Key Dates 2021

2021 Entry information

World Cheese Awards 2021 information:

Terms & Conditions  |   Category List  |    Example entry form

French  |   Règlements du concours

Greek  |  Οροι και Προϋποθέσεις

Italian  |  Termini e condizioni

Portuguese  |  Termos e Condições

Spanish  |  Términos y condiciones

How does it work?

The first step to entering is to register and pay for your entries online via the MyGuild portal once entry is open from 23 August 2021.  You can register your company details in advance, but please try to avoid setting up a duplicate company account.  If someone in your business has already got a company account, then they can add you as a user.

Delivery instructions

Consolidation points are organised across the world to receive World Cheese Awards entries from cheesemakers and from there the cheeses are transported to the judging venue.

Consolidation Point Map

Delivery instructions will be issued to confirmed entrants in October 2021 via your MyGuild account.  Normally you will be asked to make delivery to the consolidation point nearest to your business and will be provided with delivery labels, guidance on the quantity to send and the latest date by which the cheeses can be received.

Please do not send any cheeses until you have received your delivery instructions.

Important information for entries from outside of the European Union (EU)

If you are planning to enter cheeses from a country outside of the EU you will be required to receive approval from the Spanish authorities to ensure that your cheeses will be accepted for delivery.

Please apply to your health authority for an official Export to EU Health Certificate.  This must be signed by the health authorities in the country of origin and a copy sent to worldcheese@gff.co.uk as soon as possible.

If you are unable to apply for an official Export to EU Health Certificate, below we have provided a template declaration certificate for completion.  Please download and complete the relevant template, have this signed by an official veterinarian or competent health authority, AND also the company representative responsible for quality assurance. If you are sending BOTH cheeses made with raw milk AND cheeses made with pasteurised milk, please complete a separate copy of the certificate for each type of milk.  The exporter of the cheeses must complete Part I of the health certificate.

Copies of the completed certificate(s) should be emailed to worldcheese@gff.co.uk BEFORE you send your cheeses and the original version(s) sent with your cheeses.  The certificates will be forwarded to Spain ahead of the shipment of the cheeses.  Any non-EU cheeses that are sent without pre-submitting a signed health certificate will not be accepted for delivery.

Template for entrants based outside of the EU (except UK): WCA21 certificate template

Template for UK-based entrants only:  WCA21 certificate template UK entrants

If you have any questions about the documents please contact worldcheese@gff.co.uk.

How the competition works

Cheeses are sent from all round the world to be judged in a single day by carefully assembled teams of technical experts, buyers, retailers and food writers.

Judges work in teams of three, to identify any cheeses worthy of a gold, silver or bronze award. They looked at the rind and the body of the cheese, its colour, texture, consistency and, above all, its taste. Each of the teams then nominate one exceptional cheese as the Super Gold from their table.

These top-flight cheeses are the best in the world and were then judged a second time by the Super Jury of internationally-recognised experts, who each selected a cheese to champion in the final round of judging. The Super Jury, representing all four corners of the globe, then debated the final cheeses in front of a live consumer and trade audience, before choosing the World Champion Cheese live on WCA TV, with cheese lovers across the globe tuning in for the drama.

As well as striving for Bronze, Silver, Gold and Super Gold, there are country and cheese specific trophies.

This year’s Awards are now open for entry.

International Cheese Festival

This year’s World Cheese Awards will take place at the International Cheese Festival in Oviedo, Asturias.  More information and tickets for the cheese festival can be found at www.internationalcheesefestival.com.

World Cheese entry alerts

Sign up below to receive World Cheese entry information updates (trade only). Please note: This form is only to register your interest in entering World Cheese and is not the entry form itself.

Cost of entry