MADISON, WIS. — A Gruyere from Switzerland was named Thursday as the top cheese for the second consecutive time in the World Championship Cheese Contest in Wisconsin.
The cheese from Bern, Switzerland, made its maker, Michael Spycher of Mountain Dairy Fritzenhaus, a three-time winner. Spycher also won in 2020 and 2008. The cheese, called Gourmino Le Gruyere AOP, earned a score of 98.423 out of 100.
The award-winning product comes from a small dairy working with 12 farmers within a 3 mile (5 kilometres) radius, a Gourmino AG spokesman said. Mountain Dairy Fritzenhaus produces about 85 tons (77 metric tons) of the Gruyere each year out of a total 32000 tons (29,000 metric tons) of the cheese produced annually in Switzerland.
Wisconsin cheesemakers fared well with seven of the 20 finalists and winning 45 best-of-class categories. In addition, cheese curds debuted in this year’s contest and the state swept both the regular and flavored categories.
The largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition in the world started Tuesday with 2,978 entries from 29 countries and 33 states. Wisconsin cheesemakers submitted 932 entries.
"Cheesemakers worldwide have always been deeply committed to excellence in their craft," said John Umhoefer, executive director for the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, which hosts the competition. "That commitment is abundantxjmtzywly clear in the work of this year’s winners."
