A team of 50 judges from 18 states considered flavor, body and texture, salt, color, finish and packaging to determine the winners.

“Location aside, what these winning cheesemakers have in common is experience and passion,” said John Umhoefer, executive director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, host of the contest. “As we recognize the efforts of these fine craftsmen and women, we support continuous improvement in the cheesemaking industry, and in the products we all enjoy with our family and friends.”

Sartori Cheese is a fourth-generation, family-owned cheese company that was founded by Paolo Sartori and Louis Rossini in 1939 in Plymouth as S&R Cheese Corp. The company has grown into one of the most respected and awarded cheese companies in the country and in 1970 was the first U.S. cheese company to export cheese to Italy and Japan. The company changed its name to Sartori in 1996 and purchased the Antigo Cheese Co. in 2006. The BellaVitano line of cheese was introduced by Sartori in 1999 and now includes 11 types of flavored cheeses, according to its website.