Le Gruyère AOP surchoix, entered by Swiss cheesemaker Vorderfultigen and affineur Gourmino, scooped the highest accolade at the World Cheese Awards held in Newport, Wales on 2 November.

Billed as the world’s largest cheese-only event, the awards saw 4,434 entries from around the globe go head-to-head on aspects such as the appearance of the rind and paste, aroma, body, and texture, with the majority of points awarded for flavour and mouthfeel.

Le Gruyère AOP surchoix, a matured cheese made from raw cow’s milk and described as full-bodied with a slightly crumbly texture, triumphed over Gorgonzola Dolce DOP, made by De' Magi from Italy, which had to be content with second place.

Super jury member Christian Zuercher from Mifroma summed up the winning cheese as a "really perfect handcrafted cheese, smooth in your mouth and melting on your tongue".

Super jury crowns champion 

The cheese awards were judged by 250 experts from 38 countries to decide if they were worthy of Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Super Gold award. Sixteen finalists were then chosen from the 98 Super Golds.

These cheeses were then re-judged by an international "super jury", which included Cathy Strange from Whole Foods Market (US), Patricia Michelson from La Fromagerie (UK), Denis Priimagi from Cheese Kingdom (Ukraine) and Davide Fiori from Luigi Guffanti 1876 (Italy).

"This really is the ‘World Cup of Cheese’ and a celebration of excellence in cheese making from around the globe," Lesley Griffiths, Rural Affairs Minister in the Welsh Government, said in a statement.

The 34th edition of the World Cheese Awards had cheeses submitted from 42 countries and 900 companies, 11% of which were UK based and 89% international. The 2022 awards were originally scheduled to be held in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv but were later moved to Wales.

World Cheese Awards Super Golds 

• Le Gruyère AOP surchoix, by cheesemaker Vorderfultigen and affineur Gourmino, Switzerland
• Gorgonzola Dolce DOP, De' Magi, Italy
• Âlde Fryske, De Fryske, Netherlands
• Grosse Tomme de Bufflonne Cave Jacobine, Prolactine France
• Tomme de chèvre Cave Jacobine, Prolactine France
• Pata de Mulo Curado Los Payuelos, Quesería Artesanal Los Payuelos, Spain
• Greensward, Murray's Cheese, US
• Devon Blue, Ticklemore Cheese, UK 
• Grosse Tomme de chèvre Cave Rousseau, Prolactine France
• Spenwood, Village Maid Cheese, UK
• Sinodun Hill, Norton and Yarrow Cheese, UK
• Gorwydd Caerphilly, Trethowan's Dairy Ltd, UK
• Großer Deichkäse 12 Monate, Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz GmbH & Co. KG, Germany
• MA-TRU' Pecorino Amatriciano, F.LLI PETRUCCI SRL, Italy
• L’Ambra di Talamello, Rocca Toscana Formaggi S.R.L., Italy
• Gentenaer, Little Cheese Farm, Belgium

Source: World Cheese Awards. NB: Cheeses are listed by score. Where more than one cheese achieved the same score, they are listed alphabetically.