Norwegian Blue Cheese Named Best in the World | culture: the word on cheese
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Norwegian Blue Cheese Named Best in the World

| October 30, 2023
This article is from: Web Exclusive
Haakon Berg/Courtesy Guild of Fine Food
Ole and Maren Gangstadt of Gangstadt Gårdsysteri with the World Champion trophy.

A Norweigan blue cheese outcompeted thousands of cheeses from around the world to earn the title of World Champion Cheese at this year’s World Cheese Awards (WCA).

This renowned international cheese competition, which had its inaugural run in 1988, was held in Trondheim, Norway on October 27th.

The winning cheese, Nidelven Blå, is made by husband-and-wife Ole and Maren Gangstadt at Gangstadt Gårdsysteri. This marks the third victory for Nidelven Blå at the World Cheese Awards—which was named Best Norwegian Cheese in 2019, and won a Super Gold in 2020.

The soft, blue farmhouse cheese is already the cheesemaker’s best-seller, and with this new accolade, it’s sure to become even more popular.

Maren Gangstadt, general manager of Gangstadt Gårdsysteri, told the Guild of Fine Foods that being in their home country made the award even more special. “This happening on our home turf means a lot, and having all of the crew from the dairy here just adds an extra spark to it,” said Gangstadt.

Finbar Deery of Sheridans Cheesemongers in Ireland told the Guild of Fine Foods he “absolutely loved” the winning cheese. “It’s not getting barrelled over by the penicillin, there’s something else going on,” he said.

“The texture was the first thing that hit home. It has this short creaminess and a real dense fudginess,” Deery added, noting that the bitterness was perfectly balanced. “We don’t appreciate bitterness in cheese—but when you have such a rich texture, the bitterness comes through and it keeps the whole show on the road.”

Over the years, the competition has become the most prestigious award a cheese can win. This year saw a record number of cheeses entered—4,502, from 43 countries—judged by an international panel of 264 judges from 38 countries.

Judges examining cheeses at the 2023 WCAs. Haakon Berg/Courtesy Guild of Fine Food.

The judging process is broken down into two phases. During the first, judges score cheeses on taste, aroma, flavor, and texture, to determine whether they are worthy of a bronze, silver, or gold medal, with each judging table selecting one as a “Super Gold.”

“What we ask them to do, quite simply, is to assess the visual aspects of the cheese and then the aroma of the cheese,” said John Farrand, managing director of the World Cheese Awards, in an interview with CNN Travel.

In the second phase, a super jury of 16 experts—including longstanding WCA judge Cathy Strange of Whole Foods Market and Georgina Yescas, CEO at artisanal Mexican cheese retail & wholesale operation Lactography—tasted the 100 Super Gold cheeses, each selecting their favorite for a final round of judging.

Among these top 16 cheeses (listed below), three were from Italy, two the UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany, and one cheese from India, Austria, Belgium, and Norway.

Out of 100 Super Golds awarded, seven were from creameries in the United States (listed below). The US had a total of 147 winners, including 7 Super Gold, 22 Gold, 41 Silver and 77 Bronze awards.

Click here to see all of the 2023 World Cheese Awards winners.

The Top 16 Cheeses

(In order of score)

  1. Nidelven Blå | Gangstad Gårdsysteri | Norway
  2. Baliehof Houtlandse Asche kaas | Baliehof Kaas en Zuivelboerderij Jabbeke | Belgium
  3. Eberle würzig seit 5 Generationen | Dorfkäserei Muolen | Switzerland
  4. Eleftheria Brunost | Vivanda Gourmet | India
  5. Müller-Thurgau Rezent | Käserei Müller-Thurgau | Switzerland
  6. Kärntnermilch Mölltaler Almkäse Selektion 50% FiT | Kärntnermilch | Austria
  7. Michel | Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz | Germany
  8. Holland Delta, 1 Year Old | Van der Heiden Kaas | Netherlands
  9. Old Amsterdam Goat | Westland Kaasexport | Netherlands
  10. Parmigiano Reggiano 30-39 Months | Nazionale Parmigiano Reggiano Rastelli Fratelli | Italy
  11. Deichkäse Gold | Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz | Germany
  12. Sinodun Hill | Norton and Yarrow Cheese | United Kingdom
  13. Goustal La Bergere | Société des Caves | France
  14. Pirano | La Bufalara | Italy
  15. Lamucca di Castagno | Romagna Terre | Italy
  16. Wigmore | Village Maid Cheese | United Kingdom

Super Golds from the United States

(In no particular order)

  1. Appalachian | Meadow Creek Dairy
  2. Humble | Parish Hill Creamery
  3. Harbison | Cellars at Jasper Hill (Awarded the trophy for Best American Cheese)
  4. Leelanau | leelanau cheese
  5. Idyll | Parish Hill Creamery
  6. 1916 | Wegmans
  7. Hudson Flower | Murray’s Cheese

