In precise terms: this year, the best cheeses came from the Saanenland in the “Berner Alpkäse AOP” ("Bernese Alpine Cheese AOP") and the "Berner Hobelkäse AOP" (Bernese Hobel Cheese AOP) categories. Marianne and Klaus Burri from the Alp Mittlere Schneit snatched the two coveted gold medals away from the strong competition from the Bernese Alpine cheese catchment area. Also, gold went to Annemarie and Andreas Brügger from Erlenbach, who produce their excellent Mutschli on the Alp Hösel.

Excellent quality across the board
The enthusiasm of Hanspeter Graf, who led the 18-member panel, just goes to show that the lucky winners are far from the only ones who produce good cheese. "Given the dry summer of 2018 you did very well in terms of cheese and 2018 is a very good vintage. The top echelons of first-class alpine cheese are expanding every year". Hans Kohler, president of Casalp, emphasised that cheese quality has been on the up for years, thanks to the real commitment of Alpine cheese producers. Good training and increasingly extensive advice will certainly go a long way to making it harder for the jury to judge the winning cheeses every year.

A successful folk festival supports the cheese
The supporting programme for this championship drew in more than 1000 visitors to the pretty village of Saanen. Many stall holders who had already been at the cheese market on the Saturday also presented their products on the Sunday. Numerous Alpine farmers and other cheese enthusiasts didn’t miss out on tasting the highest-placed products in the Landhaus Hall, talking shop with colleagues or simply looking back on the previous summer with like-minded people.

In the marquee, the Trechler Club Gsteig and the Landfrauen Saanenland took care of hospitality. The children's yodelling club and the "Gruss vom Wasserngrat" yodelling club gave very fine performances. A small Swiss wrestling arena was set up in the station square. Anyone who wanted to could test their skills against to the local Schwinger. In the afternoon, it was wonderful to see how the children donned the Schwingers’ trousers and acted out the role of the strong men from the club down to the last detail! 

Based on AvS/Vreni Müllener
Translated by Justine Hewson