Cheese preferences are almost as contentious as wine or craft beer preferences these days. Like most food-related arguments you might be inclined to say, “to each his own,” but it turns out that regardless of personal preference, there actually is a cheese that officially reigns supreme. Gourmino Le Gruyère, a gruyère cheese from Michael Spycher of Mountain Dairy Fritzenhaus in Switzerland, was named the victor of the 2020 World Championship Cheese Contest, held last week in Madison, Wisconsin.
Photo: World Championship Cheese Contest/Facebook
This Swiss Cheese Is Officially the Best in the World
The cheese was described by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association as a cow’s milk cheese with a “subtle, sophisticated flavor.” Makers of gruyère have used the same recipe to craft the cheese for years, which includes a two-year ripening period in mountain caves for full maturity.
Gourmino Le Gruyère scored an impressive 98.81 out of 100. Spycher had previously won the prize in 2008 with a different batch of Swiss cheese. Another cheese from Switzerland, a Gallus Grand Cru, took the second spot with a score of 98.70.
Although a Wisconsin cheesemaker didn’t take home the top prize, they did receive a total of 45 gold medals (out of 132 categories), winning more awards than any other state or country. 