In this Thursday, March 5, 2020 photo, Christian Schmutz, of the Swiss Cheesemakers Association, hoists a 77-pound wheel of the Best of Show winner in the World Championship Cheese Contest at Monona Terrace in Madison, Wi.. The cheese, Gourmino Le Gruyere, is made by Michael Spycher of Mountain Dairy Fritzenhaus for Gourmino AG. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)
The Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A gruyere from Switzerland has been named the world's best cheese, chosen from a record number of entrants from 26 nations in the World Championship Cheese Contest in Wisconsin.
The cheese from Bern, Switzerland made its maker, Michael Spycher of Mountain Dairy Fritzenhaus, a two-time winner. Spycher also won in 2008.
Another product from Switzerland, a hard cheese made from cow's milk called Gallus Grand CRU and made by Hardegger Kase AG, was runner-up Thursday, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
The contest is the largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition in the world and started Tuesday in Madison with a record 3,667 entries.
The 55 judges taste, sniff and inspect the 132 classes of dairy products during the biennial contest. The judges include cheese graders, cheese buyers, dairy science professors, and researchers from 19 nations and 14 states.
The last time the competition was held in 2018, a hard sheep's milk cheese called Esquirrou made in France at Mauleon Fromagerie won top honors. It is imported by Savencia Cheese USA.
One judge and 30 people from a Japanese university could not attend because the university didn't allow international travel due to the new coronavirus, organizers said.
Three Wisconsin cheeses were finalists. A smoked gouda with cumin from Marieke Gouda of Thorp, a gorgonzola from Emmi Roth of Seymour and a cheddar from Maple Leaf Cheesemakers of Monroe all made the top 20.
In this Thursday, March 5, 2020 photo, judges in the World Championship Cheese Contest, including Kirk Baldwin, left, and Matt Zimbric, center, show visitors to the event's Cheese Champion gathering how to pull and sample cheese at Monona Terrace in Madison, Wis. Trying her hand at the technique at right is Molly Pearcy. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)
The Associated Press
In this Thursday, March 5, 2020 photo, visitors to the Cheese Champion event of the World Championship Cheese Contest sample offerings from an array of international producers during the gathering at Monona Terrace in Madison, Wis. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)
The Associated Press
Judge Douwe Dijkstra pulls out a piece of Appenzeller cheese at the biennial World Championship Cheese Contest, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wis. It's the largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition in the world. This year the competition had a record 3,667 entries from 26 nations. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
The Associated Press
Steve Stettler holds a wheel of baby Swiss cheese at the biennial World Championship Cheese Contest, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wis. It's the largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition in the world. This year the competition had a record 3,667 entries from 26 nations. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
The Associated Press
Judge Christophe Megevand inspects a wheel of Gruyere cheese at the biennial World Championship Cheese Contest, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wis. It's the largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition in the world. This year the competition had a record 3,667 entries from 26 nations. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
The Associated Press
World Championship Cheese Contest committee members Gary Grossen, left, Gordy Bergemann, right, and Dan Stearns, rear, turn a block of Swiss cheese at the biennial World Championship Cheese Contest, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wis. It's the largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition in the world. This year the competition had a record 3,667 entries from 26 nations. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
The Associated Press
Judge Christophe Megevand inspects a piece of Gruyere cheese at the biennial World Championship Cheese Contest, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wis. It's the largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition in the world. This year the competition had a record 3,667 entries from 26 nations. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
The Associated Press
Judge Keith Glewish smells a piece of cheddar cheese at the biennial World Championship Cheese Contest, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wis. It's the largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition in the world. This year the competition had a record 3,667 entries from 26 nations. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
The Associated Press
A wheel of baby Swiss cheese is displayed at the biennial World Championship Cheese Contest, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wis. It's the largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition in the world. This year the competition had a record 3,667 entries from 26 nations. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
The Associated Press