Virtual Cheese Awards 2021
ENTRIES NOW CLOSED
Introduction to the Awards
The Virtual Cheese Awards 2021 will be held on Friday 7th May 2021 and entries are now OPEN.
The awards are limited to a maximum of 400 entrants, this allows the judges to give each cheese detailed consideration and ensure that makers get the maximum benefit from the experience.
Watching their cheeses being judged gives makers really valuable feedback.
Once a class is full it will be closed; so it is important that you enter as soon as possible.
2021 Award Categories
Best Cheddar Cheese 2021
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Best Territorial Cheese 2021
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Best Blue Cheese 2021
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Best Enhanced Cheese 2021
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Best Speciality Cheese 2021
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Best Artisan Cheese 2021
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Best Free From Cheeses 2021
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Recognising Excellence Award 2021
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Entering the Virtual Cheese Awards
There are a total of 42 different opportunities to win the coveted stamp-of-approval and, in all categories, there are three finalists – first, second and third. This gives you over 100 opportunities to have the superior quality of your cheese celebrated.
There are 8 different categories which you can enter.
Click on the relevant category on the form and you can then choose the relevant class; all of which are listed below. We have briefly outlined each awards category to help you choose the correct one for your cheese.
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All cheeses must be from Great Britain or Ireland. Producers can only enter a maximum of 3 cheeses into each class, but you are free to enter as many classes as desired. There is a maximum number of entries for each class. Once it is full no more entries will be allowed; so, make sure you enter your cheese early.
The type of milk used is specified as part of the entry; except in the artisan cheese category classes which are milk specific.
The awards will be held live 7th May. Tune in to find out what the judges think about your cheese.
Virtual Cheese Awards 2021
Full Category List
Best Cheddar Cheese
A celebration of the UK’s bestselling cheese variety and our biggest cheese export. There are 5 different classes in this category.
Best Mild Creamery Cheddar
Best Mature Creamery Cheddar - FULL
Best Vintage Creamery Cheddar
Best Mature Traditional Cheddar
Best Vintage Traditional Cheddar
Best Enhanced Cheese
Innovation in the cheese market is often driven by this category and is an increasingly popular choice. Enhanced cheese is any cheese that has an extra element added once the cheese has been developed. There are 5 classes to enter here.
Best Cheese with Additives – Sweet
Best Cheese with Additives – Savoury - FULL
Best Waxed Cheese without Additives
Best Waxed Cheese with Additives
Best Smoked Cheese
Best Artisan Cheese
Artisan cheese is defined as any cheese which is produced primarily by hand, in small batches, with particular attention paid to the tradition of the cheesemakers’ art and thus using as little mechanisation as possible.
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There are 9 different classes to enter.
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From a herd's own milk - FULL
Best Cows' Milk Hard Cheese - FULL
Best Cows' Milk Soft Cheese - FULL
Best Goats' Milk Hard Cheese
Best Goats' Milk Soft Cheese
Best Ewe's Milk Hard Cheese
Best Ewe's Milk Soft Cheese
Best Hard Buffalo Milk Cheese
Best Soft Buffalo Milk Cheese
Recognising Excellence Awards
This category is judged by a separate team who represent the opinions of the broader cheese community.
The sustainability award recognises the most exciting innovations in sustainable cheese production.
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The Cheese Hero recognises a person who has gone over and above to support the cheese industry or created an outstanding innovation.
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Most Innovative Cheese Packaging
Best Accompaniment – Crackers
Best Accompaniment – Other
Trophy for Sustainability
Cheese Hero
What do you win?
Winning any of the awards is a sure-fire way to accelerate business success.
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Reaching buyers is easier when you have a badge of quality; giving you a USP and enhanced credibility. In addition to that the overall winner of the Best of British & Irish Cheeses wins the following package:
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What you win:
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Best of British Cheese Trophy
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Package from Speciality Food Magazine worth £4,000
A full-page editorial profile in Speciality Food Magazine
Coverage in Great British Food Magazine (Consumer)
Digital coverage across both Speciality Food and Great British Food magazines
Opportunity to showcase the company at Speciality & Fine Food Fair, worth £5,000, by the VCA team. The value that these leads could create is immeasurable.
Academy of Cheese - 2 x L1 Academy of Cheese courses and a year’s subscription worth over £300
Surprise prize in association with Selfridges
Extensive coverage in the Virtual Cheese Awards post awards activities -including PR and social media.
PR package from Northern PR
Free social media consultation with our social media Manager
Testimonial
“Winning at the VCA with both Beacon Blue and Kidderton Ash was a real boost for everyone involved in making our speciality farmhouse cheeses. We felt very proud to hear the judges’ comments as they tasted the cheese and know that they were worthy winners. Well done to the VCA for pioneering a new transparent way of judging cheese and masterminding an event which all cheesemakers were privileged to be a part of”
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Gill Hall, Owner; Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses
TERMS & CONDITIONS
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All cheese must be from the UK or Ireland.
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Entry fees must be paid at the point of submission. We cannot invoice for this.
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A total of 400 cheese can be entered for the awards. Once this number is reached no additional cheese can be submitted.
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Each producer can enter a max of 3 cheeses per class but can enter as many classes as desired.
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Entry fees cannot be refunded.
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The organisers reserve the right to revise the final date of judging.
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The judges’ decision is final. No right to appeal.
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The number of entries per class is capped and once full the class will be closed.