The bi-annual Swiss Cheese Awards has returned for 2024, seeking to reveal which local fromage is the real cream of the crop. This year's awards were dominated by brands from western Switzerland, with two of the frontrunners coming from the same canton.
Every two years, 150 industry experts and journalists from across the country come together to rank which Swiss cheese is the best the country has to offer. This year, a total of 1.127 cheese varieties battled it out to take awards in 32 different categories, from the best fondue cheese to the best mountain brand.
Of these winners, a 37-member super jury chose the three best cheeses in Switzerland for 2024, giving medals for the best hard, semi-hard and soft varieties. Cheesemakers were given these awards at a glitzy ceremony in Lugano.
Video: Switzerland Cheese / YouTube
This year, Le Gruyère AOP from the Lanthen cheese dairy in Canton Fribourg won the title of the best hard cheese in Switzerland. Run by cheesemaker Markus Sturny, the dairy in the heart of German-speaking Fribourg produces 125 tonnes of cheese a year.
Speaking to Gruyère.com back in 2022, Sturny said that making a great cheese has its origins in the quality of the milk, the quality of the cheesemaker, his skills and facilities and the communication between him and the farmers who supply the milk. In the initial stages, he is known to personally care for each wheel of cheese so it reaches a Goldilocks zone: not too wet, not too dry.
For semi-hard cheese, Le Brigand du Jorat from the Saint-Cierges cheese dairy in Canton Vaud took the top title. The cheese takes its name from the thieves that used to live in the forest of Jorat, and its dark brown colour is created by the raisin brine that was used to refine it. It is described as soft, moist and ultimately delicious.
Another cheese from Canton Vaud took first for soft and cream varieties, namely Vacherin Mont d'Or AOP from Fromagerie André in Romanel-sur-Morges. This salty, silky and ever so slightly sweet soft cheese promises well-balanced and rich flavours to all.
With 2024’s edition done and dusted, the Swiss Cheese Awards will next be held in Fribourg in 2026. To see which other cheeses took gold this year, check out the official website.