A gruyere named world's best cheese

A gruyere from Switzerland has been named world's best cheese at the 2010 championship in the US.

EUROPEANS are still the world's big cheeses - a gruyere from Switzerland has been named the world's best cheese at the 2010 World Championship Cheese Contest in the US.

Judges in Madison, Wisconsin - a top cheese producing state - lauded the gruyere for its creamy texture and lightly fruity taste.

The cheese is made by Fragniere Cedric of Kirchberg, Switzerland.

The runner-up in Thursday's contest also was from Switzerland. It's a smear-ripened hard cheese made by Sennerei Andeer.

Third place went to Alois Pesendorfer of Gmunden, Austria, for a semisoft cheese.

This year's contest featured some 2,300 entries from 20 countries. Organisers say that makes it the largest international cheese and butter competition in the world.