Canadian Cheese Awards

By / Magazine / April 27th, 2011 / 2

Grand Champion selected from more than 200 Canadian cheeses.

Dairy Farmers of Canada announced at the 2011 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix Gala that Louis d’Or made by Fromagerie du Presbytère in Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Quebec, has been selected as the “Grand Champion” of this year’s event. A seven-member jury made up of Canada’s leading cheese experts selected the Grand Champion from among 17 category winners, which were also announced at the Gala. The Canadian Cheese Grand Prix is the most prestigious cheese competition in Canada. Held every two years, it showcases the outstanding quality, variety, taste and versatility of Canadian cheese made from 100% Canadian cow’s milk.

Already a category winner for firm, farmhouse and organic cheese, the Louis d’Or is a 40-kg wheel. The cheesemaker has created this cheese, which has fine, complex flavours, eloquently expressed after nine months of ripening. The Louis d’Or cheese gets its name from the Louis d’Or farm, which produces the organic milk used to make it. The name of the cheese also refers to the French currency of the same name used under the reign of Louis XIII in 1640.

“The milky richness of this cheese is a tribute to the organic milk with which it is made. The cheese has a smooth texture, warm nutty and floral notes in aroma and taste. Inspired by the traditional cheese making know-how from the Jura region, the cheese maker created an amazing cheese” said Phil Bélanger, Chair of the 2011 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix Jury and President of the New Brunswick Chapter of La Confrèrie de la Chaîne des Rétisseurs.

“This year we received a record number of entries – 203 from across the country,” said Bélanger. It truly denotes the continuing innovativeness and passion for creating exceptional Canadian cheeses. It is clear that both Canadian consumers and the food industry recognize that we make world-class cheese right here in Canada that is worth celebrating.”

The competition rewards cheesemakers for excellence in innovation and the quality of their products. This year’s winners showcase the world-class cheeses being produced across Canada and the level of excellence of the art of cheesemaking. Winners enjoy the right to display a Grand Prix promotional tool with their product and benefit from the attention generated by the competition.

The following are the 16 category winners of the 7th Canadian Cheese Grand Prix:

GRAND CHAMPION: Louis d’Or

1. Fresh cheese: Mascarpone Tre Stelle (Arla Foods Inc.) ON
2. Soft cheese with bloomy rind: Island Bries (Little Qualicum Cheeseworks Ltd.) BC
3. Semi-soft cheese: Lankaaster Traditional Gouda (Glengarry Fine Cheese) ON
4. Washed-rind cheese – Soft and semi-soft cheese: Le Mont-Jacob (Fromagerie Blackburn) QC
5. Firm cheese: Louis d’Or (Fromagerie du Presbytère) QC
6. Swiss-type cheese: Fromage Suisse Lemaire (Fromagerie Lemaire) QC
7. Mozzarella: Bocconcini Santa Lucia (International Cheese Co. Ltd.) ON
8. Blue cheese: Le Bleu d’Élizabeth (Fromagerie du Presbytère) QC
9. Flavoured cheese with added non-particulate flavouring: Naturally Smoked Boerenkaas (Natural Pastures Cheese Company) BC
10. Flavoured cheese with added particulate solids and flavouring: Gouda Herbs and Garlic (Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd.) AB
11. Mild Cheddar: Mild Cheddar (The Black River Cheese Company Ltd.) ON
12. Medium Cheddar: Cheddar moyen Biologique (Fromagerie L’Ancètre inc.) QC
13. Old, Extra Old Cheddar: Le Jersey du Fjord (Bergeries du Fjord) QC
14. Aged Cheddar (1-3 years): Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar (Cows Creamery) PEI
15. Farmhouse cheese: Louis d’Or (Fromagerie du Presbytère) QC
16. Organic cheese: Louis d’Or (Fromagerie du Presbytère) QC

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