Golds from the United States

(In no particular order)

  1. Griffin | Sweet Grass Dairy
  2. Batch #17 | The Farm at Doe Run
  3. Wagon Wheel | Cowgirl Creamery
  4. Leelanau Reserve | leelanau cheese
  5. SheepSheep | Beecher’s Handmade Cheese
  6. Mt. Alice | Von Trapp Farmstead
  7. Marieke Gouda Hatch Pepper | Marieke Gouda
  8. Tillamook Maker’s Reserve 2012 Extra Sharp White Cheddar | Tillamook
  9. The Stag | Deer Creek
  10. Sartori Reserve Espresso BellaVitano | Sartori
  11. Double Doe | Murray’s Cheese
  12. Everton | Jacobs and Brichford Farmstead Cheese
  13. Lioni Bufala Fresca | Lioni Latticini
  14. Truffle Shuffle | Wegmans
  15. JQ | Jacobs and Brichford Farmstead Cheese
  16. Lucky Linda Clothbound Cheddar | Redhead Creamery
  17. Wild Blueberry, Lemon, and Thyme Goat Cheese | Vermont Creamery
  18. Bayley Hazen Blue | Cellars at Jasper Hill
  19. Honey Truffle Goat Cheese | Vermont Creamery
  20. Willoughby | Cellars at Jasper Hill
  21. Hickory on the Hill | The Farm at Doe Run
  22. Breakstone’s 4% Large Curd Cottage Cheese | Lactalis Heritage Dairy

Silvers from the United States

(In no particular order)

  1. St Albans | Vermont Creamery
  2. Intergalactic | Perrystead Dairy
  3. Ricotta Cheese | Lactalis American Group – Buffalo
  4. Brick Spread with Jalapenos | Widmers Cheese Cellars
  5. Marieke Gouda Smoked | Marieke Gouda
  6. Creme Fraiche | Vermont Creamery
  7. Atlantis | Perrystead Dairy
  8. Belle Chevre Spreadable Goat Cheese | Belle Chevre
  9. Idyll Pastures | Idyll Farms
  10. Four Peppercorn Fresh Goat Cheese | Laura Chenel
  11. Hop Along | Cowgirl Creamery
  12. Blue Spruce Blue | Carr Valley Cheese
  13. Green Hill | Sweet Grass Dairy
  14. Idyll Pastures Fennel Pollen | Idyll Farms
  15. Petit Ash | Marin French Cheese Co.
  16. Humboldt Fog | Cypress Grove
  17. Apple Smoked Cheddar | Carr Valley Cheese
  18. Asher Blue | Sweet Grass Dairy
  19. Spreadable Idyll Pastures | Idyll Farms
  20. Lioni Ricotta Di Bufala | Lioni Latticini
  21. Red Butte Hatch Chile | Beehive Cheese Company
  22. St. Anthony | Redhead Creamery
  23. Cello Mascarpone | Schuman Cheese
  24. Stockinghall | Murray’s Cheese
  25. Caveman Blue Cheese | Rogue Creamery
  26. Greensward | Murray’s Cheese
  27. Bluehorn Blue Cheese | Rogue Creamery
  28. The Wild Boar | Deer Creek
  29. Mature block cheddar 3+ Year | Pineland Farms
  30. Marieke Gouda Overjarige | Marieke Gouda
  31. Bonne Bouche | Vermont Creamery
  32. Reserve Touvelle | Rogue Creamery
  33. 1976 Reserve Gouda | Pleasant Lane Farms Creamery
  34. Vault 5 Cave Aged | Cellars at Jasper Hill
  35. Tillamook Maker’s Reserve 2020 Extra Sharp White Cheddar | Tillamook
  36. Marieke Gouda Super 18-24 months | Marieke Gouda
  37. Coupole | Vermont Creamery
  38. Real Philly Schmear | Perrystead Dairy
  39. Bella Gento Mascarpone | Lactalis American Group – Nampa
  40. Tillamook Hickory Smoked Extra Sharp White Cheddar | Tillamook
  41. Marieke Gouda 9-12 months | Marieke Gouda

Bronzes from the United States

(In no particular order)

