NOTICIAS
NUESTRO DÍA A DÍA

The Regulatory Council of the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) of Mahón-Menorca cheese has announced the XXIII MAHON-MENORCA D.O.P. CHEESE CONTEST.

This annual competition, initiated in 2001 by the Insular Council of Menorca, aims to support the cheese sector and promote recognition of the work carried out by local cheesemakers and ripeners who produce PDO cheese. The award ceremony is a public event held annually in a different municipality on the island of Menorca.

This year’s awards ceremony took place on Friday, 12th July, at 9:00 p.m. at Pla de la Creu de Sant Lluís. With the presence of the Councillor for General Services and Economy of the Insular Council of Menorca, Mrs. Maria Antònia Taltavull Fernández, and the Mayor of Sant Lluís, Mrs. Ma Dolores Tronch.

Before the awards ceremony, at 7:00 p.m., there was a market of artists and creators from Menorca, followed by a concert of ‘havaneres’ at 9:30 p.m.

After the awards ceremony, all those presents could taste the winning pieces and wine from the island of Menorca.
In this competition, each registered cheese factory has been able to present a “fogassa” (piece) in the semi-cured cheese category and another in the cured cheese category.
The “fogasses” can be presented directly by the cheese factories or their ripener, in any case, only one per category.
The winning cheese factory in each category receives a trophy. The ripener who has treated the winning piece, in each category, receives a diploma and the possibility of stating in their advertising the circumstance of being the winner of this competition for a year. This includes a distinctive seal of the prize, designed by this competition.
The second and third-place cheeses are mentioned and receive a trophy.

The winning cheese factories of each variety and type of cheese, both Mahón-Menorca Artesano and Mahón-Menorca, receive a cash prize of €750.

The D.O.P. Tasting Jury evaluated the Mahón-Menorca Artisans pieces on Tuesday 4 and Thursday 6th June, and the Mahón-Menorca pieces on Thursday 13th June, at the headquarters of the Regulatory Council.
The evaluation of each sample was recorded in a tasting sheet, which analyses various aspects: visual, smell, texture, aroma and flavour, persistence and residual taste, to finish with the overall impression.

Participation was very high, 34 of the 44 artisan cheese factories registered, that is, 77%, presenting 33 semi-cured pieces of cheese, and 29 cured pieces of cheese, totalling 62 artisan pieces.

A total of 70 pieces of DOP cheese were submitted to the competition, 38 semi-cured and 32 cured, representing a 74% participation.

The winners of the best PDO cheese piece in 2024 were:
Formatges D’en Vinent (Semi-cured Artisan)
Formatges Quintana (Cured Artisan)
Formatges Dalrit-Mercadal (Semi-cured)
Formatges La Payesa Menorca (Cured)