A cheese made in North Somerset has been named among the best in the world.
Pitchfork Cheddar from Trethowan’s Dairy was fourth overall at the World Cheese Awards in Bergamo, Italy, as well as being named Britain's best cheese.
The cheese has only been in production since 2017 and is an organic, unpasteurised, traditional clothbound cheddar made just seven miles from Cheddar Gorge.
Pitchfork Cheddar was joined in the top 16 by the Trethowan brothers’ Gorwydd Caerphilly, with the dairy also picking up trophies for Best Mature Traditional Cheddar and Best Extra Mature Cheddar.
The overall winner of the awards was a US-made cheese.
Rogue River Blue, produced in Oregon, was judged the world’s best by a panel of 260 international experts.
Cheesemakers from 42 countries including Australia, Chile, Russia and South Africa, sent their entries by boat, truck, train and plane, while Japan made its debut in the competition.
Thousands of entries were then whittled down to a final 16 winners of which four were from the Ƶ.
The largest cheese-only competition on the planet was hosted by Bergamo’s annual FORME cheese festival and new dairy trade show B2Cheese.
After the event, Italian organisation Banco Alimentare collected cheese that had been suitably preserved during the competition and passed it on to 125 charities.
Winners of the World Cheese Awards 2019
Organic Blue Cheese Rogue River Blue - USA
Nazionale del Parmigiano Reggiano Latteria Sociale Santo Stefano - Italy
Torta del Casar DOP Virgen del Prado - Spain
Pitchfork Cheddar - Ƶ
Gruyère AOP Premier Cru - Switzerland
Quintano - Italy
Gallus - Switzerland
Le Gruyère AOP - Switzerland
Epoisses PDO - France
Mori No Cheese - Japan
Gorwydd Caerphilly - Ƶ
Inglewhite Buffalo Cheese - Ƶ
Brighton Blue - Ƶ
Frico Goat Cheese - Netherlands
“Gubet” Casale Roccolo - Italy
Organic Inanna - Spain
