Nearly 30 U.S. and international cheese-tasting experts will descend upon Wisconsin this month in a biennial quest to find and name the best cheese in the world. The public is invited to view judging of more than 2,300 expected cheeses and butters at the 28th biennial World Championship Cheese Contest on March 16-18. The contest culminates in a championship round of judging, with the world champion, first and second runners-up. The event takes place at Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison.
“The World Championship Cheese Contest is a unique opportunity to view thousands of cheeses made in hundreds of styles from all over the world,” said John Umhoefer, director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. “Since 1957, we have been honored to host the world’s largest technical evaluation of cheese and butter right here in Wisconsin.”
International judges are expected from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. They will join 15 judges from eight states to award gold, silver and bronze medals to the finest products in 80 classes.
Since its inception as the World Cheddar Championship in 1957, the World Championship Cheese Contest has grown rapidly and is now the largest international cheese and butter competition in the world. The most recent contest in 2008 drew a record-breaking 1,950 entries from 19 nations.
