The World Cheese Awards 2024 was a momentous occasion, highlighting the importance of cheese in culinary traditions around the world. These annual awards bring together over 4,000 cheeses from over 40 countries. They highlight local cheesemaking and give accolades to those who create one-of-a-kind cheeses across categories.
The World Cheese Awards is the most significant event worldwide dedicated entirely to cheese, with experts from every corner of the globe coming together to judge producer’s offerings. In 2024, the picturesque city of Viseu, Portugal, formed the backdrop for the awards. The event’s international feel was personified by cheeses of all varieties, unparalleled craftsmanship and culture. It’s a reminder of why cheese is so close to our hearts, with some cheeses from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, making a highly successful appearance.
A Brief History of the World Cheese Awards
Since 1995, The Guild of Fine Food has supported and encouraged independent food and drink producers. Once a year, they host a global event with one purpose — to find the best cheese in the world. Thousands of cheeses from around the globe vie for esteemed titles, judged by international experts.
The World Cheese Awards were established to support and encourage independent businesses across the cheese sector. Its goal is to celebrate excellence and allow some of the best cheese makers in the world to network and create relationships. It’s the most prestigious cheese event in the world, and many refer to it as the Oscars of cheese.
Differentiating the World Cheese Competition — The Award Process
Attending the World Cheese Awards is about more than exceptional cheeses. It’s an immersive experience that celebrates the artistry of cheesemaking. Visitors and participants enjoy the vibrant atmosphere as cheesemakers showcase their most impressive creations. Consumers can uncover the stories behind the cheeses, learning more about how they’re made and how to pair them.
The competition begins with 250 cheese experts and over 4,500 cheeses from across the world. They judge hard, soft, semi-soft and many other types of cheese into five main categories:
- Goat’s milk cheese
- Ewe’s milk cheese
- Cow’s milk cheese
- Buffalo milk cheese
- Mixed milk cheese
The World Cheese Awards take place in several stages.
Qualification Round
In the first round, a panel of judges works through tables of up to 40 cheeses, tasting each one to identify gold, silver and bronze medal winners. They assess each one based on color, consistency, texture and taste.
From there, they choose one cheese from each table, which moves on to the semi-finals. These cheeses receive the “Super Gold” distinction.
Semi-Finals
Only around 100 cheeses advance to the semi-finals, where a panel of 16 international cheese experts selects their favorite. These cheeses progress to the final.
Finals
Each judge proposes their nomination for the world’s best cheese, explaining why they chose it. The panel of esteemed judges tastes each cheese again, and each one gives the cheese a score of 1-7. The cheese with the highest total points officially becomes the world’s best cheese.
What Makes an Award-Winning Cheese?
Creating an award-winning cheese takes generations of effort, melding ingredients until you have the perfect texture, flavor and consistency. Some of the many elements that make an award-winning cheese include:
- Quality ingredients: The foundation of any exceptional cheese is the quality of its ingredients. The top cheeses in the world use healthy milk and rely on natural cultures to develop their characteristic flavors.
- Craftsmanship: Many award-winning cheesemakers pass down their techniques through generations, monitoring the process carefully from curd formation to aging. Each step in the process is critical, and aging the cheese contributes to its flavor, texture, aroma and rind formation.
- Flavor profile: A complex and well-balanced flavor profile is the hallmark of a winning cheese. These cheeses have a depth of flavor that evolves as you taste them, balancing acidity, saltiness and creaminess. For example, cheddar cheese sharpens as it matures, withstanding a slow-aging process that gives it a complex and satisfying flavor.
- Texture and consistency: Award-winning cheeses have a pleasant mouthfeel and consistent texture, ensuring that each bite delivers the same quality and flavor.
The Importance of the World Cheese Awards for Consumers and Producers
The World Cheese Awards do more than recognize outstanding cheeses — they shape the landscape of the cheese industry. As a consumer, you can use these awards as a guide to quality. With thousands of cheeses competing, the recognition bestowed by these awards gives you the confidence that you’re choosing products that the world’s experts have rigorously evaluated.
These awards also educate consumers about different types of cheese, highlighting the importance of quality ingredients and proven cheesemaking methods. If you follow the World Cheese Awards, you’ll also find new flavors and varieties to try and sample offerings you may not have considered otherwise.
For producers, the World Cheese Awards is an incredible platform for exposure. Winning a gold medal solidifies a cheesemaker’s profile, as they have competed against the best in the world and come out victorious. Small, independent producers compete on a global scale, showcasing their craftsmanship and uniqueness to a wider audience. Recognition benefits the individual cheesemaker but also promotes the industry as a whole.
S. Clyde Weaver and the Cheese Community
S. Clyde Weaver’s World Cheese Awards results are a testament to 100 years of dedication to our craft. Our commitment to quality cheeses earned us a gold medal for our 7-year-aged Canadian cheddar and a silver medal for our 10-year-aged Canadian cheddar.
Despite our global success, we remain committed to providing the best cheeses to our local community. Our Canadian cheddar may have brought home the gold, but all of our cheeses are expertly aged to ensure you get the same consistent flavor no matter what you buy.
We don’t take shortcuts with our cheese, which is one of the reasons the foremost experts in the game recognize our unique, high-quality cheddar cheese.
Shop Award-Winning Cheeses Online at S. Clyde Weaver
Winning a gold medal at the World Cheese Awards is a testament to the range of cheeses we offer at S. Clyde Weaver. If you want to explore different cheeses, our selection includes specialty options, including our gold medal-winning 7-year-aged cheddar. We start each cheese with the highest-quality ingredients and take our time — you can taste the difference.
We believe that cheese is more than a product. It’s a bridge connecting people, cultures and traditions. Our commitment to quality extends beyond our awards. It’s part of our philosophy and dedication to the craftsmanship that’s kept us in business for over 100 years.
We’ve been in business since 1920, and our fantastic cheese selection has stood the test of time. Whether you’re a cheese connoisseur or a casual enthusiast, there’s always something new to discover at S. Clyde Weaver. Shop online and sample our award-winning cheese today!
