Cows Creamery leads nominees for Canada’s cheese Oscars

Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar: 2016 Canadian Cheese of the Year. Will it win again in 2018?

Cows Creamery of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, has a record-setting 12 nominations for its cheeses in the 2018 Canadian Cheese Awards, the biggest cheese judging and competition in the country. Two years ago, Cows Creamery won Canadian Cheese of the Year honours with its Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar.

Avonlea is again a contender for the prestigious award but competition is stiff from cheesemakers in Québec and Ontario.

Judging by a jury of 14 cheese experts took place at University of Guelph, Department of Food Science. A total of 117 finalists were selected from the 375 cheeses entered by producers from Newfoundland to British Columbia.

The 2018 Canadian Cheese of the Year and champions in 33 categories will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on June 6 at St. Lawrence Market in Toronto followed by an Awards Tasting Gala. The next day, winners will be featured at Canadian Cheese Expo for the trade followed by Canada’s first Artisan Cheese Night Market open to the public.

Information on the program and tickets is available at CheeseAwards.ca.

A complete list of finalists can be seen and downloaded as a Word document here: http://www.cheeseawards.ca/finalistsfinalistes2018/

Judging of 375 cheeses under way at University of Guelph, Food Science Department. Photo by Kenneth Armstrong of GuelphToday.com.

Fifty-six of the 117 nominations went to 22 Québec cheese producers led by Fromagerie La Station, 7 finalists, Laterie Charlevoix, 6, and Fromagerie du Presbystere, 5.

Sixty-one of the 117 nominations went to 23 producers in English-Canada, led by Cows, 12 finalists, Glengarry Fine Cheese, 5, and Amalgamated Dairies, Cross Wind Farm and Mountainoak Cheese, 4 each.

Canadian Cheese Awards is the only pan-Canadian cheese competition open to all milks used in cheesemaking—cow, goat, sheep and water buffalo—with only pure natural cheese accepted for judging. That means no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, and no modified milk ingredients.

“We aim to honour and celebrate 100% pure natural cheese that has achieved technical excellence and exhibits the highest aesthetic qualities,” says Georgs Kolesnikovs, Awards Chairman.

The biennial Canadian Cheese Awards is produced by Cheese Lover Productions with the support of Loblaw Companies as Marquee Sponsor and Dairy Farmers of Canada as Principal Partner, Cow Milk Cheese.

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival in Picton, Ontario, is on hiatus in 2018 to allow resources to be devoted to the launch of Artisan Cheese Night Market and related events.

• Cheese Awards website: http://cheeseawards.ca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanadianCheeseNightMarket/
• Cheese Lover blog: https://cheeselover.ca
• Social media feeds: https://cheesefestival.ca/social-media-feeds/

For additional information, mailto:awards@cheeselover.ca or telephone 1.866.865.2628.

 

How many nominees for Cheese of the Year have you tasted?

Le Baluchon: 2014 Cheese of the Year. This year, it’s nominated for Best Organic Cheese.

Here you have them, the 117 finalists in the 2018 Canadian Cheese Awards competition, the biggest independent judging of cheese in Canada.

Winners and all finalists will be introduced to the public at Canada’s first-ever Artisan Cheese Night Market on June 7 at historic St. Lawrence Market in Toronto.

MAIN CATEGORIES (19) CATÉGORIES PRINCIPALES

FRESH CHEESE – FROMAGE FRAIS

• Bella Casara Ricotta — Quality Cheese, Vaughan, Ontario
• Original Artisan Chèvre — Cross Wind Farm, Keene, Ontario
• Ricotta — Ferrante Cheese, Woodbridge, Ontario

FRESH PASTA FILATA CHEESE – FROMAGE À PÂTE FILÉE

• Caciocavallo — Ferrante Cheese, Woodbridge, Ontario
• Tre Stelle Deluxe Mozzarella Ball — Arla Foods, Concord, Ontario
• Zerto Fresh Mozzarella — Quality Cheese, Vaughan, Ontario

SEMI-SOFT CHEESE – FROMAGE À PÂTE  SEMI-FILÉE

• Comtomme — Fromagerie la Station, Compton, Québec
• Fou du Roy — Les Fromagiers de la Table Ronde, Sainte-Sophie, Québec
• Tête à Papineau — Fromagerie Montebello, Montebello, Québec
• Tomme Haut Richelieu — Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser, Noyan, Québec

