Contest Rules Judges GourmetQuesos Semifinal tasting panel Finalist Cheeses
The GourmetQuesos Championship, that celebrates its 12 edition this year, is now established as the most important of those held in Spain as the number of cheeses presented grows every year since its beginnings in 2009: currently more than 800. Samples are blind tasted by a 60 member jury formed by professionals belonging to every stage in the cheese sector: technicians, master cheese makers, store managers, bloggers and gastronomic journalists, chefs, department store managers and restaurant managers. The contest awards various categories while also choosing an absolute winner as the "Best Cheese of Spain".
After the first selection, determined in the Semi-Final, the 90 finalists are chosen. To do so, the judges weigh up different aspects such as the rind, colour, texture, smell, flovour, aftertaste and persistance of each of the samples.
The winner will be awarded with a Diploma accrediting it as "The Best Cheese of Spain 2022".
Best Cheese of Spain 2022:
Olavidia, Quesos y Besos (Guarroman, Jaén)
Category 1: Young Cow
First prize: Rey Silo Blanco, Rey Silo (Asturias, Spain)
Second prize: Fontanelas Jóven, Queixeria Fontelas (Lugo, Lugo)
Third prize: Balteira, Airas Moniz (Lugo)
Category 2: Cured Cow
First prize: El Ferrer, Formatgeria Cal Music (Barcelona)
Second prize: El Maestro Quesero DOP Queso Casín, Capsa Food (Asturias)
Third prize: Redes DOP Queso Casín, Quesería Redes /Natalia Lobeto (Asturias)
Category 3: Young Goat
First prize: Julián Díaz Cabra Semicurado DOP Majorero, Arquema / Julián Díaz (Las Palmas)
Second prize: Villavieja Semi DOP Murcia al Vino, Queserías Villavieja (Murcia)
Third prize: Guatisea Semi Cured, Queseri'a Montaña Blanca (Las Palmas)
Category 4: Cured Goat
First prize: Guatisea Cured Goat, Quesería Montaña Blanca (Lanzarote)
Second prize: Payoyo Cured Goat, Quesos Payoyo (Cádiz)
Third prize: Montes de Málaga emborrizado, Agamma (Málaga)
Category 5: Blend
First prize: Unaniak, Lácteos de Karrantza (Bilbao)
Second prize: La Pastora Mezcla Manteca, La Pastora de Grazalema (Cádiz)
Third prize: Selectum cured paprika, Grupo Ganaderos de Fuerteventura (Las Palmas)
Category 6: Soft Paste
First prize: Gran Tajo Selección DOP Torta del Casar. Iberques Extremadura (Cáceres)
Second prize: Cremositos del Zújar, Arteserena (Badajoz)
Third prize: Gran Casar DOP Torta del Casar, Quesos del Casar (Cáceres)
Category 7: Semi-cured Sheep
First prize: Infernuko Gasna DOP Idiazábal, S.C. Kortaria (Navarra)
Second prize: Ojos del Guadiana DOP Manchego, Manchega Ojos del Guadiana (Ciudad Real)
Third prize: Cerro del Ángel Manteca Floral, Quesos Villa D'Haro/Sat Oveman (Cuenca, Spain).
Category 8: Cured Sheep
First prize: El Buen Pastor Cured Mini, El Buen Pastor de Oropesa (Toledo)
Second prize: Ojos Guadiana Curado DOP Manchego, Manchego Ojos del Guadiana (Ciudad Real)
Third prize: Villadharo Curado DOP Manchego, Qesos Villa D'Haro/Sat Oveman (Cuenca)
Category 9: Aged Sheep
First prize: Abuelo Ruperto Reserva, Quesos Ruperto (Murcia)
Second prize: Castillo Peñas Negras Añejo, Artesanos Peñas Negras (Toledo)
Third prize: Ilujor Añejo, Ilujor Orcajo García (Burgos)
Category 10: Refined Lactic Coagulation
First prize: Olavidia, Quesos y Besos -Lácteos Romero- (Jaén)
Second prize: Valleoscuro, Cheeses and Kisses -Lácteos Romero- (Jaén)
Third prize: Miss Capra, Valdecabras (Ávila, Spain)
Category 11: Blue
First prize: Savel. Airas Moniz Chantada (Lugo)
Second prize: El Roano Azul, Quesos El Roano/Pedro Giner (Murcia)
Third prize: Natali Blue, Quesería Redes/Natalia Lobeto (Asturias)
Category 12: Smoked Cheeses
First prize: Infernuko Gasna Ahumado DOP Idiazábal, S.C. Kortaria (Navarra)
Second prize: Aizpea Ahumado DOP Idiazábal, Aizpea (Guipúzcoa)
Third prize: Vasco Navarra Ahumado DOP Idiazábal, Quesos La Vasco Navarra (Navarra)
Category 13: With seasoning inside
First prize: Sierra Solana Truffled, Quesería 1605 (Ciudad Real)
Second prize: Bombón de Iruelas Truffle, Elvira García (Ávila)
Third prize: Pastura con Trufa, Finca Pascualete (Cáceres)
Category 14: Shepherd's soft pasta
First prize: Tiana DOP Torta del Casar, Quesería El Castúo (Cáceres)
Second prize: Ruperto Corteza Lavada, Ruperto Cheese (Murcia)
Third prize: Terra, Airas Moniz (Lugo)
Category 15: Shepherd's hard cheese
First prize: Eginoko Artzaia DOP Idiazábal, Sat Olano (Álava)
Second prize: Antsonea DOP Idiazábal, Sat Anstsonea (Navarre)
Third prize: El Fino, La Zarcillera/Alfonso Pérez Muelas (Murcia, Spain)