Rogue River Blue from the US Wins the World's Best Cheese Title 2019

An American cheese has been named as the world's best cheese at the annual World Cheese Awards hosted by Forme, the Bergamo dairy art event held in Italy.

Rogue River Blue, an organic cow's milk cheese made by the small artisan cheesemaker Rogue Creamery in Southern Oregon, beat over 3800 cheeses from 42 countries around the world to claim the title of World Champion Cheese.

The win also makes history marking the first time in the competition's 32 year history that an American made cheese has received the top honour.

Rogue River Blue is a seasonal cheese made during the fall, following which each wheel of cheese is cave-aged for 9 to 11 months and hand-wrapped in organic Syrah grape leaves soaked in pear liqueur.

The producer describes the 2019 vintage as exhibiting "pear, spice, blackberry, vanilla, hazelnut, chocolate, and bacon flavors" while International Super Jury Brazilian judge, Bruno Cabral, described Rogue River Blue as a “taste party”, applauding its “different sensations, balance, sweet and spicy notes.

The unique blue cheese narrowly snagged the top spot in close competition with the Italian 24-month aged Nazionale del Parmigiano Reggiano from Latteria Sociale Santo Stefano which eventually came a very close second. In third place was a raw ewe’s milk cheese from Spain, Torta del Casar D.O.P. Virgen Del Prado made by Queseria Doña Francisca S.L.

The top 16 places saw four UK cheeses, 3 Italian, 3 Swiss and a cheese from Japan, The Netherlands and France. (see the full list below)