Local cheese producers have been bringing home awards just about every year for the past five years.

But cheese connoisseurs around the country now are joining judges in asking “What’s with this Rogue Valley cheese?” That was the response from one expert after tasting Pholia Farm’s Elk Mountain, said David Gremmels, president and co-owner of Rogue Creamery in Central Point. Pholia’s goat cheese and off-the-grid farm near Rogue River were featured in the March 14 A la Carte section of the Mail Tribune.

Pholia is in good company. Rogue Creamery won several awards at two recent competitions, the World Cheese Awards in London and the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest in Wisconsin.

In London, the creamery’s Crater Lake Blue and Oregon Blue both won silver medals in the blue-vein cheese category, and Echo Mountain earned silver for cheese made with the milk of more than one animal. Nearly 2,000 cheeses were entered in more than 60 categories this year.

At the same competition in 2003, Rogue River Blue earned the distinction of world’s best blue and took a gold medal in the natural rind category at 2004’s competition.

This year, Rising Sun Farms of Phoenix joined Rogue Creamery on the World Cheese podium. Its Mocha Espresso Cream Cheese Torta with Chocolate won a bronze medal among soft or unpressed cows’ milk cheese with dessert style additives.

In Wisconsin, Rogue Creamery’s Crater Lake Blue won best of class. A West Coast cheese had not taken gold at the competition in 20 years when the creamery’s founder, Tom Vella, won with Oregon Blue.

Local cheese lovers can taste these award-winners daily. Rogue Creamery is at 311 N. Front St., Central Point. Rising Sun Farms is at 5126 S. Pacific Highway, Phoenix.