Dedicated only to cheese, the awards, supported by the Artzai Gazta cheese association and the Basque government, will be the showpiece event at the inaugural International Cheese Festival from November 16-18, 2016.
The celebration of cheese is open to consumers and the public, as well as food professionals, buyers, and retailers.
Record numbers expected
Thousands of entries are expected from cheesemakers in more than 30 countries.
John Farrand, managing director of the organizers, the Guild of Fine Food, said that 2,727 individual cheeses from more than 25 nations were judged in 2015, but record numbers were anticipated for the 2016 event.
The awards and festival will be held at the Kursaal Congress Centre on San Sebastián’s beachfront.
Discussions on cheese
There will also be discussions on dairy industry issues in a conference environment, while consumers will have the opportunity to learn about cheeses from all over the globe through talks surrounding the World Cheese Awards, in the process raising awareness of local artisan cheese production and helping to promote the region’s culture, gastronomy and tourism.
Those wishing to enter cheese in the awards can do so until Tuesday, October 11, unless the entry cap is reached before this date. Producers can enter online at www.gff.co.uk/wca.