FETA/CHEESE IN BRINE – Feta / FROMAGE EN SAUMURE

• A2 Cows Milk Feta — Crystal Springs Cheese, Coalhurst, Alberta
• Goat Milk Feta — Crystal Springs Cheese, Coalhurst, Alberta
• Krinos Traditional Feta — Krinos Foods Canada, Vaughan, Ontario

FIRM CHEESE –  FROMAGE À PÂTE FERME

• Alfred le Fermier — Fromagerie la Station, Compton, Québec
• Hercule de Charlevoix — Laiterie Charlevoix, Baie-Saint-Paul, Québec
• Louis Cyr — Fromagerie Bergeron, Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, Québec
• Louis d’or — Fromagerie du Presbytère, Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Québec

FIRM CHEESE WITH HOLES (Swiss-style) – FROMAGE À PÂTE FERME AVEC OUVERTURES

• Farmstead Emmental — Stonetown Artisan Cheese, St. Marys, Ontario
• Fleur de Weedon — Fromagerie P’tit Plaisir, Weedon, Québec
• Mont St-Benoit — Fromagerie Abbaye de St-Benoît-du-Lac, Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Québec
• Suisse — Fromagerie Perron, Saint-Prime, Québec
• Swiss Gouda — That Dutchman’s Cheese Farm, Upper Economy, Nova Scotia

WASHED RIND CHEESE – FROMAGE À CROÛTE LAVÉE

• Fredondaine — Fromagerie la Vache à Maillotte, La Sarre, Québec
• Le Bocké — La Fromagerie Champêtre, Repentigny, Québec
• Magie de Madawaska — Fromagerie Le Détour, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, Québec
• 14 Arpents — Fromagerie Médard, Saint-Gédéon, Québec

MIXED RIND CHEESE – FROMAGE À CROÛTE MIXTE

• La Galette de la Table Ronde — Les Fromagiers de la Table Ronde, Sainte-Sophie, Québec
• La Tomette — L’Atelier Fromagerie, St-Pierre-Baptiste, Québec
• Le Bâtisseur — Fromagerie la Vache à Maillotte, La Sarre, Québec
• Origine de Charlevoix — Laiterie Charlevoix, Baie-Saint-Paul, Québec

BLOOMY RIND CHEESE – PÂTE MOLLE À CROÛTE FLEURIE

• Laliberté — Fromagerie du Presbytère, Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Québec
• Le Fleurmier de Charlevoix — Laiterie Charlevoix, Baie-Saint-Paul, Québec
• Le Verdict d’Alexina — Fromagerie Le Détour, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, Québec
• Madelaine — Fromagerie Nouvelle France, Racine, Québec

LACTIC RIPENED CHEESE – Fromage Lactique à croûte fleurie

• Figaro — Glengarry Fine Cheese, Lancaster, Ontario
• Grey Owl — Fromagerie Le Détour, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, Québec
• Neufchatel — Golden Ears Cheesecrafters, Maple Ridge, British Columbia

MILD & MEDIUM CHEDDAR (aged up to 9 months) – CHEDDAR DOUX & MOYEN (maximum de 9 mois d’affinage)

• Medium Cheddar — Fromagerie Perron, Saint-Prime, Québec
• Dairy Isle Medium — Amalgamated Dairies, Summerside, Prince Edward Island
• Dairy Isle Mild — Amalgamated Dairies, Summerside, Prince Edward Island

OLD CHEDDAR (aged from 9 to 18 months) – CHEDDAR FORT (entre 9 et 18 mois d’affinage)

• Cheddar 1 Year Old — Fromagerie Perron, Saint-Prime, Québec
• Dairy Isle Old — Amalgamated Dairies, Summerside, Prince Edward Island
• Dairy Isle Sharp — Amalgamated Dairies, Summerside, Prince Edward Island

AGED CHEDDAR (aged more than 18 months) – CHEDDAR VIEILLI (plus de 18 mois d’affinage)

• Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar — Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
• Cows Creamery 3 Year Old Cheddar— Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
• Cows Creamery 2 Year Old Cheddar — Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

GOUDA CHEESE – FROMAGE GOUDA

• Medium Gouda — That Dutchman’s Cheese Farm, Upper Economy, Nova Scotia
• Mild Gouda — That Dutchman’s Cheese Farm, Upper Economy, Nova Scotia
• Mountainoak Cheese Farmstead Medium — Mountainoak Cheese, New Hamburg, Ontario
• Thunder Oak Extra old Gouda — Thunder Oak Cheese Farm, Thunder Bay, Ontario

