World Cheese Awards 2021
Prufrock Cheese wins Gold and our Bluebird Reserve blue cheese brings home Bronze at the World Cheese Awards, which was held in Oviedo, Spain on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. Our cheeses stood out from the crowd as thousands of entries were judged at the city’s awe-inspiring Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos. Not to brag but both Prufrock and our Bluebird Reserve cheeses impressed some of the world’s leading experts to collect these awards.
Prufrock
GOLD, a much coveted award, was given to us for our washed-rind Prufrock Cheese. With apricot, salty mixed nuts and carrot leading the way, Prufrock carries with it wonderful yeasty notes of fresh baked bread. Its subtle and modeled orange rind with touches of pink and white is edible, in fact it adds to Prufrock’s complex favor profile when eaten. Its interior paste is thick and gooey in texture when allowed to rest at room temperature.
Pairing Suggestion:
In Europe, traditional Trappist cheeses – styles first developed in monasteries – are washed in the ales, wines, or ciders that those monasteries would have kept for just that purpose. The unique Belgian Farmhouse Ale, Saison Dupont, 750 mL, is of the same style that was once used to wash the finest cheeses in Belgium.
Order Prufrock from Di Bruno Brothers here.
Bluebird Reserve
Our Bluebird Reserve Blue Cheese was awarded a desired BRONZE award. A mature Bluebird Reserve is sweet with hints of butterscotch and rock candy, it’s a true delight. Bluebird Reserve's intense yellow hue comes from our certified organic dairy herd. The mottled streaks of blue and green veins give a wonderful visual complement to the cheese’s delicious paste. Bluebird Reserve sports a fudgy texture with strong blue veining throughout. The paste is creamy and smooth on the tongue. Bluebird Reserve is a bit too firm to spread without damage to a cracker.
With a full-bodied flavor carrying sweet notes of butterscotch and rock candy, we suggest a rather unconventional pairing for the Bluebird Reserve: Cidré Brut, Etienne Dupont, Normandy, 750 mL. Hailing from the heartland of European cider, this particular style is made with three different apple varieties to give it a crisp, tart flavor that, when paired with the Bluebird, provides the perfect fruity to fill in the natural blue flavor.
Order Bluebird Reserve Blue Cheese from Di Bruno Brothers here.
With more nations than ever represented at the World Cheese Awards this year, The Grey Barn and Farm has gained an internationally recognized seal of approval from a truly global cheese event, which returned to Spain this year to form part of the Asturias Paraíso Natural International Cheese Festival 2021.
The 33rd edition of the World Cheese Awards was bigger and more international than ever before, featuring over 4,000 entries for the first time. The competing cheeses represented 45 different countries, including recent additions such as India, Guatemala, Japan and Colombia, as well as established cheesemaking nations such as France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Needless to say we are overjoyed with these awards and couldn't be prouder of all of those here on the farm who work hard everyday to create these wonderful delights.
