Regional Government congratulates winners of 16th Portuguese Cheese Competition and World Cheese Awards 2025 - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação

The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, congratulated all the winners and honourees in the various categories of the 16th Portuguese Cheese Competition, which featured 26 cheese categories, highlighting the dynamics and excellence of national production. The government official also congratulated the Portuguese producers who participated in the World Cheese Awards 2025, held recently in Switzerland, where around 5,200 cheeses from 46 countries competed.

This national and international recognition reflects producers' commitment to quality, sustainability and the promotion of local resources, which are fundamental pillars for the development of the agrifood sector and the consolidation of regional identity. The award-winning cheeses represent the best of tradition and innovation, contributing to the prestige of Portuguese cuisine at a national and international level.

In the national competition, there were numerous awards for various brands. In the international competition, among the 17 Portuguese cheeses present, eight Azorean cheeses "were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals, underlining the quality and excellence of the archipelago's products," pointed out António Ventura.

“I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Azorean milk producers for their exemplary dedication, which has transformed the archipelago of the Azores into a symbol of dairy excellence. With daily dedication, facing challenges posed by the climate, routine and market, they ensure the production of a valuable, nutritious and irreplaceable foodstuff. In lush landscapes shaped by nature and rural knowledge, they produce milk of unparalleled quality — rich, pure and with unique features reflecting their care for the animals, respect for the environment and passion for what they do. Azorean milk is more than a raw material: it is a living heritage, the basis of prestigious products and the pride of a Region that honours tradition and innovation," praised the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food.

He added: “Azorean cheeses are ambassadors for the excellence of our cuisine and contribute to the prestige of the national agrifood sector. To all those involved, I offer my sincere congratulations. May this recognition be an incentive to continue to highlight the flavours of the Region and Portugal, and may the authentic taste of our cheeses continue to conquer palates and tell stories of dedication and regional identity.”