The World Cheese Awards is now open for entry, with producers from across the globe invited to submit their cheese to be judged during the competition’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Dedicated only to cheese, with no other dairy products able to enter, the awards will return to London on Friday 17 November, to form part of Taste of London Festive Edition at Tobacco Dock.
Following a record-breaking edition of the World Cheese Awards in San Sebastián last year, organisers, the Guild of Fine Food, are expecting this to be the largest cheese-only competition the UK has ever seen, with around 3,000 cheeses from six continents anticipated in the capital this autumn. As the international curd community gathers, entrants from over 30 different countries will be looking to take advantage of this golden opportunity to spotlight their cheese on a world stage.
250 experts from across the planet, including international buyers, retailers, writers and cheesemakers, will nose, taste and deliberate, judging every entry within a single day to identify any cheeses worthy of a Bronze, Silver or Gold award. Each table will then select its Super Gold cheese to go forward to the final round of judging, before the World Champion Cheese is crowned later in the afternoon, beamed live across the world on WCA TV.
John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, organisers of the World Cheese Awards, explains: “This global celebration of cheese seems to gather momentum every year, so we can’t wait to bring the world’s finest cheese back to home soil once again and give Taste of London Festive Edition’s 30,000 attendees a glimpse behind the rind. Beyond the serious business of identifying the winning wedges, we’ve got a few surprises up our sleeve to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the World Cheese Awards, so we’re hoping that cheesemakers, judges, graders and consumers alike will join us in marking our three decades at the heart of the cheese community.”
Visitors can also look forward to a packed programme of tours around the World Cheese Awards judging arena on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November, with tickets going on sale through Taste of London Festive Edition in advance.
The World Cheese Awards is open for entry from Monday 21 August until Wednesday 11 October, unless the entry cap is reached before this date – early entry is recommended. Producers can enter online here.
The World Cheese Awards judging will commence on Friday 17 November during Taste of London Festive Edition, which will run from 16-19 November at Tobacco Dock, London.
For further information, please contact any of the following:
Sam Brice at Freshly Ground PR
+44 (0) 7961 635960
[email protected]
Amy Brice at Freshly Ground PR
+44 (0) 7717 893123
[email protected]
Tortie Farrand at the Guild of Fine Food
+44 (0) 1747 825200
[email protected]
World Cheese Award Website
World Cheese Awards
A firm date in every cheese lover’s calendar, the World Cheese Awards has been bringing together cheesemakers, retailers, buyers, consumers and food commentators worldwide for three decades, in a celebration of tradition, innovation and excellence in cheese. It’s the biggest cheese event in the world, attracting over 3,000 entries in 2016 alone from 30 different countries, which were judged by 266 experts from every corner of the globe.
Judges work in teams of four, identifying any cheeses worthy of a bronze, silver or gold award. They look at the rind and the body of the cheese, its colour, texture, consistency and, above all, its taste. Each team then nominates one exceptional cheese as the Super Gold from their table. These 66 cheeses are the best in the world and are judged a second time by the Super Jury of 16 internationally recognised experts, who each select a cheese to champion in the final round of judging. The Super Jury, representing all four corners of the globe, then debates the final 16 in front of a live consumer and trade audience, before choosing the World Champion Cheese live on WCA TV.
Taste of London Festive Edition
Originating in London, Taste now stages 21 events across the globe throughout the year, from Abu Dhabi and Auckland to Helsinki and Sao Paulo, celebrating each city’s greatest restaurants. The festivals combine exceptional food and drink with outstanding entertainment, all taking place in remarkable locations.
Each year, around 30,000 visitors gather in London to see world-class chefs, taste excellent food and drink and meet hundreds of artisan producers. Last year’s line-up featured restaurants such as Tom’s Kitchen, Café Spice Namasté and HIX, as well as appearances from chefs including Tom Kerridge, Angela Hartnett, Jose Pizarro and many more.