WITH Spain’s rich, ancient culinary traditions and deeply agricultural society, it’s no surprise that cheese remains one of its greatest exports.
Across the country, each region possesses its own emblematic recipe. From the stinky, gooey Cabrales of Asturias to the fresh and light Burgos cheese, each represents a timeless connection to the people, the land, and culture.
But with such diversity, picking a starting place for ranking the best of the best might feel like a daunting task.
Fortunately, every year, the culinary experts at Salon Gourmets stage a “Best Cheese in Spain” competition at its International Fine Food and Beverages Fair.
At this year’s fair — held in Madrid’s IFEMA events center from April 22 to 25 — experts tasted dozens of gourmet cheeses from around the country and ranked their top choices, organised into distinct categories.
Below are the winners of each of the 20 categories, from goat to sheep and cow:
Cow Cheese, Young
Name: Barral DOP Queixo Tetilla
Maker: Queixeria Barral
Location: Arzua, A Coruña, Galicia
Name: Dajosefa
Maker: Fermentos Galegos
Location: Chantada, Lugo, Galicia
Name: Anzuxao DOP Queixo Tetilla
Maker: Lácteos Anzuxao
Location: Lalín, Pontevedra, Galicia
Cow Cheese, Cured
Name: Don Nicolás
Maker: Finca de Uga
Location: Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Name: Señorío de Cameros Añejo
Maker: Lácteos Martínez
Location: Haro, La Rioja
Name: Mourelo
Maker: Quintián
Location: O Páramo, Lugo, Galicia
Raw Goat’s Milk Cheese, Young
Name: Musgo Lavado
Maker: Elvira García
Location: El Barraco, Avila, Castilla y Leon
Name: Musgo de Capra
Maker: Elvira García
Location: El Barraco, Ávila, Castilla y Leon
Name: Gorullo
Maker: Quesos Edén
Location: Marjaliza, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha
Pasteurised Goat’s Milk Cheese, Young
Name: Tío Resti al Romero
Maker: Especialidades Lácteas – Grupo TGT
Location: Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia
Name: Tronco Rebollín
Maker: Agrovaldés Cooperativa
Location: La Espina, Asturias
Name: Farcell de Cabra
Maker: Formatgeria Cal Music
Location: El Mujal, Barcelona, Catalunya
Raw Goat’s Milk Cheese, Cured
Name: Carmeli
Maker: Quesos Edén
Location: Marjaliza, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha
Name: El Zénit
Maker: La Zarcillera
Location: Zarcilla de Ramos, Murcia
Name: Flor del Torcal
Maker: Campyserr
Location: Antequera, Málaga, Andalucia
Pasteurised Goat’s Milk Cheese, Cured
Name: Granja El Moro Curado
Maker: Lázaro Alfaro
Location: Figarol, Navarra
Name: Payoyo Cabra Curado
Maker: Queso Payoyo
Location: Villaluenga del Rosario, Cádiz, Andalucia
Name: Corcuera Cabra Curado Pimentón (Paprika)
Maker: Quesos Corcuera
Location: La Puebla de Montalbán, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha
Mixed, Semi-cured
Name: Pajarete Semicurado de Cabra y Oveja (Goat and Sheep)
Maker: Quesos Pajarete
Location: Villamartin, Cadiz, Andalucia
Name: El Bosqueño Mezcla Semicurado
Maker: Quesos El Bosqueño
Location: El Bosque, Cádiz, Andalucia
Name: Selectum Semicurado Pimentón
Maker: Grupo Ganaderos de Fuerteventura
Location: Puerto Del Rosario, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
Mixed, Cured
Name: Payoyo Mezcla Curado en Romero
Maker: Queso Payoyo
Location: Villaluenga del Rosario, Cádiz, Andalucia
Name: Entrepinares Reserva
Maker: Grupo Entrepinares
Location: Valladolid, Castilla y Leon
Name: Valle de San Juan Ibérico Añejo
Maker: Valle de San Juan
Location: Palencia, Castilla y Leon
Soft, Moldy Rind
Name: Pi Corteza Enmohecida
Maker: Quesos de Hualdo
Location: El Carpio de Tajo, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha
Name: Cervellán
Maker: Milagros Lombera Gutiérrez
Location: Ampuero, Cantabria
Name: Briqueta
Maker: Cabraline
Location: Antequera, Málaga, Andalucia
Soft, Washed Rind
Name: Tou del Mujal Eco
Maker: Formatgeria Cal Music
Location: El Mujal, Barcelona, Catalunya
Name: Torta de Barros Mini Oveja
Maker: Quesería Tierra de Barros
Location: Villafranca de Los Barros, Badajoz, Extremadura
Name: Rufino Cabreá
Maker: Hermanos Cuecas Morujo
