🏆 WORLD CHAMPION CHEESE! Swiss Le Gruyère AOP Takes Gold at Record-Breaking Global Awards 🧀

An exceptional 18-month-aged Le Gruyère AOP Spezial from Bergkäserei Vorderfultigen in Switzerland has been crowned the World's Best Cheese at the 37th World Cheese Awards in Bern. This victory is a significant achievement, marking the sixth time a Le Gruyère AOP has secured the coveted title since 1992!

The competition, held for the first time in Switzerland, saw a truly monumental turnout, receiving a record-shattering 5,244 entries from 46 countries, making the victory even more impressive.

🥇 The Winning Profile: A Triumph of Texture and Umami

The champion cheese, masterfully produced by cheesemaker Pius Hitz, is a raw cow's milk cheese aged for more than 18 months in the pre-Alps region. It captivated the Super Jury with its complex and profound characteristics:

• Crystalline Structure: Judges specifically praised its distinct, delicate crystalline texture, often described as "flinty," which provides a unique mouthfeel.
• Flavor Depth: The profile was highlighted for its rich, savory notes—specifically its "big" impact and appealing "brothy, umami" flavor, demonstrating the peak quality of aged Gruyère.

One judge noted that the cheese was so compelling it would "make people get excited about cheese," underlining its exceptional quality among thousands of competitors.

🥈 The Intense Final Showdown

The final round was a nail-biter, with the top spot determined by the slimmest of margins, emphasizing the world-class quality of the runners-up:

• Second Place (84 points): The gorgeously presented Crémeux des Aldudes aux fleurs – Etxaldia from France, a cheese decorated with edible flowers, finished just one point behind the winner.
• Third Place (83 points): A third place was secured by another outstanding local entry, the nine-month-aged Appenzeller® Edel-Würzig.

The Top 14 list was a testament to global cheesemaking, featuring highly-rated cheeses from countries as diverse as Japan, Slovakia, the U.S., the Netherlands, and the U.K.

🔬 The Rigorous Judging Process

The competition's magnitude required a massive effort from the judging team. 265 leading cheese experts from over 40 nations evaluated every single entry based on five core criteria: appearance, aroma, body, texture, and flavor. Only the highest-scoring Gold medalists advanced to the final stage, where a select Super Jury of 14 international experts debated and ultimately selected the World Champion.

Source/Video: See the winning moment and the champion cheese!

Have you ever tasted a Gruyère aged this long? What's the best aged cheese you've ever had? Share your thoughts below!