There’s a new champion in American cheese, and it’s a familiar favorite.
At the 2026 American Cheese Society Judging & Competition, Jasper Hill Farm’s Winnimere earned Best of Show, rising to the top of a field of more than 1,600 entries from over 200 creameries across the Americas. The winners were announced on July 8 during the American Cheese Society Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
For Jasper Hill Farm, the win marks another milestone for Winnimere, which also captured the competition’s top honor in 2013. The seasonal cheese has long been celebrated for its rich, spoonable texture and bold character, making it a standout each winter.
Crafted from raw cow’s milk and wrapped in spruce bark, Winnimere is a washed-rind cheese inspired by Switzerland’s Försterkäse and often compared to France’s Vacherin Mont d’Or. Its creamy interior is made for scooping, while the spruce bark lends earthy, woodsy aromas that have helped make it one of America’s most recognizable seasonal cheeses. It’s typically available from late fall through early spring.
The competition also recognized several other exceptional cheesemakers. Second Place Best of Show went to Artze from Blakesville Creamery, a sheep’s milk cheese featuring Piment d’Espelette. Third Place Best of Show was awarded to ‘Nati Gouda from Urban Stead Cheese in Cincinnati, Ohio – an old-world-style Gouda made with Jersey cow’s milk and aged 16 to 20 months for a rich, crystalline texture.
This year’s judging highlighted the depth of artisan cheesemaking across North America. Along with the Best of Show honors, judges presented 438 awards, including 136 first-place, 146 second-place, and 156 third-place medals, recognizing excellence across a wide range of styles and categories.
Other cheeses earning Best of Show recognition or honorable mention included Humboldt Fog, Marieke Gouda Mature, Willoughby, Street Ched, Wagon Wheel, Leelanau Reserve, Marinated Labneh, and Ewe’re My Boy, Blue—showcasing the remarkable diversity of today’s artisan cheese landscape.
For anyone keeping an eye on the American cheese scene, the 2026 results are another reminder that innovation, craftsmanship, and regional character continue to define the industry’s best.
Want to explore every winner? The American Cheese Society has published the complete list of 2026 Judging & Competition award recipients here.