Madison Originals Magazine Madison Originals Magazine February 2012 | Page 10
10 | madison originals magazine World Cheese
Championship Contest
Brings Cheese
Trifecta to Madison Two thousand world-class cheeses,
30 renowned international judges,
and dozens of the world�s best
cheesemakers�how often does this
magical cheese trifecta come together
in the same place at the same time? Just
once every two years, and 2012 marks
the 29th biennial World Championship
Cheese Contest, held March 5�7 at
the Monona Terrace Community
and Convention Center in Madison,
Wisconsin.
As the largest cheese and butter
competition in the world, the World Championship Cheese Contest attracts thousands of cheese entries, with contest organizers this year expecting a record number of cheeses to ship from more than 20 countries. As many as 2,500 cheeses arrive in Madison in March, where for three solid days each and every one will undergo at least one round of vigorous judging by the world�s top cheese experts, all in the quest to name the World Champion Cheese.Before the contest starts, cheeses ship to Wisconsin from six continents, including countries as diverse as Argentina, Japan, and South Africa, to European powerhouses such as France, Italy, and Switzerland. Despite the international avor, the United States, and especially Wisconsin, are always well represented with hundreds of entries from America�s Dairyland rubbing shoulders with many of the most famous cheeses in the world.Cow, goat, sheep, and mixed milk cheeses are sorted into 82 different classes, including the likes of Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella, Feta, Quesos Frescos, Smear Ripened, Flavored Soft Cheeses,
Smoked Cheeses, and even salted and
unsalted butter. Once sorted, judges
break into pairs and are assigned to
different classes, which can include
dozens of one type of cheese, each
from a different company in a different
country. Each judge silently and
independently assesses each cheese,
evaluating it for avor, body, texture,
salt, color, and �nish,� giving it a nal
score to determine its place in its class.
The three highest scorers in each class
are awarded gold, silver, and bronze
medals, with the gold medal winners all original event By Jeanne Carpenter Wheels of gouda await judging at the
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