GREEN BAY - Two area cheese factories were among the Top 20 finalists at the 2017 United States Championship Cheese Contest in Green Bay this week.

Earning a finalist berth were the team from Zimmerman Cheese in South Wayne for Smoked Brick, which was Best of Class for Smoked Soft and Semi-soft Cheeses.

Team Montchevre from Montchevre-Betin in Belmont was also named a finalist for its Trivium, which was Best of Class for Hard Goat's Milk Cheese.

Reserve Black Pepper BellaVitano, an Italian-inspired cheese made by Sartori Cheese in Antigo, was named top cheese in the country Thursday. First runner-up was an aged cheddar from Agropur in Weyauwega, and second-runner up was a gouda from Marieke Gouda in Thorp.

The contest, held every two years, drew a record 2,303 entries for cheese, yogurt and butter. Wisconsin makers took home 58 gold medals and represented 14 of 20 finalists.

Scroll down for a list of honors for area cheesemakers. Complete results can be found online at uschampionshipcheese.org.

The 19th biennial U.S. Championship Cheese Contest was held Tuesday through Thursday at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay. The U.S. championship is considered the largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition in the country. Wisconsin took home 58 gold medals in 101 categories.

The following are the top three results per class, with the team name, cheese factory, score and cheese description.



Cheddar, Sharp (6 months to 1 year)

• Maple Leaf Cheesemaking Team, Maple Cheesemakers Inc., Monroe, 98.5, third, English Hollow Cheddar



Bandaged Cheddar, Mild to Medium

• Chris Roelli, Roelli Cheese Company, Shullsburg, 98.9, third, Queen of Quality Clothbound Cheddar



Feta

• Steve Webster, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.1, Best of Class, Odyssey Feta



Feta, flavored

• Luke Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.35, Best of Class, Odyssey Mediterranean Feta

• Jim Demeter, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.05, third, Odyssey Peppercorn Feta



Havarti

• Team Edelweiss, Edelweiss Creamery, Monticello, 98.7, third, havarti, 01/17/2017 vat 4



Havarti, flavored

• Decatur Cheesemakers, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, 99.25, Best of Class, Havarti Mediterranean Herb

• Ron Bechtolt, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.1, second, Dill Havarti



String Cheese

• Mark Boelk, Chula Vista Cheese Co./V&V Supremo Foods, Browntown, 99.3, second, Mexican String Cheese



Brick and Muenster

• Luke Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.7, Best of Class, Brick

• Steve Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.6, second, Brick

• Ron Bechtolt, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.55, third, Brick



Hispanic Melting Cheese (Queso Para Fundir)

• Casey Berget, Chula Vista Cheese Co./V&V Supremo Foods, Browntown, 99.35, Best of Class, Oaxaca Cheese Ball

• Tom Dahmen, Chula Vista Cheese Co./V&V Supremo Foods, Browntown, 99.0, second, Oaxaca Cheese Ball



Hard Hispanic Cheeses (Queso Duro)

• MCP Team, Mexican Cheese Producers, Inc. (Bar-S), Darlington, 99.55, second, Cotija Wheel AF

• MCP Team, Mexican Cheese Producers, Inc. (Bar-S), Darlington, 99.5, third, Queso Cotija Wheel



Pepper flavored Monterey Jack, high heat

• Maple Leaf Cheesemaking Team 2, Maple Leaf Cheesemakers Inc., Monroe, 99.7, second, Habanero Jack

• Maple Leaf Cheesemaking Team 1, Maple Leaf Cheesemakers Inc., Monroe, 99.35, third, Habanero Jack



Open Class: Pepper flavored cheese, medium heat

• Steve Stettler, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, 98.45, third, Havarti Pepper



Open Class: Flavored soft cheeses

• Lactalis American Group - Belmont, Lactalis American Group - Belmont, Belmont, 99.25, second, 3 kg. Brie with Herbs



Open Class: Smoked soft and semi-soft cheeses

• Zimmerman Cheese Team 2, Zimmerman Cheese, South Wayne, 99, Best of Class, Smoked Brick

• Zimmerman Cheese Team 1, Zimmerman Cheese, South Wayne, 98.5, third, Smoked Brick



Open Class: Smoked hard cheeses

• Mike Nelson, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe, 97.05, third, 2/6# Natural Smoked Baby Swiss slabs



Reduced fat hard cheeses

• Maple Leaf Cheesemaking Team, Maple Leaf Cheesemakers Inc., Monroe, 99.55, second, Gouda



Lowfat cheeses

• Steve Webster, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.6, Best of Class, Odyssey Fat Free Feta in Brine

• Lactalis American Group - Belmont, Lactalis American Group - Belmont, Belmont, 99.05, third, Fat-Free Feta 6 oz.



Flavored goat's milk cheeses

• Team Montchevre, Montchevre-Betin Inc., Belmont, 99.2, Best of Class, 4 oz. Truffle

• Team Montchevre, Montchevre-Betin Inc., Belmont, 99.15, second, 8 oz. Pepper



Flavored soft goat's milk cheeses with sweet condiments

• Team Montchevre, Montchevre-Betin Inc., Belmont, 99.5, Best of Class, 4 oz. Blueberry Vanilla



Semi-soft goat's milk cheeses

• Team Montchevre, Montchevre-Betin Inc., Belmont, 99.65, Best of Class, 2# Crumble Tray



Flavored semi-soft goat's milk cheeses

• Team Montchevre, Montchevre-Betin Inc., Belmont, 99.55, Best of Class, 4 oz. Crumble Apricot and Sage

• Team Montchevre, Montchevre-Betin Inc., Belmont, 99.25, third, 4 oz. Crumble Candied Cranberry



Hard goat's milk cheeses

• Team Montchevre, Montchevre-Betin Inc., Belmont, 99.45, Trivium



Soft and semi-soft sheep's milk cheeses

• Landmark Creamery Team, Landmark Creamery, Albany, 99.75, Best of Class, Petit Nuage



High protein - cow's milk yogurt

• Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.15, second, Odyssey Greek Yogurt 10 percent



High protein - cow's milk yogurt, flavored

• Ron Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.85, Best of Class, Odyssey Greek Yogurt Vanilla

• Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.7, Best of Class, Odyssey Greek Yogurt Vanilla

• Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.55, Best of Class, Odyssey Greek Yogurt Vanilla