A new record was recently set for Vermont cheeses at the prestigious American Cheese Society's 36th Annual Awards competition in Richmond, Virginia.
Vermont producers large and small collectively took home 44 ribbons, marking Vermont's best showing to date. Additionally, five Vermont cheeses were finalists for the Best of Show.
There were more than 2,000 entries at the 2019 competition, with 25 Vermont companies submitting cheeses to be judged. This annual competition is supported by the Vermont Cheese Council, which provides technical assistance and marketing support for Vermont's cheesemakers.
“These awards reinforce Vermont's commitment to quality, which starts with the farmer, on the farm, and is carried right through until the cheese is served,” Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts said in a news release.
Winning cheeses from Vermont included:
• Barn First Creamery, Westfield: Malloy, first place
• Boston Post Dairy, Enosburg Falls: Eleven Brothers, second place; Gisele, third place
• Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Cabot: Cabot Founders Private Stock, first place; Cabot Centennial, first place; Cabot Garlic & Herb (New York), first place; Old School Cheddar, second place; McCadam Brick Muenster (New York), second place; Cabot Salted Butter (Massachusetts), third place
• Cate Hill Orchard, Craftsbury Commons: Vermanchego, second place
• Consider Bardwell Farm, West Pawlet: Rupert Reserve, second place; Goatlet, first place with Crown Finish Caves
• Fairy Tale Farm, Bridport: Nuberu, second place
• Grafton Village Cheese Company, Grafton: Shepsog, first place and Best of Show finalist; Traditional Clothbound Cheddar, second place; Bear Hill, third place
• Jasper Hill Farm, Greensboro: Cave Aged Cheddar, first Place in category and Best of Show finalist in collaboration with Cabot Creamery Cooperative; Alpha Tolman, first place, Cabot Clothbound, third place in collaboration with Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Bayley Hazen Blue, third place; Calderwood, third place, Hartwell, third place; Winnimere, third place; Little Hosmer, third place
• Maplebrook Farm, Bennington: Whole Milk Block Feta, first place
• Mt. Mansfield Creamery, Morrisville: Starr, first place collaboration with Sage Farm Goat Dairy, Stowe
• Parish Hill Creamery, Westminster West: Reverie, first place; Kashar, first place; Suffolk Punch, second place
• Sage Farm Goat Dairy, Stowe: Starr, first place collaboration with Mt. Mansfield Creamery, Morrisville; Spruce, first place, Smoked Chevre, second place; Morse Camembert, second place
• Spring Brook Farm/Farms for City Kids Foundation, Reading: Tarentaise Reserve, first place and Best of Show Finalist; Reading Raclette, third place
• Vermont Creamery, Websterville: Bijou, first place and Best of Show finalist; Classic Spreadable Goat Cheese, first place; Cremont, second place; Quark, second place; Goat Feta, third place; Clover Blossom Honey Fresh Chevre, third place; We Be Chivin' with Wegmans Market Affinage Program, first place and Best of Show Finalist; Sweet 16 with Wegmans Market Affinage Program, third place
• Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company, Woodstock: Clothbound Windsordale, third place
• Vermont Shepherd, Putney: Well-Aged Invierno, first place
• von Trapp Farmstead, Mad River Blue, first place