An Emmentaler from Switzerland was named World Champion, but Wisconsin continued its dominance at the 30th biennial World Championship Cheese Contest.

State cheesemakers took first-place honors in 34 of the 90 categories, swept the top three spots in 10 categories and placed four cheeses in the “sweet 16” finals for Best of Show.

However, European cheesemakers were responsible for the top three overall cheeses selected by a panel of 50 international judges before a record gala crowd of nearly 500 people at Monona Terrace.

Gerard Sinnesberger of Gams, Switzerland, was World Champion for his Emmentaler, a rinded Swiss-style cheese. First runner-up went to Alois Pichler and Team Obersteirische Molkerei of Knittelfeld, Austria, for its hard cheese, while a Gruyere from Fromagerie Molesan SA in Orsonnens, Switzerland, was named second runner-up.

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