BLUE CHEESE – FROMAGE À PÂTE PERSILLÉE

• Bleu d’Élizabeth — Fromagerie du Presbytère, Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Québec
• Celtic Blue — Glengarry Fine Cheese, Lancaster, Ontario
• Rassembleu — Les Fromagiers de la Table Ronde, Sainte-Sophie, Québec

FLAVOURED CHEESE – FROMAGE AROMATISÉ

• Cheddar nordique Biologique vieilli à la bière noire — Fromagerie Perron, Saint-Prime, Québec
• Coeur du Village — Le Fromage au Village,  Lorrainville, Quebec
• La Tomme au Poivre — Fromagerie Le Mouton Blanc, La Pocatière, Québec
• Raclette de Compton au Poivre — Fromagerie la Station, Compton, Québec

FLAVOURED FRESH CHEESE – FROMAGES FRAIS AROMATISÉS

• Celebrity Cranberry Cinnamon Goat Cheese — Mariposa Dairy, Lindsay, Ontario
• Chevrai Roasted Garlic Soft Fresh Goat Cheese — Woolwich Dairy, Orangeville, Ontario
• Fréchette Ail et Fines Herbes — Fromagerie Nouvelle France, Racine, Québec
• Lemon Thyme Artisan Chèvre — Cross Wind Farm, Keene, Ontario

SMOKED CHEESE – FROMAGE FUMÉ

• Cows Creamery Appletree Smoked Cheddar — Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
• Fontina Fumé — Fromagerie Abbaye de St-Benoît-du-Lac, Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Québec
• Gouda Natural Smoked — Sylvan Star Cheese, Red Deer County, Alberta

GRILLING CHEESE – FROMAGE À GRILLER

• Fleur Saint-Michel — Fromagerie du Terroir de Bellechasse,  Saint-Vallier, Québec
• Le Paillasson de l’isle d’Orléans — Les Fromages de l’isle d’Orléans, Sainte-Famille, Québec
• Queso Fresco — Sabana, Oakville, Ontario

SPECIAL AWARDS (9) PRIX SPÉCIAUX

BEST COW’S MILK CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT DE VACHE

• Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar — Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
• Cows Creamery 3 Year Old Cheddar —Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
• Cows Creamery Appletree Smoked Cheddar — Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
• Figaro — Glengarry Fine Cheese, Lancaster, Ontario
• Neufchatel — Golden Ears Cheesecrafters, Maple Ridge, British Columbia

BEST GOAT’S MILK CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT DE CHÈVRE

• Chevrai Roasted Garlic Soft Fresh Goat Cheese — Woolwich Dairy, Orangeville, Ontario
• La Mascotte — Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser, Noyan, Québec
• Original Artisan Chèvre — Cross Wind Farm, Keene, Ontario
• Tomme Haut Richelieu — Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser, Noyan, Québec

BEST SHEEP’S MILK CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT DE BREBIS

• Allegreto — Fromagerie la Vache à Maillotte, La Sarre, Québec
• La Tomme au Poivre — Fromagerie Le Mouton Blanc, La Pocatière, Québec
• Madelaine — Fromagerie Nouvelle France, Racine, Québec

BEST WATER BUFFALO MILK CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT DE BUFFLONNE

• Buffalo Brie — Natural Pastures Cheese, Courtenay, British Columbia
• Fuoco — Fromagerie Fuoco, St. Lin-Laurentides, Québec
• Majestic Bufala — L’Atelier Fromagerie, Warwick, Québec

BEST BLENDED-MILK CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT MIXTE

• Le Verdict d’Alexina — Fromagerie Le Détour, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, Québec
• Pionnier — Fromagerie du Presbytère, Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Québec, and  Fromagerie Nouvelle France, Racine, Québec
• Tomme Monsieur Seguin — Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser, Noyan, Québec

BEST FARMSTEAD CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE FERMIER

• Figaro, Glengarry Fine Cheese— Lancaster, Ontario
• Mountainoak Farmstead 3 Year Old — Mountainoak Cheese, New Hamburg, Ontario
• Gouda Natural Smoked — Sylvan Star Cheese, Red Deer County, Alberta

BEST ORGANIC CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE BIOLOGIQUE

• Alfred le Fermier 18 mois — Fromagerie la Station, Compton, Québec
• Le Baluchon — Fromagerie Baluchon, Sainte-Anne-de-la-perade, Québec
• Raclette de Compton au Poivre — Fromagerie la Station, Compton, Québec

BEST RAW-MILK CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT CRU

• Alfred le Fermier — Fromagerie la Station, Compton, Québec
• Louis d’or — Fromagerie du Presbytère, Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick,Québec
• Louis d’or vieilli 2 ans — Fromagerie du Presbytère, Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Québec

