A blue-veined German cheese has been crowned Supreme Champion at this year’s International Cheese Awards at Nantwich.

The Montagnolo, which has an edible grey rind and a pale cream blue-veined interior, is produced by Käserei Champignon and imported by Elite Imports.

The cheese beat 3,926 other entriesat the awards, which The Grocer helped to judge.

“For the Montagnolo to have beaten them all to become Supreme Champion means it is a truly exceptional cheese,” said Richard Paul, the show’s chairman.

Winning the award was like winning gold at the Olympics, said a spokesman for Elite Imports. “A few years ago, the cheese won Reserve Overseas Champion and this is another great achievement for it,” he added.

The cheese - which was a finalist in The Grocer’s Own Label Food & Drink Awards in 2008 - is sold in Waitrose for £14.50 per kg.

Marks & Spencer won the Supreme Retailer award, after taking 14 gold awards at the show.

Belton Cheese won the National Westminster trophy for scooping the most gold awards.

Topics