CHEESE maker Mario Olianas from Yorkshire Pecorino Cheese Ltd is celebrating success at the Artisan Cheese Awards 2024.

Mario who produces his cheese at his dairy on Gay Lane in Otley, has been making cheese for over 10 years is and is no stranger to winning awards.

He was delighted once again to take home some silverware at the awards held in Melton Mowbray on Saturday, May 18. There were over 500 entries into the eight edition of the Artisan Cheese Awards.

Dr Matthew O'Callaghan OBE, organiser of the Artisan Cheese Awards, said: “I was delighted by the record number of entries we had this year including those from Ireland.

"These awards are designed for the medium to micro cheesemaker and it was inspiring to see how many new and micro cheesemakers entered the awards, and some of them doing extremely well. Artisan Cheese is facing a number of significant challenges including Brexit, the cost of living crisis, staff shortages and climate change. These awards show that our cheesemakers are certainly up for facing these challenges and still producing world class cheese.”

Ilkley Gazette:

The Artisan Cheese Awards saw an 80-strong team of judges, made up of major cheese buyers from M&S, Waitrose, Tesco and Fortnum & Mason, as well as the major cheese retailers, wholesalers and distributors, assess this year’s entries on Thursday, May 9 at St Mary’s Church, Melton Mowbray, in the heart of Stilton country.

Each class was judged during the morning session, when Gold, Silver and Bronze accolades were awarded. Each Class winner went through to the final judging round to decide this year’s Supreme Champion and Reserve Champion cheeses. Mario came away with two top category awards of Best Sheep Cheese for Holy Ewe, a vegetarian cheese and Best New Cheese for Chevin Goat, which is a brand new cheese only just in production and not yet launched to the public.

Holy Ewe and Chevin Goat won Gold and Mario was also awarded Silver for Leeds Blue.

Mario is proud to add these to his collection and be recognised for his cheese making, being one of few sheep milk cheese producers in the UK.

The Artisan Cheese Awards was founded in 2016 by Dr Matthew O'Callaghan OBE, to support medium, small and micro cheesemakers throughout the UK and Ireland. There is an upper limit of 400 tons of cheese produced per annum to qualify for entry, and only those cheesemakers producing cheese commercially in the UK and Ireland may enter the Awards.