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Apr 25 2024
Cheese from Spain Acknowledgment from ICEX/FWS
Villarejo Añejo Curado en Miel y Orégano -a cured cheese in honey and oregano- has emerged as the indisputable champion at the first edition of the Cheese from Spain Contest, promoted by ICEX/FWS, within the framework of the 2024 Gourmet Spanish Cheese Championship, now in its 14th edition, at Salón Gourmets. It's a an artisan cheese made with raw sheep's milk and vegetable rennet, which, with a minimum maturation of 6 months, manages to blend the intense flavor of artisan aged sheep cheese with a light touch of honey and the aroma of natural oregano. Its smooth and balanced flavor with a pleasant aftertaste has been acknowledged by the panel of judges in this competition.
The panel of judges comprised international cheese experts from France (Michaël Belissa, founder of Salon du Fromage), Germany (Urte Modlich, cheese specialist at Käse-Theke Magazine), Switzerland (Jean-Luc Hadey, affineur and Gourmet Scout at Hugo Dubno), the Netherlands (Leonardus Petrus Quirinus van der Geest, head of the cheese department at Ahold), the United Kingdom (Nicholas Gibbs Bayne, head cheesemonger at The Fine Cheese Co.) and the United States (Michele Buster, co-founder of Forever Cheese Inc.). They evaluated aspects such as rind, color, texture, smell, flavor, aftertaste, and persistence for each of the samples of the 21 finalists, which stood out from the 171 cheeses that participated in the semifinal.
Along Villarejo Añejo Curado en Miel y Orégano, which received the Champion Gold at the Cheese from Spain Awards, the following cheeses took home gold distinctions: Barral Queso de Tetilla PDO (Queixeria Barral), Pi Corteza Enmohecida (Quesos de Hualdo), Cremositos del Zújar Mini (Arteserena), Flor de la Dehesa Torta del Casar PDO (Quesería Los Casareños), Villajos Semicurado Queso Manchego Artesano PDO (Agrovillaserra), Sierra de Albarracín Etiqueta Verde al Romero (Queso Artesano de Teruel), Monte Enebro (Queserías del Tiétar), Savel (Airas Moniz) and Rey Silo Azul Mamá Marisa (Ernesto Madera López).
Promotional activities for the selected cheeses
ICEX/FWS, in collaboration with Grupo Gourmets, launched the first edition of this international category, Cheese from Spain Awards, which distinguishes the best Spanish cheeses with export potential to participate in a series of promotional and awareness-raising activities in international markets, with the potential to serve as examples of excellence of Spanish cheese abroad.
With a view to boosting the visibility of Spanish cheese and increasing sales abroad, the winners and the other finalists in the Cheese from Spain Awards will participate in various promotional activities in:
- Germany, where all of the cheeses will be available in a tasting area at the Spain Fusion Germany event space.
- France, with a Cheese from Spain Awards stand and an exhibition and tasting in the Dairy Hall at Sial Paris 2024.
- United Kingdom, with a space at Taste Spain Edinburgh and a tasting in the Spain Food Nation gastronomic space at the Speciality Fine Food Fair, and with preferential participation at the promotional event for consumers, Eat Spain Drink Spain.
- The Netherlands, with the presentation of the winning cheeses at the annual cheese tasting that ICEX organizes for members of the Dutch cheese industry.
- Switzerland, with the presence of all cheeses in a tasting tunnel at the Spain Fusion Switzerland event.
- The United States, with a tasting tunnel at the Great Match-Discovery Zone exhibition in New York and in the gastronomic space in Spain's pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Fair, as well as with preferential participation at the promotional event for consumers, Eat Spain Drink Spain
A whole range of activities, not only to increase awareness about the diversity, quality and excellence of Spanish cheeses, but also to offer international professionals a selection of quality Spanish cheeses.
