3rd Best Cheese Maker in Brazil Competition
Entries for the competition are open from September 29 to November 1, 2025.
The competition is sponsored by the French magazine Profession Fromager. The presidency is shared by Arnaud Sperat Czar (photo), president of Foundation for the Biodiversity Fromagère, Maître Honoris Caseus of the International Fromagers Guild and author of several books on cheese; and by Antônio Fernandes (photo), professor and researcher at the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) specializing in cheese and other dairy products, coordinator of the group Inovaleite and director of the technical-scientific body of SerTãoBras.
As General Commissioner of the competition, we have José Manoel Martins, professor and researcher at IF Sudeste MG - Campus Rio Pomba, former director-general of the institution and member of the technical-scientific body of SerTãoBras.
Competition structure
The competition consists of four evaluation moments:
-
First stage - held in Viçosa (MG) on November 29, 2025, tests the cheesemaker's professional know-how and his ability to produce in conditions different from his routine, in the execution of an original recipe;
-
Second stage - assesses the ability to mature a cheese under specific conditions, in the candidate's own dairy;
-
Third stage - evaluates the production of cheese in the participant's usual working environment;
-
Fourth stage - takes place on Saturday, April 18, 2026, during the 4th World Cheese Fair in Brazil.
The tests for the first and last stages are held in front of an audience.
The competition is aimed at cheese producers, who are challenged in their technical skills and their ability to improvise.
Results from previous editions
1st Best Cheesemaker Competition (2022)
Vitor Gomide, from Laticínios Gomide (Viçosa-MG), was voted the Best Cheese Maker in Brazil in 2022.
Martina Sgarbi, from Qjo da Martina (São Paulo-SP), came in 2nd place.
André Modesto, from Queijaria Paiol Velho (Juiz de Fora-MG), came in 3rd place.
2nd Best Cheesemaker Competition (2024)
Henry Herbert, from Biopark (Toledo-PR), was elected the Best Cheese Maker in Brazil in 2024. Sandra Piovesan, from Sítio Esperança (Barão de Cotegipe-RS), came second. Tayllanny Araújo, from Cabana da Tatá (São Geraldo do Araguaia-PA), came 3rd.
SUPPORT
Read also:
