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.