Italy to host World Cheese Awards 2019 as part of Bergamo FORME festival

22-Jan-2019 - Last updated on 22-Jan-2019 at 10:25 GMT

The announcement of the awards being held in Italy was made in Milan last week. Left to right, Francesco Maroni, presidente of Progetto Forme, Paolo Malvestiti, presidente Camera di Commercio di Bergamo, Fabio Rolfi, assessore all’Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Sistemi Verdi, Attilio Fontana, presidente Regione Lombardia, Giorgio Gori, Sindaco di Bergamo, Giorgio Beltrami, presidente Associazione Promozione del Territorio, and John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, organizers of the World Cheese Awards.

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The World Cheese Awards will visit Italy for the first time, in Bergamo, as part of the city’s annual FORME cheese festival.

The awards take place on October 18, during the FORME festival, which runs from October 17-20, 2019.

As Bergamo plays host to the international cheese community, the World Cheese Awards will shine a spotlight on Lombardy’s culinary culture, giving the region’s producers an opportunity to showcase their food and drink on a world stage. The FORME festival features tastings, panel discussions, training sessions, markets and an exhibition of all 50 Italian DOP cheeses.

Breaking records

John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, organizers of the World Cheese Awards, said, “The World Cheese Awards is extending its international reach year-on-year, so it's very important for us to partner with like-minded organizations that understand the power and potential of this global cheese gathering.

“Uniting with FORME feels like a very natural fit for us and we're hugely honored to be bringing the competition to Bergamo in 2019, a beautiful city with a wealth of cheese heritage. With over 200 of the world's top cheese people set to fly in for the awards, Bergamo will become the very heart of the cheese world this October and the world will be watching as the city hosts this global celebration of cheese.

“We're anticipating yet another record breaking year, hoping to top 3,500 entries for the first time, and are looking forward to working together with the FORME team to create a lasting legacy in the region and raise awareness throughout the food and drink world.”

B2Cheese fair

Francesco Maroni, president of the Progetto Forme, said last year’s FORME, the third time the event was run, brought in more than 40,000 visitors and participants, with 12,000 kilos of cheese sold and tasted at the market.

“Without losing sight of the importance of local heritage, this year's edition will see the Italian premiere of the World Cheese Awards, the most prestigious international competition for the best cheeses in the world,” Maroni said.

“This huge event, alongside the new addition of the B2Cheese fair, will serve to promote excellence in production throughout Italy, with the aim of enhancing the reputation of our national cheeses and creating a culture of quality.”

Last year’s awards were held in Bergen, Norway, in November, with a record 3,472 cheeses from 41 different countries judged in a single day.