California cheesemaker shuts down after 94-year run

A nearly century-old Wine Country cheesemaker is closing its award-winning factory citing ongoing challenges since the Covid pandemic.

Vella Cheese in Sonoma County announced Monday that after 94 years it has made the “incredibly difficult decision” to cease production of its famous products.

“Our business has never fully recovered from the challenges of COVID, and the financial demands of operating a small, artisanal company in today’s fast-paced food industry have become more than we can sustain,” the message read.

The firm was founded in 1931 by Gaetano “Tom” Vella, who worked at the Sonoma Mission Creamery before a group of dairymen called on him to start a cheese factory of his own, according to its website.

Located at 315 Second St. East, the stone building where they make their famed Dry Jack, Monterey Jack and other high quality grating cheeses, was constructed in 1904 and originally was built to house a brewery. 

A plaque on the building explains how the structure survived “a fire and numerous earthquakes.”

“During ‘prohibition,’ in 1931,  Gaetano ‘Tom’ Vella and his wife Zolita, converted the building’s use to the making of cheese,” it read.

“Still under the Vella family ownership, not much has changed since 1931, the cultures, the care, and the personal hands-on techniques are still a part of their making quality cheese.”

The plaque noted “award-winning cheeses have been produced here since 1969,” after the company returned to making cheese in the building, after briefly moving operations following World War II to the former Sonoma Mission Creamery in 1951.

Vella Cheese is a multi-generational company after Tom turned over the business to his son Ignazio “Ig” Vella in 1981, according to the company history.

“And today, two more generations of the Vella family work hard to ensure that this tradition of quality and attention to detail continues,” the website read.

Over time the family-owned company received numerous awards including “Ig” being given the “first ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the esteemed American Cheese Society in Portland, Ore” in 2006, the website read.

In the closure announcement, the company shared the retail store and the wholesale warehouse will remain open until its remaining inventory is sold.

The company also thanked all the people who have supported them over nearly 100 years in business. 

“Thank you to our customers, distributors, vendors, community and friends for your continued loyalty, support and patronage,” it read.

“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to share Vella Cheese with you. With Heartfelt Gratitude, The Vella Cheese Company.”

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