Wisconsin Celebrates Big Wins at the World Championship Cheese Contest

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Mar 09, 2020, 13:45 ET

MADISON, Wis., March 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wisconsin cheesemakers continued their international winning streak last week at the World Championship Cheese Contest by taking home 45 Best of Show awards and sweeping 14 contest classes.

The biennial three-day contest surged with more submissions than ever – 3,667 samples of cheese, yogurt, butter and other dairy products from 26 countries around the world. Of the awards, Wisconsin claimed nearly one-third.

Cheese judges from around the world gathered in Madison, Wisconsin last week for the 2020 World Championship Cheese Contest. A team of 62 internationally-renowned judges technically evaluated 3,667 samples of cheese, yogurt, butter and other dairy products from 26 countries. Wisconsin cheese and dairy companies took home nearly one-third of the contest awards.

"Congratulations to all who participated in this year's competition. Wisconsin cheesemakers have been obsessively making the world's finest cheese since before we were even a state, and the awards reinforce that," said Suzanne Fanning, Chief Marketing Officer for Wisconsin Cheese. "Winning more awards than any other state or country is just one reason we can proudly call ourselves the State of Cheese."

Three Wisconsin cheeses earned a spot in the contest's top 20 on Thursday. Roth Cheese of Monroe saw their Gorgonzola in the elite lineup, coming as no surprise after the same Green County cheese company earned the title of World Champion Cheese at the contest in 2016 for an alpine style cheese, Grand Cru® Surchoix.

Marieke® Gouda of Thorp placed in the top 20 for her team's Smoked Cumin flavored gouda. Marieke consistently places well, including last year when her team took First Runner Up and Second Runner up at the 2019 U.S. Cheese Championship Contest. Finally, English Hollow Cheddar made by Master Cheesemakers at Maple Leaf Cheese Company in Monroe returned to the top 20 after an appearance on the list in 2018 and rounded out the top 20 cheeses from Wisconsin at this year's contest.

Other key wins from the State of Cheese™ include:

45 Best of Class awards, 39 Second Awards and 38 Third Awards
48 Wisconsin cheese and dairy companies won one or more awards
Wisconsin cheese and dairy companies swept 14 classes (took the top three places)

Wisconsin's cheesemaking heritage goes back more than 175 years, combining art and science in a tradition so rich you can taste it. The state makes more flavors and varieties of cheese than anywhere else on Earth, by pushing the boundaries of what cheese can and should be. Find award-winning Wisconsin Cheese in 98% of grocery retailers nationwide.

For a complete list of winners, go to WorldChampionCheese.org. To learn more about Wisconsin cheeses from this competition and more, visit WisconsinCheese.com.

About Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin: Funded by Wisconsin dairy farmers, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is a non-profit organization that focuses on marketing and promoting Wisconsin's world-class dairy products. For more information, visit our website at wisconsindairy.org.

About Wisconsin Cheese: The tradition of cheesemaking excellence began more than 175 years ago, before Wisconsin was recognized as a state. Wisconsin's 1,200 cheesemakers, many of whom are third- and fourth-generation, continue to pass on old-world traditions while adopting modern innovations in cheesemaking craftsmanship. For more information, visit WisconsinCheese.com or connect on Facebook.

SOURCE Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin