MADISON - Although Americans weren't in the top three this year at the 2014 World Championship Cheese Contest, 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.
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 longtime cheesemaker.
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.
A Swiss Emmentaler was named the top cheese, handing the nation its fourth win in the past five years.
Cheesemaker Gerard Sinnesberger took top honors 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.
An Austrian entry, called Erzherzog Johann, was second. Another Swiss entry, Gruyere AOP, was third.
A U.S. cheesemaker hasn't won the contest sponsored by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association since 1988, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
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.
Monterey Jack
• Jeff Wideman, Maple Leaf Cheese Coop, Monroe, Third Award, Monterey Jack Wheel
Rindless Swiss Style Cheese
• Silvan Blum, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe, Second Award, 20-pound Swiss Wheel
Havarti
• Decatur Dairy Team 2, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, Third Award, Havarti
Havarti, Flavored
• Team Edelweiss, Edelweiss Creamery, Monticello, Best of Class, Havarti with Dill
• Steve Stettler, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, Second Award, Havarti Dill
• Bruce Workman, Fair Oaks Farms, Fair Oaks, Ind., Third Award, Havarti with Dill (produced at Edelweiss Creamery)
Blue Veined
• Team Emmi Roth USA, Emmi Roth USA, Monroe, Best of Class, Roth Buttermilk Blue
Brick, Muenster
• Hansi Lehner Jr., Valley View Cheese Co-op, South Wayne, Second Award, Muenster
• Ron Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Third Award, Muenster
Smoked Gouda
• Bruce Workman, Fair Oaks Farms, Fair Oaks, Ind., Best of Class, Smoked Gouda (produced at Edelweiss Creamery)
Fresh Hispanic Cheeses (Quesos Frescos)
• Wisconsin Cheese Group One, Wisconsin Cheese Group, Monroe, Second Award, Panela
Hard Hispanic Cheeses
• Team Emmi Roth USA, Emmi Roth USA, Monroe, Best of Class, Roth GranQueso
• Team Emmi Roth USA, Emmi Roth USA, Monroe, Second Award, Roth GranQueso Reserve
• Team MCP, Mexican Cheese Producers, Darlington, Third Award, MCP Queso Cotija
Pepper Flavored Monterey Jack
• Herberto Nicholas, Maple Leaf Cheese Coop, Monroe, Best of Class, Habenjero Monterey Jack
Open Class: Pepper Flavored Cheeses
• Bruce Workman, Fair Oaks Farms, Fair Oaks, Ind., Best of Class, Havarti with Jalapeno Pepper (produced at Edelweiss Creamery)
Reduced Fat Soft and Semi-soft (Semi-hard) Cheeses
• Steve Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Third Award, Reduced Fat Peppercorn Feta in Brine
Lowfat Cheeses
• Jim Demeter, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Third Award, Lowfat Feta in Brine
Spreadable Cheeses
• Kelly Longseth, Family Fresh Pack, Belleville, Second Award
Flavored Spreadable Cheeses
• Kelly Longseth, Family Fresh Pack, Belleville, Third Award, Cranberry Almond Gourmet Cheese Spread
Soft Goat's Milk Cheeses
• Chabis Plain, Team Steffes, Montchevre-Betin, Inc., Belmont, Third Award, Fresh Goat Cheese Natural
Flavored Soft Goat's Milk Cheeses
• Lydra Moody, Montchevre-Betin, Inc., Belmont, Best of Class, Rondin Four Pepper
Prepared Cheese Foods
• Team Fayette, Brunkow Cheese, Darlington, Best of Class, Brun-uusto Baked Cheese with Garlic
-Times staff and The Associated Press
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 longtime cheesemaker.
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.
A Swiss Emmentaler was named the top cheese, handing the nation its fourth win in the past five years.
Cheesemaker Gerard Sinnesberger took top honors 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.
An Austrian entry, called Erzherzog Johann, was second. Another Swiss entry, Gruyere AOP, was third.
A U.S. cheesemaker hasn't won the contest sponsored by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association since 1988, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
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.
Monterey Jack
• Jeff Wideman, Maple Leaf Cheese Coop, Monroe, Third Award, Monterey Jack Wheel
Rindless Swiss Style Cheese
• Silvan Blum, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe, Second Award, 20-pound Swiss Wheel
Havarti
• Decatur Dairy Team 2, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, Third Award, Havarti
Havarti, Flavored
• Team Edelweiss, Edelweiss Creamery, Monticello, Best of Class, Havarti with Dill
• Steve Stettler, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, Second Award, Havarti Dill
• Bruce Workman, Fair Oaks Farms, Fair Oaks, Ind., Third Award, Havarti with Dill (produced at Edelweiss Creamery)
Blue Veined
• Team Emmi Roth USA, Emmi Roth USA, Monroe, Best of Class, Roth Buttermilk Blue
Brick, Muenster
• Hansi Lehner Jr., Valley View Cheese Co-op, South Wayne, Second Award, Muenster
• Ron Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Third Award, Muenster
Smoked Gouda
• Bruce Workman, Fair Oaks Farms, Fair Oaks, Ind., Best of Class, Smoked Gouda (produced at Edelweiss Creamery)
Fresh Hispanic Cheeses (Quesos Frescos)
• Wisconsin Cheese Group One, Wisconsin Cheese Group, Monroe, Second Award, Panela
Hard Hispanic Cheeses
• Team Emmi Roth USA, Emmi Roth USA, Monroe, Best of Class, Roth GranQueso
• Team Emmi Roth USA, Emmi Roth USA, Monroe, Second Award, Roth GranQueso Reserve
• Team MCP, Mexican Cheese Producers, Darlington, Third Award, MCP Queso Cotija
Pepper Flavored Monterey Jack
• Herberto Nicholas, Maple Leaf Cheese Coop, Monroe, Best of Class, Habenjero Monterey Jack
Open Class: Pepper Flavored Cheeses
• Bruce Workman, Fair Oaks Farms, Fair Oaks, Ind., Best of Class, Havarti with Jalapeno Pepper (produced at Edelweiss Creamery)
Reduced Fat Soft and Semi-soft (Semi-hard) Cheeses
• Steve Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Third Award, Reduced Fat Peppercorn Feta in Brine
Lowfat Cheeses
• Jim Demeter, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Third Award, Lowfat Feta in Brine
Spreadable Cheeses
• Kelly Longseth, Family Fresh Pack, Belleville, Second Award
Flavored Spreadable Cheeses
• Kelly Longseth, Family Fresh Pack, Belleville, Third Award, Cranberry Almond Gourmet Cheese Spread
Soft Goat's Milk Cheeses
• Chabis Plain, Team Steffes, Montchevre-Betin, Inc., Belmont, Third Award, Fresh Goat Cheese Natural
Flavored Soft Goat's Milk Cheeses
• Lydra Moody, Montchevre-Betin, Inc., Belmont, Best of Class, Rondin Four Pepper
Prepared Cheese Foods
• Team Fayette, Brunkow Cheese, Darlington, Best of Class, Brun-uusto Baked Cheese with Garlic
-Times staff and The Associated Press