SerpApi.Org
When you think of "good" cheese, your mind might go to a soft triple-cream wheel from France or an aged Gruyère from Switzerland, but the American-made cheese industry is impressive in its own right - and growing. Every year, the American Cheese Society, a leading organization that promotes and supports cheeses made in North, Central, and South America, hosts an annual conference to celebrate this market and present awards to the best in the industry.
The 2026 conference took place in Louisville, Kentucky, from July 7 to July 10, and Jasper Hill Farm's Winnimere cheese won best of show. Here's what you need to know about this Vermont-made cheese.
Jasper Hill Farm's Winnimere Named "Best of Show" at 2026 American Cheese Society Conference
Jasper Hill Farm's Winnimere cheese won best of show against the 1,600 entries that were submitted from over 200 creameries across the Americas. Runners-up were Blakesville Creamery's Artze cheese made in Wisconsin, then Urban Stead Cheese's ‘Nati Gouda from Ohio.
Associate Groceries Editor Ali Domrongchai has tried this Jasper Hill Farm cheese before and said that it's unlike any other soft, mild cheese she's ever tried. "This thick-yet-smooth cheese left an impression on my taste buds even a year after tasting it," she raved. She said that while its texture is similar to something like Brie, the flavor is strong and pronounced.
Winnimere is made from raw winter cow's milk and wrapped in spruce bark strips. It's aged for 60 days, until it reaches a "spoonably soft" texture, and it has a rich, woodsy flavor. It's the creamery's take on cheeses made in the Jura Mountains, an area known for cheesemaking (like Comté). Because of this, Jasper Hill Farm's Winnimere mimics the tradition of only making this cheese during winter months when the cows are giving rich, hay-fed raw milk.
The creamery recommends pairing it with maple flavors, potato chips, bacon, and pet nat wines (a type of sparkling natural wine) to complement Winnimere's profile. As for the rind, you'll want to peel away the top and dive in with a spoon to enjoy it. You don't have to tell me twice! If you want to try Winnimere for yourself, it's more popular at local cheese shops, but it could also be available at your local Whole Foods.
At this year's conference, Jasper Hill Farm won five awards, including four first-place finishes (Cabot Clothbound Black Label, Moses Sleeper, Willoughby, and Winnimere), one third-place finish, and best of show. There were 438 awards handed out in total. If you're interested in finding out what the judges deemed the best butters, cheddars, and more, check out the full list of winners here.
