Swiss cheesemaker wins third consecutive World Championship Cheese Contest; Wisconsin wins 39 classes

Richard Ryman, Green Bay Press-Gazette
Updated ·3 min read

MADISON — When you're good, you're good.

A Hornbacker cheese made by Michael Spycher of Mountain Dairy Fritzenhaus in Bern, Switzerland, was named the best cheese at the World Championship Cheese Contest in Madison. It was the third consecutive world contest in which Spycher came out on top. He won in 2020 and 2022 with his Gourmino Le Gruyère AOP.

"I am incredibly humbled to be amongst so many great cheeses and people and cheese minds," said Joe Salonia, Gourmino's American representative. "Many of us in this room are blessed to do the work we love. I think we are living our best lives here in cheese."

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The contest, hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association since 1957, had 3,302 cheese, yogurt, butter and dry dairy products in 142 classes. Judges and entrees from 25 countries converged at Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center for three days of everything cheese.

Ernest Gebhardt Jr. of Monroe, with the National Historic Cheesemaking Center Museum, samples a selection of spreadable cheeses during the 2024 World Championship Cheese Contest on March 5, 2024, at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wis.
Ernest Gebhardt Jr. of Monroe, with the National Historic Cheesemaking Center Museum, samples a selection of spreadable cheeses during the 2024 World Championship Cheese Contest on March 5, 2024, at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wis.

Wisconsin cheesemakers won 39 of 142 categories. Two were included among the 20 finalists: Schuman Cheese's Lake Country Dairy in Turtle Lake and Henning Cheese in Kiel.

Wisconsin winners include:

  • Charlie Henn, Agropur, Weyauwega, Cheddar

  • Foremost Farms USA, Marshfield, Medium Cheddar

  • Kiel Cheesemakers, Land O'Lakes, Kiel, Aged Cheddar

  • Joshua Henning, Henning Cheese Inc., Kiel, Aged Cheddar Midget

  • Team Nasonville Dairy Inc., Marshfield, Monterey Jack

  • Patrick Doell, Agropur, Luxemburg, Low Moisture Mozzarella, Whole Milk

  • Ken Benzel, BelGioioso Cheese Inc., Denmark, BelGioioso Sharp Provolone Mandarino

  • Ken Carothers, Agropur, Little Chute, String Cheese

  • Lake Country Dairy, Schuman Cheese, Turtle Lake, Cello Artisan Extra Aged Asiago

  • Lake County Dairy, Schuman Cheese, Turtle Lake, Cello Artisan Copper Kettle Parmesan

  • Matt Henze, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, Brick

  • Arla USA Team, Arla Foods, Kaukauna, Castello Creamy Havarti

  • Meister Team 1, Meister Cheese, Muscoda, Dill Havarti

  • Lactalis Belmont, Lactalis USA, Belmont, Brie Double Cream President

  • Marieke Gouda, Thorp, Marieke Gouda Young, 2-4 months

  • Marieke Gouda, Thorp, Marieke Gouda Mature, 6-9 months

  • Arla USA Team, Arla Foods, Kaukauna, Castello Chipolte

  • Zachary Henning, Henning Cheese Inc., Kiel, Dragon's Breath Cheddar

  • Marieke Gouda, Thorp, Marieke Golden (semi-soft), 2-4 months

  • Lake Country Dairy, Schuman Cheese, Turtle Lake, Cello Black Pepper and Garlic Rubbed Fontal (semi-soft)

  • Team Kingston Cheese, Kingston Cheese Cooperative, Cambria, Kingston Creamery Smoked Blue

  • Steve Stettler, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, Muenster Curd

  • Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Ellsworth, Ellsworth Hickory Bacon Cheddar Cheese Curd

  • Pine River Prepack Inc., Newton, Aged Asiago Cold Packer Cheese Food

  • Widmer's Cheese Cellars Inc., Theresa, Jalapeno Brick Spread

  • Kraft Heinz Beaver Dam, Beaver Dam, Philadelphia Cream Cheese

  • Christopher Gezella, BelGioioso Cheese Inc., Denmark, BelGioioso Crescenza-Stracchino

  • Team Revela, CROPP Cooperative/Organic Valley, Colby, Organic American Cheese – Premium Pasteurized Prepared Cheese (White)

  • Dairyfood USA Inc., Blue Mounds, Naturally Smoke Gouda

  • LaClare Creamery, Malone, Original Goat Cheese

  • LaClare Creamery, Malone, Maple Bourbon Goat Cheese

  • Team Hook, Hook's Cheese Co. Inc., Mineral Point, Little Boy Bllue

  • Kingston Cheese Cooperative, Cambria, Breezy Blue

  • Al Bekkum, Nordic Creamery, Westby, Red Pepper Butter

  • Matt Martin, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Labneh (high protein yogurt)

  • Justin Blezeski V&V Supremo Foods, Browntown, Chihuahua with Jalapeno, Shredded Quesadilla Cheese

  • Masters Gallery Foods Inc., Plymouth, 3-State Sharp Shred Blend

  • Pasture Pride Cheese, Cashton, Traditional Juustoleipa

  • Renard's Rosewood Dairy Team, Rosewood Dairy Inc., Algoma, Renard's Cheese Savory Morel & Leek Cheese Spread

Contact Richard Ryman at rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanP

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Swiss cheese maker wins third consecutive World Championship Cheese Contest