News & Events

March 8, 2019

Roth® Cheese Celebrates Big Wins at 2019 United States Championship Cheese Contest

Best of Class winners Roth® Grand Cru® and Roth® Pavino named in contest’s top 20 finalists.


GREEN BAY, Wisconsin
 – Roth® Cheese, Wisconsin makers of award-winning specialty cheese, took home four medals including two Best of Class awards, at the 2019 United States Championship Cheese Contest in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Roth Grand Cru® Reserve, the company’s signature alpine-style cheese, and Roth Pavino, a bold alpine-style cheese sold exclusively at Whole Foods Market, were two of the competition’s top 20 finalists, each named Best of Class in their respective categories.

Grand Cru Reserve received the top score of 99.40 out of 100 in the Open Class: Hard Cheese with Natural Rind category and Pavino Cheese ranked highest in the Washed Rind/Smear Ripened Hard Cheeses category with a score of 99.85.

Roth Cheese also took home a second-place award for its creamy, yet spicy Chipotle Havarti in the Open Class: Peppered Flavored (Medium Heat) category. Roth Creamy Gouda Snack Cheese earned a third-place award in the Natural Snack Cheese category.

“We are incredibly honored to bring home four awards at this year’s competition and especially proud that two of our cheeses were named top 20 finalists,” said Tim Omer, President and Managing Director for Emmi Roth. “These distinctions would not be possible without the hard work and talent of our entire team at Emmi Roth, all of whom can be proud of their role in crafting these award-winning cheeses.”

The United States Championship Cheese Contest, hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, is now the nation’s largest biannual technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition. This year’s contest had 2,555 entries in 116 classes from 35 states – a record number of entries in the contest’s 20-year history.

About Roth®
Roth® Cheese is part of Emmi Roth, the U.S. subsidiary of Switzerland-based Emmi Group and a leading producer of specialty cheeses. Roth has earned top awards from national and international competitions, including the title of World Champion from the 2016 World Championship Cheese Contest for Roth Grand Cru® Surchoix. Learn more at rothcheese.com.

Media Contact: Abby Despins, 608-293-1003, abby.despins@emmiroth.com