Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 judging! We aren't familiar with most of the champion cheeses, but we look forward to tasting them while in Montreal for the ACS meeting this year. It goes to show how much there still is to explore, even on our own continent.

On February 19^th and 20^th, at the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec in Montreal, jury members carefully observed, touched, smelled, and tasted 203 cheeses – a record number of entries – from six different provinces, giving our judges a wide array of shapes, flavours and textures to evaluate.

The seven-member jury made of Canada’s leading cheese experts selected the 17 category Champions as well as the 2011 Grand Champion, which were announced at the Gala of Champions on April 20^thin Toronto.

The competition rewards cheese makers for excellence in innovation and the quality of their products. This year’s winners showcase the world-class cheeses being produced across Canada and the level of excellence of the art of cheese making.

The list of champion cheeses below: for full details, see the DFoC website.

Grand Champion: Louis D’or Fresh Cheese Mascarpone Tre Stelle, Arla Foods Inc. (ON)

Soft cheese with bloomy rind: Island Bries, Little Qualicum Cheeseworks Ltd. (BC)

Semi-soft cheese Lankaaster: Traditional gouda, Glengarry Fine Cheese (ON)

Washed-rind – Soft and semi-soft cheese: Le Mont-Jacob, Fromagerie Blackburn (QC)

Firm cheese: Louis D’or, Fromagerie du Presbytère (QC)

Swiss-type cheese: Fromage Suisse Lemaire, Fromagerie Lemaire (QC)

Mozzarella: Bocconcini Santa Lucia, International Cheese Co. Ltd. (ON)

Blue Cheese: Le Bleu d’Élizabeth, Fromagerie du Presbytère (QC)

Flavoured cheese with added non-particulate flavouring: Naturally Smoked Boerenkass, Natural Pastures Company (BC)

Flavoured cheese with added particulate solids flavouring: Gouda Herbs & Garlic, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd. (AB)

Mild Cheddar: Mild Cheddar, The Black River Cheese Company Ltd. (ON)

Medium Cheddar: Cheddar moyen Biologique, Fromagerie L’Ancêtre (QC)

Old, Extra Old Cheddar: Le Jersey du Fjord, Bergeries du Fjord (QC)

Aged Cheddar (1-3 years): Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar, Cows Creamery (PEI)

Aged Cheddar (4 years +): Cheddar Doyen 4 ans, Fromagerie Perron (QC)

Farmhouse cheese: Louis D’or, Fromagerie du Presbytère (QC)

Organic cheese: Louis D’or, Fromagerie du Presbytère (QC)

http://www.dairyfarmers.ca/what-we-do/programs/canadian-cheese-grand-pri...