1st International Artisan Cheese Competition to be held in Chile

Between 30 September and 2 October 2025, Chile will become the meeting point for artisan cheese lovers and producers from all over Latin America. The New World Cheese Encounter will bring together producers, international judges, chefs and professionals from the sector at Espacio Riesco, as part of the Food & Service fair.

Organised by the Chilean Association of Artisan Cheese Producers (AQA)With the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, FIA, INIA, INDAP, ProChile, CORFO and Espacio Food & Service, this event seeks to make artisan cheese production visible and to highlight its territorial identity, sensory quality and craft.

The competition will be judged by a professional jury composed of 20 national and international judges, among them 8 foreign experts, including super-jurors of the prestigious World Cheese Awards. The judging will be led by Fernando Mayora, general referee of the competition. Frommelier, international judge and Dairy Technician.

Cultural and territorial value

The New World Cheese Encounter is an idea long promoted by Alejandro Thomas, AQA spokesperson and one of the event's organisers. With a vast experience in the dairy and cheese industry, Thomas has led the collaborative work between producers, technicians, judges and experts to bring this unique event to life.

"This meeting not only seeks to reward quality, but also to recognise the cultural, sensory and territorial value of artisan cheese in Chile and Latin America. We invite all cheesemakers to be part of this story that is just beginning," Thomas says.

For more information visit encuentroquesos.cl or on IG @encuentroquesos.

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