Location: Oliva de La Frontera, Badajoz, Extremadura
Soft, Vegetable Coagulant
Name: Cremositos del Zujar
Maker: Arteserena
Location: Campanario, Badajoz, Extremadura
Name: Gran Tajo Selección DOP Torta del Casar
Maker: Iberqués Extremadura
Location: Casar de Cáceres, Cáceres, Extremadura
Name: Dehesa Real de Untar Tradicional
Maker: Cooperativa Agrícola Ganadera de Castuera
Location: Castuera, Badajoz, Extremadura
Raw Sheep’s Cheese, Semicured
Name: Villarejo Semicurado DOP Queso Manchego Artesano
Maker: Quesos Artesanos Villarejo
Location: Villarejo de Fuentes, Cuenca
Name: Villajos Semicurado DOP Queso Manchego Artesano
Maker: Agrovillaserra
Location: Porzuna, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha
Name: Villarejo Semicurado Al Resoli
Maker: Quesos Artesanos Villarejo
Location: Villarejo de Fuentes, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha
Pasteurised Sheep’s Cheese, Semicured
Name: La Antigua Quesería Tierno
Maker: Juan David García Fernández
Location: Mora, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha
Name: Consorcio Semicurado
Maker: Consorcio de Promoción del Ovino Cooperativa
Location: Villalpando, Zamora, Castilla y Leon
Name: Cabesota Provenzal
Maker: Quesos La Cabesota
Location: Bolaños de Calatrava, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha
Raw Sheep’s Cheese, Cured
Name: 5Q’S Queso de Oveja curado en Barrica de Sherry
Maker: Alimentias
Location: El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Andalucia
Name: Pie de Monte Envejecido en Manteca Ibérica
Maker: Quesos Encinasola
Location: Porzuna, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha
Name: Moraleda Curado
Maker: Quesos Moraleda
Location: Dos Barrios, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha
Pasteurised Sheep’s Cheese, Cured
Name: Pajarete Emborrado de Oveja
Maker: Lopicomo
Location: Villamartín, Cádiz, Andalucia
Name: Sierra de Albarracín Etiqueta Verde al Romero
Maker: Queso Artesano de Teruel
Location: Albarracín, Teruel, Aragon
Name: El Bosqueño Curado Emborrado en Salvado de Trigo
Maker: Quesos El Bosqueño
Location: El Bosque, Cádiz, Andalucia
Sheep’s Cheese, Aged
Name: Pago Los Vivales Etiqueta Burdeos
Maker: Baltasar Moralejo e Hijos
Location: Coreses, Zamora, Castile y Leon
Name: Finca La Cuadra Añejo DOP Queso Manchego Artesano
Maker: Agroalimentaria Finca La Cuadra
Location: La Herrera, Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha
Name: Villarejo Añejo Curado en Miel y Orégano
Maker: Quesos Artesanos Villarejo
Location: Villarejo de Fuentes, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha
Refined Lactic Acid Coagulation
Name: Moluengo
Maker: Quesos La Rueda del Cabriel
Location: Villamalea, Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha
Name: Valleclaro
Maker: Lácteos Romero Peláez
Location: Guarromán, Jaén, Andalucia
Name: Lucero
Maker: Quesos La Rueda del Cabriel
Location: Villamalea, Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha
Blue Cheese, Internal Mold
Name: Savel
Maker: Airas Moniz
Location: Chantada, Lugo, Galicia
Name: Rey Silo Azul Mamá Marisa
Maker: Ernesto Madera López
Location: Pravia, Asturias
Name: Blau de Jutglar
Maker: Reixagó
Location: Olost, Barcelona, Catalunya
Smoked
Name: Fontelas DOP San Simón da Costa
Maker: Javier Piñeiro López
Location: Vilalba, Lugo, Galicia
Name: Don Crisanto DOP San Simón da Costa
Maker: Crisanto
Location: Vilalba, Lugo, Galicia
Name: Queso de Cabra Tierno Ahumado
Maker: Quesería El Faro
Location: Teguise, Lanzarote, Canary Island
With Condiments
Name: Corazón de Pistacho
Maker: Quesos Santa María del Cerro
Location: Villanueva de La Concepción, Málaga, Andalucia
Name: Caramelo con ajedrea y pimienta rosa (caramel, savory, pink pepper)
Maker: Quesos La Rueda del Cabriel
Location: Villamalea, Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha
Name: Campo Rus con Azafrán Manchego (Saffron)
Maker: Quesera Campo Rus
Location: Santa María del Campo Rus, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha
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