor of Sartori cheese, have you ever wondered how that flavor came to be? We sat down with Master Cheesemaker Pam Hodgson so she could walk us through her own cheesemaking process, or as she describes it, how a flavor is born.

To create a great cheese, you first need a great idea, and many of these great ideas are thanks to the extensive research conducted by Sartori.

“As a Master Cheesemaker, the cheese always comes first,” Pam shared. “We leverage our consumer insights team to get a sense of flavor trends in general, both in the US and globally. At Sartori, our goal is to create flavor combinations that will wow and delight those who love our cheeses.”

To make great-tasting cheese, you first need high-quality milk provided by hardworking dairy farmers. Pam explained that in the cheesemaking process, working with milk can often be the most difficult part.

“Milk’s seasonal variation means that we don’t start in the same place every day. Since we want to end up with the same product, we need to pay attention to details and make small adjustments as the milk composition changes,” explained Pam.

Once this delicate balance is found, Master Cheesemakers are able to create something beautiful: cheese. And with great cheese comes a need for great flavor combinations to complement it, which are constantly being explored at Sartori.

“At Sartori, we have a team that is constantly exploring new flavor concepts,” said Pam. “We never stop innovating.”

Once a new and exciting flavor concept, like Cherrywood Smoked Cheddar or Tennessee Whiskey BellaVitano, has been selected, the team begins actively experimenting to bring that flavor to life. This means testing different variations of the finished concept to narrow down which elements suit the cheese and best bring out the uniquely Sartori flavor makeup we know and love. To ensure these flavor finishes are able to stand the test of time, they also go through shelf-life testing, so customers can trust that their cheese will stay delicious for an extended period of time.

Sartori specializes in perfectly aged cheese. So, when all is said and done, it can take anywhere from one to three years to bring a new flavor to life. That said, a great deal of time and dedication is poured into each new flavor, and that means every day as a Master Cheesemaker is different from the last.

“On a given day I might be evaluating cheeses, designing and running trials, training our future Master Cheesemakers, meeting with customers, reviewing trending cheesemaking data or working with starter cultures,” Pam explained.

Each task is an integral steppingstone to creating a new flavor, and Pam, having had the opportunity to work on several new cheeses, prides herself on the power of good cheese and the way it can bring people together. When crafting new flavors, Master Cheesemakers work tirelessly to create the ideal iteration and, ultimately, the tastiest cheese that pairs well with any occasion – big or small.

“It brings me great joy to see people enjoy our cheeses,” Pam shared. “Sartori cheeses are making the world a better place.”

Keep exploring our website and stay connected with us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok to learn more about the Sartori team and the art of cheesemaking.