MADISON (WKOW) — Cheesemakers from the Netherlands have claimed the title for the top cheese in the world. Judges at the World Championship Cheese Contest announced the winner this afternoon.
The “Beemster Royaal Grand Cru” cheese scored 98.69 out of 100 points. Cheesemakers describe it as a sweet and nutty cheese that is also very creamy. This special recipe was made in honor of the Royal House of the Netherlands. Cheeses from Switzerland took second and third place.
Although no Wisconsin cheeses made the top 20, local cheesemakers still celebrated smaller victories.
“We actually got some wins this year for some cheeses that pretty much never win. That would include “The Rattlesnake” getting a first place. That’s our cheddar with habanero pepper and tequila,” said Sophie Gentine, brand manager for Deer Creek Cheese out of Kiel, Wisconsin. “The Rattlesnake” topped the Pepper Flavored Cheese (High Heat) competition.
Wisconsin teams excelled in various categories. To name a few, the Meister Cheese Company from Muscoda won for best colby, and Klondike Cheese from Monroe took best flavored feta. Decatur Dairy Inc. from Brodhead topped classes for brick and muenster, Havarti, and cheese curds, winning the later with their Oaxaca cheese curd. Lynn Dairy Inc. from Granton, Wisconsin, secured second place in that category.
Wisconsin cheesemakers also dominated the flavored cheese curds category. The top flavored curd came from Nasonville Dairy Inc. out of Curtiss, with their garlic and dill cheese curds earning 99.515 points. The second-place flavored curd was a buffalo curd from Arena, Wisconsin.
The full list of category winners is on the World Championship Cheese Contest website.