Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Wins 2 Medals at 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest
March 12, 2026 | 2 min to read
Madison, WI – Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company earned two prestigious medals at the 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest, the world’s largest technical dairy products evaluation. The California-based, women-owned artisan cheesemaker took home the Best of Class Gold Medal for Fennel Blue in the Open Class Cheese with Blue Molding category and the Bronze Medal for Bay Blue in the Blue Veined Cheese with Exterior Molding category.
The awards were announced following three days of rigorous evaluation by a distinguished panel of 56 dairy industry experts from 22 countries. Point Reyes competed against 3,375 entries from dairy manufacturers across 24 countries, 33 U.S. states, and Puerto Rico.
“Winning a Gold Medal for Fennel Blue and a Bronze for Bay Blue at the 2026 World Cheese Awards is truly an honor.” said Kuba Hemmerling, Head Cheesemaker and VP of Operations, “These cheeses are labors of love, crafted with intention every single day, and seeing them shine on a global stage fills us with pride. I’m incredibly grateful to our entire team; their dedication, creativity, and passion make achievements like this possible.”
Fennel Blue, which earned Best of Class honors, pairs Point Reyes’ rustic-style, natural-rinded Bay Blue cheese with aromatic fennel seeds, balancing blue pungency and umami richness with hints of licorice subtle sweetness. Fennel Blue has quickly become a favorite since its launch in 2024. Bay Blue, which took third place, is known for its mellow, fudgy character with a sweet, salted caramel finish.
Bay Blue has earned a devoted following for being a blue cheese that appeals to both blue cheese enthusiasts and those new to the style.
Hosted biennially by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) since 1957, the World Championship Cheese Contest is the largest technical dairy products evaluation in the world. Judges evaluate entries across 150 classes, carefully assessing and scoring each product based on technical and sensory attributes including flavor, body, texture, salt, color, finish, and packaging.
“The single gold, silver and bronze medallion earned in each contest class is a trusted mark of exceptional quality and craftsmanship,” said Kirsten Strohmenger, WCMA Contest Director. “Entrants know and respect the rigorous technical standards of this competition.”
The 2026 competition took place March 3-5 at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
About Point Reyes Cheese Farmstead Cheese Company
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company is a California-based dairy farm and artisan cheese creamery producing the finest specialty cheese in the USA since 2000. Located just north of San Francisco, the 100% women-and-sister-owned company is focused on sustainable, environmentally-friendly agriculture while delivering happiness to cheese lovers everywhere.