    1. Oregon Blue | Rogue Creamery
    2. Anabasque | Landmark Creamery
    3. The Fawn | Deer Creek
    4. Marieke Gouda Reserve | Marieke Gouda
    5. Smoked Marisa | Carr Valley Cheese
    6. Idyll Pastures with Garlic and herbs | Idyll Farms
    7. Loveneh | Merion Park Cheese Company
    8. Mascarpone | Vermont Creamery
    9. Ricotta Cheese | Lactalis American Group – Buffalo
    10. Smokey Blue | Rogue Creamery
    11. Garlic & Chive Fresh Goat Cheese | Laura Chenel
    12. The Indigo Bunting | Deer Creek
    13. Marieke Gouda Mature 6-9 months | Marieke Gouda
    14. Ba Ba Blue | Carr Valley Cheese
    15. Jack’s Blue | Parish Hill Creamery
    16. Little Hosmer | Cellars at Jasper Hill
    17. Mt Tam | Cowgirl Creamery
    18. Ricotta Cheese | Lactalis American Group – Buffalo
    19. Cheese Is Love Cheddar | Rogue Creamery
    20. Original Fresh Goat Cheese Log | Laura Chenel
    21. 7 Year Proprietor’s Grand Reserve Specialty Cheddar | Deer Creek
    22. Marieke Gouda Belegen 4-6 months | Marieke Gouda
    23. St. Malachi | The Farm at Doe Run
    24. Snow White Goat Cheddar | Carr Valley Cheese
    25. Vermont Herdsman | Parish Hill Creamery
    26. Merry Goat Round | FireFly Farms
    27. MATTERHORN ALPINE CHEDDAR | Widmers Cheese Cellars
    28. Herbed Pressed Ricotta | Crooked Face Creamery
    29. Supreme Brie | Savencia Cheese USA
    30. Black Truffle Marinated Goat Cheese | Laura Chenel
    31. Runnymede | The Farm at Doe Run
    32. Street Ched – Clothbound Cheddar Aged | Urban Stead Cheese Co.
    33. Marieke Gouda Young 2-4 months | Marieke Gouda
    34. St. Malachi Reserve | The Farm at Doe Run
    35. Gouda | Hoard’s Dairymen Farm Creamery
    36. Carpenter’s Wheel | Murray’s Cheese
    37. MountainTop | FireFly Farms
    38. Mad River Blue Cheese Cheese | Von Trapp Farmstead
    39. Marinated Ciliegine | Belfiore Cheese
    40. Golden Gate | Marin French Cheese Co.
    41. Fog Lights | Cypress Grove
    42. Asher Blue Reserve | Sweet Grass Dairy
    43. Aged Gouda | Urban Stead Cheese Co.
    44. Marieke Gouda Truffle | Marieke Gouda
    45. Hummingbird | The Farm at Doe Run
    46. Reading | Spring Brook Farm Cheese
    47. Annelies | Murray’s Cheese
    48. Marinated Fresh Mozzarella | Lactalis American Group – Nampa
    49. Petite Crème | Marin French Cheese Co.
    50. Seahive | Beehive Cheese Company
    51. Sartori Old World Cheddar | Sartori
    52. Sartori Reserve Garlic and Herb BellaVitano | Sartori
    53. Petite Supreme | Marin French Cheese Co.
    54. Big John’s Cajun | Beehive Cheese Company
    55. Lake Country Dairy Cheese | Schuman Cheese
    56. Treehug | Perrystead Dairy
    57. Sartori Reserve Tomato Basil BellaVitano | Sartori
    58. Tillamook Maker’s Reserve 2016 Extra Sharp White Cheddar | Tillamook
    59. Couturier Goat Cheese Crumble Plain | Hudson Valley Creamery
    60. Cremont | Vermont Creamery
    61. Hootenanny | Goat Rodeo
    62. Queen Bee Porcini | Beehive Cheese Company
    63. Cello Extra Aged Copper Kettle Cheese | Schuman Cheese
    64. Everton Premium Reserve | Jacobs and Brichford Farmstead Cheese
    65. Marieke Gouda Smoked Cumin | Marieke
    66. Flagsheep | Beecher’s Handmade Cheese
    67. Tarentaise Reserve | Spring Brook Farm Cheese
    68. Herb Goat Cheese | Vermont Creamery
    69. Wild Rosemary | Goat Rodeo
    70. Thomasville Tomme | Sweet Grass Dairy
    71. Quark | Pleasant Lane Farms Creamery
    72. Marieke Golden Overjarige | Marieke Gouda
    73. Black Swallowtail | The Farm at Doe Run
    74. Tarentaise | Spring Brook Farm Cheese
    75. Professor’s brie | Wegman’s
    76. Bamboozle | Goat Rodeo
    77. White Cheese in Brine 1 month | Belfiore Cheese

    Josie Krogh

    Josie Krogh is culture's Digital Strategy Lead. She earned her master's degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics from The University of Georgia. Josie developed a love of food while working at farmstands in the D.C. area as a young adult, and discovered her love of cheese while living and working on a dairy farm on Martha's Vineyard. Josie currently lives in Catskill, NY.

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