The grand fromage! Swiss Emmentaler is named best cheese in the world, but Wisconsin is close behind at the 2014 Championship

By Associated Press

PUBLISHED: 10:50 EST, 20 March 2014 | UPDATED: 21:50 EST, 20 March 2014

A Swiss Emmentaler has been named the top cheese at an international competition in Wisconsin, handing the nation its fourth win in the past five years.

Cheese maker Gerard Sinnesberger took top honors at the 2014 World Championship Cheese Contest with his Original Schweizer Rohmilch Emmentaler, a large format, big wheel Swiss cheese.

Out of possible 100 points, the Emmentaler scored 97.85 in the final round of judging Wednesday. The cheese was deemed the best of 2,615 entries from 22 countries.

Say cheese! A Swiss Emmentaler won the top award yesterday at the Wisconsin-hosted 2014 World Championship Cheese Contest

Say cheese! A Swiss Emmentaler won the top award yesterday at the Wisconsin-hosted 2014 World Championship Cheese Contest

An Austrian entry, called Erzherzog Johann, was second. Another Swiss entry, Gruyere AOP, was third.

 

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A U.S. cheesemaker hasn't won the contest, sponsored by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association since 1988, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

Although Americans weren't in the top three this year, they took home the most medals, winning 59 of the 90 categories judged. Switzerland came in second with seven gold medals, while the Netherlands had five.

Taking a whiff: Contest judge Josef Hubatschek from Germany, pictured, nose samples a cheese from one of the 2,600 entries this year

Taking a whiff: Contest judge Josef Hubatschek from Germany, pictured, nose samples a cheese from one of the 2,600 entries this year

Testing: Judge John Jaeggi, pictured, pulls out a plug of cheese during the first day of judging for 2014 World Championship Cheese Contest on Tuesday

Testing: Judge John Jaeggi, pictured, pulls out a plug of cheese during the first day of judging for 2014 World Championship Cheese Contest on Tuesday

Among U.S. contestants, Wisconsin dominated with 33 gold medals.

Chief judge Bob Aschenbrock credited the quality of milk produced by Wisconsin farmers and work done by state agriculture officials and the Center for Dairy Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

'They've improved the milk supply immensely in the last 15 to 20 years. When I was making cheese back in the 1960s and 1970s, it was nothing like it is today. Everybody else follows our lead, basically,' said Aschenbrock, a long-time cheese maker.

  
Tech-savvy: Judges enter their findings into iPads and scores are calculated to establish the winners and losers

Tech-savvy: Judges enter their findings into iPads and scores are calculated to establish the winners and losers

Improving: Among U.S. contestants, Wisconsin dominated, winning 33 gold medals, with Chief judge Bob Aschenbrock crediting the quality of milk produced by Wisconsin farmers

Improving: Among U.S. contestants, Wisconsin dominated, winning 33 gold medals, with Chief judge Bob Aschenbrock crediting the quality of milk produced by Wisconsin farmers

Four Wisconsin cheese makers made it to the final round of competition: Brenda Jensen, of Hidden Springs Creamery in Westby, with a hard mixed milk cheese; Marieke Penterman, of Holland's Family Cheese in Thorp, with an aged Gouda; Katie Hedrich-Fuhrmann, of LaClare Farms in Malone, with a hard goat cheese; and Steve Bierhals, of BelGioioso Cheese in Green Bay, with a Parmesan.

Holland's Family Cheese won best of show with a smoked Gouda last year at the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest in Green Bay. The national and international competitions are held in alternate years.

The full list of winners can be seen here.

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Its a shame the same profile is not given to the worlds largest cheese show in the world, held in the UK. The international Cheese Awards Nantwich had 4200+ entries in 2013. With a judges panel of 300 judges its truly a world class event.

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Its a shame that the same profile is not given to the International Cheese Awards held in Nantwich in the UK. Last year we judged 4200 cheese. Nantwich is recognized as the largest Cheese Show in the World, with a judges panel of 300 + is indeed well worth a visit.

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Say cheeeeeeeese! ...and pass me the aged cheddar, please.

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Load of rubbish this Gromit. Pass the Wensleydale lad

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No wonder the Americans lack good taste. Vintage cheddar is unbeatable in the cheese-topping stakes.

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I'm sure Americans could go on and on about Britain and how many teeth the citizens are missing, but why take it to such a cheesy level?

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Stilton is the finest cheese in the World. I always ask for it when in France.

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So, the cheese-makers of the world are following Wisconsin's lead, are they? I wonder if they realise it? What a debt we owe America for setting us such a good example.

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I'm partial to Appenzeller myself it has a lot more taste than the Emmentaler... ooh and Vacherin is to die for, very nice cheese (if you can get your hands on it).

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I'm partial to Apenzeller myself it has a lot more taste than the Emmentaler... ooh and Vacherin is to die for, very nice cheese (if you can get your hands on it).

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Everything we Swiss do, we do well. No slacking.

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top drawer at authoritarianism for sure

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I do like Switzerland and Swiss people, but what color is the sky of the world you live in, exactly?

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