Winners in the Alps

Every year, cheeses participate in the OLMA Alpkäse-award contest, where Alpine cheese producers from all over Switzerland compete for awards. This year a total of 174 cheeses were judged on 9 October. A jury examined the cheeses and determined the winners. The overall quality of the cheeses from this year’s competition was judged as excellent.

Evaluation was carried out in five categories: hard cheese, semi-hard cheese, sliced cheese, sheep and goat cheese and Mutschli. Prize money amounts to a total of CHF20,000 (€18,300).

This year’s winners in the hard cheese category included first prize for Berner Alpkäse AOP, Alp Ahorni, Gemeinde Lenk, by Adrian Zeller, Lenk. The semi-hard top prize went to Bündner Alpkäse, Alp Stürfis, Gemeinde Maienfeld, by Martin Rutz, Gähwil, while sliced cheese saw the top award collected by Berner Hobelkäse AOP, Alp Ritz, Gemeinde Lenk, by Hans-Rudolf Bühler, Därstetten. In sheep and goat, Ziegenkäse Alvierbrise, Ziegenalp Malschüel, Gemeinde Buchs, by Georg Summer, Gams, were the winners, and Mutschli saw Urnerboden Alpmutschli, Alpkäserei Urnerboden, Gemeinde Spiringen, by Martin Stadelmann, Urnerboden win the top spot.

To enter the competition the cheeses must be processed from milk produced in alpine pasture regions in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. No ingredients such as herbs and spices may be used.