Guggisberg Cheese wins top Swiss awards

On March 3 Guggisberg Cheese was awarded No. 1 Baby Swiss in the World and No. 1 Swiss in the World at the 36th biennial World Championship Cheese Contest in Madison, Wisconsin.

Guggisberg Ziller swept the Baby Swiss category by taking first, second and third place in the class. Guggisberg Premium Swiss also was awarded first and third place in the Rindless Swiss class.

Ziller is Guggisberg’s newest Swiss variety, noted for its unique flavor that balances between mild, creamy Baby Swiss and rich, traditional Premium Swiss, ending with a slightly sweet finish.

The contest is judged by a panel of more than 60 international industry experts from around the world whose professions include cheese graders, cheese buyers, dairy science professors and researchers. The cheese is graded on flavor, texture, body, appearance and color. In addition to these characteristics, Swiss cheese also is judged on eye formation, which makes it an especially difficult cheese to perfect.

The World Championship Cheese Contest is the world’s largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition and is hosted by the Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association. The contest takes place every other year, alternating annually with the United States Cheese Championship. Entries are divided into classes and then judged on a scale ranging from one to 100 by some of the field’s finest professors. The three highest-scoring cheeses in each category are awarded trophies and recognition as the nation’s best. This year’s contest included 3,375 entries from 25 countries and 34 states.

Guggisberg attributes this honor to the craftsmanship and dedication to quality of Guggisberg’s employees, as well as the Grade A milk supplied by its local farmers and the support of its community.

Guggisberg Cheese, located in Millersburg, is the home of the Original Baby Swiss Cheese and is known for crafting award-winning Swiss cheeses using locally sourced milk. Guggisberg Cheese remains family-owned.