BEST NEW CHEESE (introduced to market during 2017) – MEILLEUR NOUVEAU FROMAGE (Mis en marché en 2017)

• Cows Creamery 2 Year Old Cheddar — Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
• Cows Creamery 3 Year Old Cheddar — Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
• Mountainoak Farmstead 3 Year Old — Mountainoak Cheese, New Hamburg, Ontario

REGIONAL AWARDS (5) PRIX RÉGIONAUX

BEST B.C. CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LA COLOMBIE BRITANNIQUE

• Farm House Traditional Clothbound Cheddar Old — The Farm House Natural Cheeses, Agassiz, British Columbia
• Farm House Traditional Clothbound Cheddar Aged — The Farm House Natural Cheeses, Agassiz, British Columbia
• Marinated Goat Cheese Balls — Happy Days Dairy, Salmon Arm, British Columbia
• Neufchatel — Golden Ears Cheesecrafters, Maple Ridge, British Columbia

BEST WEST CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE L’OUEST (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

• Bothwell Cheddar White — Bothwell Cheese, New Bothwell, Manitoba
• Bothwell Jalapeno — Bothwell Cheese, New Bothwell, Manitoba
• Gouda Natural Smoked — Sylvan Star Cheese, Red Deer County, Alberta

BEST ONTARIO CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE L’ONTARIO

• Figaro — Glengarry Fine Cheese, Lancaster, Ontario
• Mountainoak Farmstead 3 Year Old — Mountainoak Cheese, New Hamburg, Ontario
• Original Artisan Chèvre — Cross Wind Farm, Keene, Ontario
• Ricotta — Ferrante Cheese, Woodbridge, Ontario
• Zerto Fresh Mozzarella — Quality Cheese, Vaughan, Ontario

BEST QUEBEC CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DU QUÉBEC

• Alfred le Fermier 18 mois — Fromagerie la Station, Compton, Québec
• Hercule de Charlevoix — Laiterie Charlevoix, Baie-Saint-Paul, Québec
• Le 1608 — Laiterie Charlevoix, Baie-Saint-Paul, Québec
• Louis Cyr — Fromagerie Bergeron, Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, Québec
• Origine de Charlevoix — Laiterie Charlevoix, Baie-Saint-Paul, Québec

BEST ATLANTIC CANADA CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DES PROVINCES ATLANTIQUES

• Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar — Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
• Cows Creamery Appletree Smoked Cheddar — Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
• Cows Creamery 3 Year Old Cheddar — Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Cheese is listed alphabetically within each category or award. Where more than three finalists are shown, there were many entries and close scores. The Cheese of the Year was selected after several rounds of blind tastings of the best cheeses from the above 19 main categories.

For the 2018 competition, judging on technical aspects and aesthetics took place February 22 and 23 at University of Guelph, Department of Food Science, with evaluation of cheese headed by Dr. Arthur Hill, Chair and Professor, Food Science.

The Awards Ceremony takes place June 6 in Toronto at historic St. Lawrence Market. The presentation of winners will be followed by an Awards Tasting Gala open to trade, media, and special guests. The following day, June 7, the inaugural Canadian Cheese Expo trade show for cheese industry, hospitality industry, chefs, media, food writers and bloggers takes place in the afternoon with the first-ever Artisan Cheese Night Market in the evening, open to the public.

The Canadian Cheese of the Year receives a prize of $5,000, thanks to Loblaw Companies, to support a marketing campaign to exploit being named the best cheese in Canada. Champions in each cheese category and provincial or regional champions will also be selected.

In 2018, a special prize of $5,000 for marketing also will be presented to the winner of the Best Cow’s Milk Cheese Award thanks to Dairy Farmers of Canada, our Principal Partner, Cow Milk Cheese.

It is the biggest cheese competition in Canada and the first open to all milks used in cheese making—cow, goat, sheep and water buffalo—with only pure natural cheese accepted for judging. That means with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, and no modified milk ingredients.

Canadian Cheese Awards is produced by Cheese Lover Productions which also operates The Great Canadian Cheese Festival in Picton, Ontario. The Cheese Festival is on hiatus in 2018 to allow resources to be devoted to the launch of Artisan Cheese Night Market and related events.

• Cheese Awards website: http://cheeseawards.ca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanadianCheeseNightMarket/
• Cheese Lover blog: https://cheeselover.ca
• Social media feeds: https://cheesefestival.ca/social-media-feeds/

For additional information, mailto:awards@cheeselover.ca or telephone 1.866.865.2628.